New Kia XCeed hybrid to start from £22,995

Last week, Kia teased that the XCeed is going to be updated for 2023, and now all the juicy deets have been released - including pricing. Three versions are available, with the entry-level car starting at £22,995, and the top trim nudging over £30k. There's plenty on offer - as we'll explain below...

The XCeed is one of Kia’s best-selling models in the UK, and the incoming changes are going to build on this popular package by making it more eco-friendly, more eye-catching, and more luxurious.

The first difference is the exterior. The new XCeed is channelling the ever-popular, urban yet rugged compact crossover style, featuring a new bumper, new headlights, 18-inch alloys, and sporty rear ‘exhausts’.

The car has been redesigned to be as aerodynamic as possible and now features a long bonnet, chiselled sides and a sloping roof, which should satisfy anyone wanting a bit more flashiness.

The chrome and black accents give a nice bit of added glitz. In true crossover style, the XCeed now has an elevated ride height, so it’s 44mm taller than the XCeed hatchback. 

Now to the interior – the feng-shui aspect of the XCeed. The new interior benefits from the extra ground clearance we’ve just talked about. You’ll get a better driving position and better views over the road for both the passenger and driver.

Also expect soft-touch materials, a chrome-finished dash, and new suede, leather and vegan seats. For all you techies, major changes include the 10.5-inch floating touchscreen with touch-sensitive buttons underneath for audio, heating and aircon. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster also comes with updated graphics. 

Practicality is also improved with a 426-litre boot, with a maximum capacity of 1,378 litres when the rear seats are folded.

The seats also fold down in a handy 40:20:40 split, which is great for storing bulky items, while the boot floor can be adjusted to give you access to a hidden storage compartment underneath.

The tailgate is electronic, which is great for when your hands are full and you’re moving luggage in or out of the vehicle.

Helpfully for these times of rising living costs, the overhauled engine line-up on the XCeed will help bring down the running costs of this car.

As well as new turbocharged petrol and diesel engines with mild-hybrid tech, you'll be able to purchase a 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid version. This will let owners benefit from ULEZ and Congestion Charge exemptions, as well as reduce fuel costs if you utilise the electric-only function over shorter distances.

For high-powered options, go for the 1.6-litre T-GDi engine. Manual and automatic transmissions are available depending on the engine, and you’ll also be able to choose between Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes.

In general, the new XCeed promises to be extremely comfortable and effortlessly engaging, a fine balancing act between performance and family-friendly. Two of the most promising driving improvements will be reduced body roll in the corners and quicker, more responsive steering. 

So, what trim levels will there be? Well, the standout here will be the brand-spanking-new 'GT S' trim. This is a first for the XCeed, and the spec promises to be the sportiest drive yet, as well as the most visually exciting. It will shift the seesaw towards aggressive looks and drive rather than sensible comfort.

The rest of lineup follows the numbering pattern of earlier XCeeds – the higher the number, the more plush the trim. Expect an eight-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB and USB-C sockets, a reversing cameras, 16-inch alloys and interior touches like a leather steering wheel.

Step up 3 (couldn't resist) and everything's a bit bigger and more luxurious. You'll get bigger 18-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch infotainment system, faux leather interior, heated front seats and more parking sensors.

The GTS is more about sporty body kit and drive, but the extra goodies are great too – gorgeous black leather and suede interior, heated front and rear seats, wireless charging, a panoramic roof and lots of extra safety kit including blind spot assist.

If you're after the eco PHEV XCeed, which is the top model at launch, there's a single '3' model that starts from £32,595. It's more expensive than the other trims, but you'll save over time with lower running costs. On top of what you get on the non-PHEV '3' models, there's also a special alloy wheel design, a black and satin radiator grille, smart cruise control and driving mode selector.

This new release has got us tingling with excitement, and now we have the price breakdown, you can match car to budget. The grade '2' starts from £22,995, the grade '3' from £25,495, and the GT-Line S will set you back £29,995.

But if you're looking for an XCeed, why not check out our range of Kia cars in our online showroom?