Pros
- Huge 7-year warranty, so plenty should have factory support left
- Practical interior
- A decent performance from the turbo engines
- Showing great reliability
Cons
- The class action lawsuit involving Kia & Hyundai engine is a concern
- Ride quality might be too harsh for some
- That’s about it…
Verdict
We wouldn't...
We'd be cautious
We would...
While the class action lawsuit is a concern, generally the Kia Cerato is a great small car option. With its huge warranty, plenty should still have factory support left, so that offers the peace of mind that any issues should be covered by Kia.
The Kia Cerato offers great standard...
Finance estimate ~
$30
Per week*
8.49%
Comparison rate p.a#
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Publish: June 28, 2023
The Kia Cerato BD, also known as the Kia Forte in some markets, is a compact sedan that was produced by Kia Motors from 2018 to 2022. The BD generation of the Cerato represented a significant update over its predecessor, featuring refreshed styling, improved technology, and enhanced performance.
Exterior-wise, the Cerato showcased a sleek and modern design with a prominent tiger-nose grille, sharp headlights, and a sculpted body profile. The overall appearance gave the car a more dynamic and sophisticated look compared to its predecessor.
Inside the cabin, the Cerato BD offered a comfortable and well-designed interior. The dashboard layout was clean and intuitive, with user-friendly controls and a touchscreen infotainment system. Standard equipment included features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a rearview camera, providing a convenient and connected driving experience.
In terms of performance, the Cerato came with a range of engine options, depending on the market. These typically included a selection of gasoline engines, such as a 1.6-litre turbo and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, paired with either a manual or automatic transmission. The Cerato offered decent power and fuel efficiency.
In the realm of safety, the Cerato BD incorporated various advanced features to enhance occupant protection. Some of the available safety systems included forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.
The Kia Cerato BD, also known as the Kia Forte in some markets, is a compact sedan that was produced by Kia Motors from 2018 to 2022. The BD generation of the Cerato represented a significant update over its predecessor, featuring refreshed styling, improved technology, and enhanced performance.
Exterior-wise, the Cerato showcased a sleek and modern design with a prominent tiger-nose grille, sharp headlights, and a sculpted body profile. The overall appearance gave the car a more dynamic and sophisticated look compared to its predecessor.
Inside the cabin, the Cerato BD offered a comfortable and well-designed interior. The dashboard layout was clean and intuitive, with user-friendly controls and a touchscreen infotainment system. Standard equipment included features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a rearview camera, providing a convenient and connected driving experience.
In terms of performance, the Cerato came with a range of engine options, depending on the market. These typically included a selection of gasoline engines, such as a 1.6-litre turbo and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, paired with either a manual or automatic transmission. The Cerato offered decent power and fuel efficiency.
In the realm of safety, the Cerato BD incorporated various advanced features to enhance occupant protection. Some of the available safety systems included forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.
The Kia Cerato BD, also known as the Kia Forte in some markets, is a compact sedan that was produced by Kia Motors from 2018 to 2022. The BD generation of the Cerato represented a significant update over its predecessor, featuring refreshed styling, improved technology, and enhanced performance.
Exterior-wise, the Cerato showcased a sleek and modern design with a prominent tiger-nose grille, sharp headlights, and a sculpted body profile. The overall appearance gave the car a more dynamic and sophisticated look compared to its predecessor.
Inside the cabin, the Cerato BD offered a comfortable and well-designed interior. The dashboard layout was clean and intuitive, with user-friendly controls and a touchscreen infotainment system. Standard equipment included features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a rearview camera, providing a convenient and connected driving experience.
In terms of performance, the Cerato came with a range of engine options, depending on the market. These typically included a selection of gasoline engines, such as a 1.6-litre turbo and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, paired with either a manual or automatic transmission. The Cerato offered decent power and fuel efficiency.
In the realm of safety, the Cerato BD incorporated various advanced features to enhance occupant protection. Some of the available safety systems included forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Interior:
- Some owners have reported the leather interiors to wear prematurely.
Mechanically:
Other than some reports of sporadic engine issues, the major concern involves an ongoing issue with Hyundai and Kia engines, that has resulted in a class action lawsuit.
Hyundai and Kia are facing a class action lawsuit in Australia due to the risk of engine failures and fires in their cars.
The legal action, filed by Sydney law firm Johnson Winter Slattery, urges owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles to sign up for the class action. The lawsuit covers certain models powered by 1.6-litre, 2.0-litre, and 2.4-litre petrol engines, including sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs.
The class action is being funded by London-based legal organization Woodsford, which claims that Hyundai and Kia were aware of engine defects since 2015. The lawsuit seeks compensation for affected owners. This class action follows a similar settlement in the US involving over 4 million vehicles. Hyundai Australia stated that it stands by the integrity and reliability of its vehicles, while Kia Australia has yet to comment.
Owners of potentially affected vehicles can register their details on specific websites for Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The listed symptoms of engine issues include knocking or tapping sounds, internal engine damage, increased oil and fuel consumption, sudden power loss, smoke emission, and fires in some cases.
Owners can register their details here:
Hyundai – https://www.kiaengineclassaction.com.au/
Kia – https://www.hyundaiengineclassaction.com.au/
Recalls:
- July 2022 – The KIA BD Cerato vehicles manufactured in 2022, with a total of 1,694 affected units, have a defect where the required safety label is not affixed to the vehicle jack, potentially leading to inappropriate use and an increased risk of injury or death to individuals near or under the raised vehicle, as the supplied jack may not meet the mandatory standard for vehicle jacks.
- March 2022 – Insufficient clearance in the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) cover and Electronically Erasable Programming Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) chip of Kia Carnival, Kia Cerato, and Kia Soul models from 2016-2018, affecting 40,816 units, may cause airbag warning lights to illuminate and the airbags to not deploy, posing an increased risk of injury or death to occupants and other road users.
- December 2019 – Tow bar wiring harness accessory fitted to some Kia BD Cerato MY2019-2020 vehicles may cause hazard warning lights to become inoperative, posing a risk of accidents or injuries to vehicle occupants and other road users.
Interior:
- Some owners have reported the leather interiors to wear prematurely.
Mechanically:
Other than some reports of sporadic engine issues, the major concern involves an ongoing issue with Hyundai and Kia engines, that has resulted in a class action lawsuit.
Hyundai and Kia are facing a class action lawsuit in Australia due to the risk of engine failures and fires in their cars.
The legal action, filed by Sydney law firm Johnson Winter Slattery, urges owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles to sign up for the class action. The lawsuit covers certain models powered by 1.6-litre, 2.0-litre, and 2.4-litre petrol engines, including sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs.
The class action is being funded by London-based legal organization Woodsford, which claims that Hyundai and Kia were aware of engine defects since 2015. The lawsuit seeks compensation for affected owners. This class action follows a similar settlement in the US involving over 4 million vehicles. Hyundai Australia stated that it stands by the integrity and reliability of its vehicles, while Kia Australia has yet to comment.
Owners of potentially affected vehicles can register their details on specific websites for Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The listed symptoms of engine issues include knocking or tapping sounds, internal engine damage, increased oil and fuel consumption, sudden power loss, smoke emission, and fires in some cases.
Owners can register their details here:
Hyundai – https://www.kiaengineclassaction.com.au/
Kia – https://www.hyundaiengineclassaction.com.au/
Recalls:
- July 2022 – The KIA BD Cerato vehicles manufactured in 2022, with a total of 1,694 affected units, have a defect where the required safety label is not affixed to the vehicle jack, potentially leading to inappropriate use and an increased risk of injury or death to individuals near or under the raised vehicle, as the supplied jack may not meet the mandatory standard for vehicle jacks.
- March 2022 – Insufficient clearance in the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) cover and Electronically Erasable Programming Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) chip of Kia Carnival, Kia Cerato, and Kia Soul models from 2016-2018, affecting 40,816 units, may cause airbag warning lights to illuminate and the airbags to not deploy, posing an increased risk of injury or death to occupants and other road users.
- December 2019 – Tow bar wiring harness accessory fitted to some Kia BD Cerato MY2019-2020 vehicles may cause hazard warning lights to become inoperative, posing a risk of accidents or injuries to vehicle occupants and other road users.
Interior:
- Some owners have reported the leather interiors to wear prematurely.
Mechanically:
Other than some reports of sporadic engine issues, the major concern involves an ongoing issue with Hyundai and Kia engines, that has resulted in a class action lawsuit.
Hyundai and Kia are facing a class action lawsuit in Australia due to the risk of engine failures and fires in their cars.
The legal action, filed by Sydney law firm Johnson Winter Slattery, urges owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles to sign up for the class action. The lawsuit covers certain models powered by 1.6-litre, 2.0-litre, and 2.4-litre petrol engines, including sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs.
The class action is being funded by London-based legal organization Woodsford, which claims that Hyundai and Kia were aware of engine defects since 2015. The lawsuit seeks compensation for affected owners. This class action follows a similar settlement in the US involving over 4 million vehicles. Hyundai Australia stated that it stands by the integrity and reliability of its vehicles, while Kia Australia has yet to comment.
Owners of potentially affected vehicles can register their details on specific websites for Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The listed symptoms of engine issues include knocking or tapping sounds, internal engine damage, increased oil and fuel consumption, sudden power loss, smoke emission, and fires in some cases.
Owners can register their details here:
Hyundai – https://www.kiaengineclassaction.com.au/
Kia – https://www.hyundaiengineclassaction.com.au/
Recalls:
- July 2022 – The KIA BD Cerato vehicles manufactured in 2022, with a total of 1,694 affected units, have a defect where the required safety label is not affixed to the vehicle jack, potentially leading to inappropriate use and an increased risk of injury or death to individuals near or under the raised vehicle, as the supplied jack may not meet the mandatory standard for vehicle jacks.
- March 2022 – Insufficient clearance in the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) cover and Electronically Erasable Programming Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) chip of Kia Carnival, Kia Cerato, and Kia Soul models from 2016-2018, affecting 40,816 units, may cause airbag warning lights to illuminate and the airbags to not deploy, posing an increased risk of injury or death to occupants and other road users.
- December 2019 – Tow bar wiring harness accessory fitted to some Kia BD Cerato MY2019-2020 vehicles may cause hazard warning lights to become inoperative, posing a risk of accidents or injuries to vehicle occupants and other road users.
Body Styles
4 door Sedan
5 door Hatchback
Engines
2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (GT)
Power
112kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
150kW – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (GT)
Torque
192Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
265Nm – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (GT)
Transmissions
6-speed Sports Automatic (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch (GT)
6-speed Manual (S, Sport)
Fuel Consumption
6.8 – 7.6L / 100km
Length
4640mm (4 door Sedan)
4510mm (5 door Hatchback)
Width
1800mm (4 door Sedan)
1800mm (5 door Hatchback)
Height
1435 – 1440mm (4 door Sedan)
1440 – 1445mm (5 door Hatchback)
Wheelbase
2700mm (4 door Sedan)
2700mm (5 door Hatchback)
Kerb Weight
1320 – 1345kg
Towing
610kg (unbraked), 1100kg (braked)
610kg (unbraked), 1200kg (braked) (S, Sport)
ANCAP Ratings
5 stars (tested 2019)
Body Styles
4 door Sedan
5 door Hatchback
Engines
2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (GT)
Power
112kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
150kW – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (GT)
Torque
192Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
265Nm – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (GT)
Transmissions
6-speed Sports Automatic (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch (GT)
6-speed Manual (S, Sport)
Fuel Consumption
6.8 – 7.6L / 100km
Length
4640mm (4 door Sedan)
4510mm (5 door Hatchback)
Width
1800mm (4 door Sedan)
1800mm (5 door Hatchback)
Height
1435 – 1440mm (4 door Sedan)
1440 – 1445mm (5 door Hatchback)
Wheelbase
2700mm (4 door Sedan)
2700mm (5 door Hatchback)
Kerb Weight
1320 – 1345kg
Towing
610kg (unbraked), 1100kg (braked)
610kg (unbraked), 1200kg (braked) (S, Sport)
ANCAP Ratings
5 stars (tested 2019)
Body Styles
4 door Sedan
5 door Hatchback
Engines
2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (GT)
Power
112kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
150kW – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (GT)
Torque
192Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
265Nm – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (GT)
Transmissions
6-speed Sports Automatic (Sport, Sport+, S, Si)
7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch (GT)
6-speed Manual (S, Sport)
Fuel Consumption
6.8 – 7.6L / 100km
Length
4640mm (4 door Sedan)
4510mm (5 door Hatchback)
Width
1800mm (4 door Sedan)
1800mm (5 door Hatchback)
Height
1435 – 1440mm (4 door Sedan)
1440 – 1445mm (5 door Hatchback)
Wheelbase
2700mm (4 door Sedan)
2700mm (5 door Hatchback)
Kerb Weight
1320 – 1345kg
Towing
610kg (unbraked), 1100kg (braked)
610kg (unbraked), 1200kg (braked) (S, Sport)
ANCAP Ratings
5 stars (tested 2019)
Warranty
7 years / unlimited km
Service Intervals
15,000 km / 12 months
10,000 km / 12 months
Model range, pricing & features
While the class action lawsuit is a concern, generally the Kia Cerato is a great small car option. With its huge warranty, plenty should still have factory support left, so that offers the peace of mind that any issues should be covered by Kia.
The Kia Cerato offers great standard features, and a practical cabin, especially if you go for the hatchback. We’d try and shop as far up the variant ladder as your budget will allow, so you can get the most safety gear as possible, but maybe stop short of the GT. While the GT is the sportiest of the bunch, the firmer ride might not be to everyone’s taste, especially if you spend 99% of your time in the suburbs, or on harsh roads.
A direct competitor to the Kia Cerato would be the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30 and the Mazda 3, and we’ve done reviews of them all.
While the class action lawsuit is a concern, generally the Kia Cerato is a great small car option. With its huge warranty, plenty should still have factory support left, so that offers the peace of mind that any issues should be covered by Kia.
The Kia Cerato offers great standard features, and a practical cabin, especially if you go for the hatchback. We’d try and shop as far up the variant ladder as your budget will allow, so you can get the most safety gear as possible, but maybe stop short of the GT. While the GT is the sportiest of the bunch, the firmer ride might not be to everyone’s taste, especially if you spend 99% of your time in the suburbs, or on harsh roads.
A direct competitor to the Kia Cerato would be the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30 and the Mazda 3, and we’ve done reviews of them all.
While the class action lawsuit is a concern, generally the Kia Cerato is a great small car option. With its huge warranty, plenty should still have factory support left, so that offers the peace of mind that any issues should be covered by Kia.
The Kia Cerato offers great standard features, and a practical cabin, especially if you go for the hatchback. We’d try and shop as far up the variant ladder as your budget will allow, so you can get the most safety gear as possible, but maybe stop short of the GT. While the GT is the sportiest of the bunch, the firmer ride might not be to everyone’s taste, especially if you spend 99% of your time in the suburbs, or on harsh roads.
A direct competitor to the Kia Cerato would be the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30 and the Mazda 3, and we’ve done reviews of them all.
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of June 28, 2023.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
Read our full terms and conditions here.
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