2022 Kia Cerato Sport review: Missing safety equipment a let down

The South Korean brand’s new small car is a solid performer at a reasonable price, but some missing features might turn off buyers.

Kia’s small cars are no longer the bargain buys they once were, but they have made big advancements in the past few years to justify the price rise.

Here is everything you need to know about the Kia Cerato Sport.

The Kia Cerato Sport is priced at just under $30,000 drive-away.

VALUE

The days of a small-car bargain are fast disappearing. Less than four years ago, you could pick up a new Kia Cerato auto for $19,990 drive-away. Now the get-in price is $27,490, albeit with more technology to offset the price rise. The Sport model we tested is $29,490, or $30,990 if you order the optional safety pack. The $2000 premium over the base model seems reasonable, as the sport has alloys instead of steel wheels, nicer cloth trim and a bigger 10.25-inch touch screen that displays in-built satellite navigation and digital radio. It lacks push-button start, an electronic parking brake and automatically folding side mirrors. While the cheaper model has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you’ll need to bring a cord for the Sport – strange. Despite the name, it has the same suspension tune as the cheaper model.

You’ll need to pay extra for some vital safety equipment.

COMFORT

Supportive seats and sound ergonomics make it easy to find a comfortable driving position in the Cerato. Rear leg room is above average and rear passengers are treated to rear air vents – a nice touch at this price point. There’s also a USB port for rear passengers to fight over, as well as two in the front and a 12-volt plug. The boot is a reasonable size, with handy underfloor storage, although it struggles to swallow a golf bag and buggy without dropping the rear seats. The Cerato’s suspension deals well with smaller bumps and road imperfections around town. It’s firmer than the rival Hyundai i30 and Toyota Corolla, but not jarring at all. Road noise is well suppressed.

The cabin presents well and there are all the necessary tech features.

SAFETY

The Cerato has a lower sticker price than many rivals, but charges extra for safety equipment such as a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert, which warns you if a car is passing when you’re reversing out of your drive. The $1500 safety pack also includes a safe-exit warning and a more sophisticated form of auto emergency braking that can detect potential collisions with cyclists. Lane-keeping assistance is standard and works pretty well. While more expensive variants scored five stars in independent testing, the Sport is rated as four stars as it was marked down for “vulnerable road user protection” due to the simpler AEB set-up.

The Cerato is a solid drive, with reliable performance.

ON THE ROAD

The Cerato feels comfortable and composed on the open road, while not setting any benchmarks for driving enjoyment. The car settles well after bigger bumps and isn’t unduly ruffled by mid-corner corrugations. The modestly-powered 2.0-litre engine needs to be revved to produce it best, which means it can be vocal when overtaking or climbing steep hills. The six-speed transmission shifts smoothly around town and in sports mode it will hold on to gears longer to keep the revs up coming out of corners. Responses are predictable through corners, while the steering is accurate, if lacking feel.

VERDICT 3.5/5

The Cerato is a solid choice for smaller families, with a generous warranty and reasonable equipment levels, but it’s not the bargain it once was.

ALTERNATIVES

Volkswagen Golf Life, from $39,788 drive-away.

The benchmark in the class for refinement and driving enjoyment, with decent performance from a punchy 1.4-litre engine. Significantly more expensive, though.

Hyundai i30 Active, from $29,490 drive-away.

Slightly more power and torque than the Kia, but similar driving experience. Misses out on the Kia’s satnav and has a smaller centre touchscreen.

Toyota Corolla hybrid, from $31,034 drive-away.

Exceptional fuel economy and fun to drive but more expensive, with fewer creature comforts and smaller centre screen. More safety gear, though.

KIA CERATO SPORT VITALS

Price: $29,490 drive-away

Warranty/servicing: Seven years, unl’td km, $1999 over five years

Engine: 2.0-litre petrol, 112kW and 192Nm

Safety: Six airbags, auto emergency braking, lane-departure warning, driver attention alert, front and rear parking sensors

Thirst: 7.4L/100km

Cargo: 434 litres

Originally published as 2022 Kia Cerato Sport review: Missing safety equipment a let down