Kia Ceed Receives Praise in Germany: "Better Than Volkswagen Golf"

Kia Ceed (Photo by HMG Journal)

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Kia's European strategic model, the 'Ceed,' received high praise in Germany, the birthplace of automobiles, surpassing its competitor, the Volkswagen Golf.

According to HMG Journal on the 26th, Germany's automotive specialist media AMS (Auto Motor und Sport) recently conducted a comparative evaluation of representative models in the C-segment hatchback (C-hatchback) category, including the Kia Ceed, Volkswagen Golf, and Ford Focus. AMS is one of the three major automotive magazines representing Germany, alongside Auto Bild and Auto Zeitung.

The C-hatchback is a popular vehicle type in the European market, which values driving feel, due to its lightweight body, low center of gravity, and excellent practicality.

AMS divided the evaluation into seven categories: body, safety, comfort, powertrain, driving characteristics, environment, and cost, assessing detailed items within each.

The Ceed ranked first in the powertrain, driving characteristics, and cost categories. AMS commented that the Ceed has so much power that it does not require increasing engine revolutions even on uphill or downhill slopes. Additionally, the Ceed received top scores in detailed items such as power and responsiveness, acceleration feel, shifting performance, overtaking ability, acceleration performance, and top speed.

The driving characteristics were also highly rated. AMS described the Ceed's handling as lively and the most stable in cornering. It noted that the model focuses more on precise movements rather than comfort, and thanks to its chassis that delivers a sense of control, it will appeal to consumers who value agile handling.

Kia Ceed scored 645 points out of a total of 900, achieving first place in the overall evaluation. Volkswagen Golf scored 635 points, and Ford Focus scored 593 points.