The 2022 Kia Cerato GT offers sporting engagement that would cost double with a prestige badge

Those who have expensive tastes but a beer income might like to add the 2022 Kia Cerato GT to their automotive menu.

The GT, available in both sedan and hatch, sits atop of the Kia Cerato range with a sporting focus.

We’re an athletic bunch Down Under.

Our sporting appreciation transcends from the playing field to the road. When it comes to prestige marques, Australians typically pick the fastest options – making us one of the highest per capita buyers of brands such as Mercedes-AMG, BMW M and Audi RS.

Not all are enamoured with the deep pockets required for such athleticism.

Some take the aftermarket road with big spoilers, even bigger exhaust and a trip to the tuner for a new chip to leverage some additional firepower.

Those with sporty expectations and shopping in the mid-$30,000 realm would do worse than Kia’s Cerato GT. Not quite in the company of the VW Golf GTI, Subaru WRX or Hyundai i30N, the Cerato GT is not a significant step down as the price may dictate.

The GT sits atop of the Kia Cerato range with a sporting focus.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

KEL: From the moment you press the start button it sounds the part. After driving some plush SUVs of late, it also feels like a go-kart.

GRANT: More than half of the current passenger car market is now SUVs, and hatches are also typically more popular. Getting into a compact sedan feels a little like stonewash denim – it’s a past trend, only retro types are bringing it back. Although this GT also comes as a hatch with essentially identical feature lists.

KEL: This one has the new Kia badge. Initially I didn’t like the design but it’s grown on me the more I’ve seen it on the latest models.

GRANT: The Cerato was among the first to wear the new company logo as part of the refreshed range. I’ve rated the Cerato Sport as one of the best value buys on the market at about $28,000 drive-away. But this GT model requires an extra investment of about $9k.

Among the Cerato GT features are man-made leather trim, JBL eight-speaker stereo which has smartphone mirroring apps, big 10.25-inch touchscreen, sunroof and wireless phone charging.

THE LIVING SPACE

KEL: Externally it looks nice with a body kit and the black grille. Once inside it takes things up a notch with the leather seats that have red piping, flat-bottom steering wheel and alloy pedals.

GRANT: Some hard plastics are used through the console and dash surfaces, but otherwise it’s a classy environment. This is a model update rather than an overhaul, so it still has analog gauges for the driver rather than a full digital instrument display. Yet for the money the feature list is strong, with satnav, JBL eight-speaker stereo which has smartphone mirroring apps, big 10.25-inch touchscreen, sunroof and wireless phone charging.

KEL: It’s also got heated and ventilated seats. I still use the heating function even on warmer days when I have soreness from the gym, while the cooling is awesome when you want to chill the seats fast after the car has been sitting in the sun.

GRANT: The cabin design has ample common sense with dual cup holders perfect for takeaway coffees in the console (there is another pair in the rear fold down armrest) along with a nook for keys, the wireless phone charging pad in front of the shifter and bottle holders in each door.

Kia’s Cerato sedan, featured in Sport+ specification.

THE COMMUTE

KEL: Getting away from the lights it’s quick but not insanely fast. The ride is certainly firm and the steering heavy compared to most mainstream small cars.

GRANT: That has been the intention of the GT from launch. There’s three other models in the range if comfort and fuel efficiency is your jam.

KEL: It certainly sounds sporty, especially when you put your foot down.

GRANT: All other models in the range use a naturally aspirated four-cylinder. This engine is smaller in capacity but gains a turbo, is combined with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission and under the metal is a more sophisticated rear suspension.

KEL: You feel the bumps and the road rumble is noisier than many other models we’ve driven recently.

GRANT: Using 18-inch low profile Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber, the GT is really set up for the bends rather than the ’burbs. That self-shifter can be clunky at low speeds around town but the rewards really come when you get away from the traffic.

Kel and Grant Edwards.

THE SHOPPING

KEL: Boot space was far greater than I expected for a car of this size.

GRANT: With more than 500 litres it’s better than many compact SUVs. The sedan doesn’t offer as much flexibility as a hatch in terms of loading volumes, yet if you’re not regularly carting sporting equipment or furniture then the notchback has ample space for groceries and suitcases.

KEL: This model also has my favourite safety gear for conquering car parks. The rear cross traffic assistant systems warn or completely stop the car if oncoming traffic is detected.

GRANT: Front and rear parking sensors also help, yet it’s still a compact car so fitting into confined spaces is still easy with a tight turning circle.

The new Kia logo is proudly warn by the Cerato range.

THE SUNDAY RUN

KEL: Four different modes for driving come in handy when departing town. Choosing Sport delivers an angry red colour theme around the instruments and the exhaust sound is louder.

GRANT: That soundtrack comes courtesy of the dual exhaust, with the mode change enabling the driver to push higher into the rev range before gear changes. It also has an artificial sound accentuater which provides a sportier exhaust note through the speakers and can be controlled via the touchscreen menus. There are paddles on the steering wheel for those who like to take control of cog-swapping, and the Cerato will happily push toward the red line.

KEL: Cornering was fun and I never felt like it was sliding or lacked confidence.

GRANT: Despite being front-wheel drive it does a good job of pushing a lot of power through the front end without scrambling. Pushing it hard through our favourite winding test areas the GT achieved similar speeds and traction as some Europeans worth more than double.

Boot space in the 2022 Kia Cerato sedan surpasses 500 litres. Sport+ specification pictured.

THE FAMILY

KEL: One USB charging point behind the console and rear air vents, our boys had no issue with the back seat accommodation.

GRANT: Real estate for passengers is fine as long as those in the front don’t shift too far rearward.

KEL: Safety features seemed on par with most other cars we’ve driven lately.

GRANT: There are only six airbags but it has smart cruise control to maintain set distances from other vehicles, automatic emergency braking helps avoid collisions with other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, while a new blind spot addition warns the passengers from opening doors when approaching traffic is detected.

KEL: Kia’s been famous for it’s seven-year warranty, how are the other running costs?

GRANT: We averaged 7.6L/100km with a mix of driving conditions, and it surprisingly runs on standard unleaded rather than requiring premium. Capped price servicing is available, but the average cost is $462 required annually or every 10,000km – that sounds expensive compared to rivals but it’s always worth checking the fine print as Kia typically has a longer list of service inclusions.

Getting into the twisty stuff is where the Kia Cerato GT does its best work.

THE VERDICT

KEL: Good looks with a fun personality, I can see the GT’s appeal. For my daily routine I prefer comfort over performance so I’d probably save my money and go with a more sensible variant.

GRANT: Why be humdrum? The Cerato GT offers strong value for money with impressive raw performance abilities. This a sporting package offering ample bang for buck.

Originally published as The 2022 Kia Cerato GT offers sporting engagement that would cost double with a prestige badge