The Kia Cerato 2021 has a position in one of the highest ranks of compact vehicle listings. It offers advanced safety features and infotainment systems, a large cabin, and an above-average expected dependability and fuel efficiency rating.
Is Kia Cerato a Good Choice?
Yes, the Cerato 2021 is a decent and reasonably sized vehicle. It has also been listed in the Best Compact Car for the Money in 2021 because of its exceptional mix of quality and affordability. It offers a spacious interior with high-quality features, comfortable seats for adults, and an easy-to-use entertainment system.
This car also comes with a plethora of standard equipment, especially for its low price. The standard model has good fuel efficiency, and a performance-enhanced Cerato GT variant is offered. However, several reviewers have complained that the CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission) is unreliable. Furthermore, the Cerato’s hard ride can be unsettling on rough roads.
Buying the Cerato will be an excellent decision among the class of compact cars and will give a lot of value to your everyday life. There are, however, other good alternatives to consider, such as the Mazda3 and Honda Civic, both of which provide a livelier driving experience than the Cerato. The completely new Hyundai Elantra is also worth considering.
Reliability and Warranty
The Kia Cerato 2021 has scored 87 out of 100 on the reliability scale, making it a very reliable compact car. It also offers a five-year basic warranty with 60,000 miles and a ten-year powertrain warranty with 100,000 miles.
Old vs. New – What Is New in the 2021 Kia Cerato?
The following are the most significant modifications to the Kia Cerato during the previous few years:
2017: the manufacturer revised its external appearance and introduced numerous additional active safety systems. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are now available as options. They also enhanced the car’s fuel efficiency with the basic engine and discontinued the Cerato Koup.
2018: No significant alterations in 2018.
2019: The manufacturers completely rebuilt with new exterior and interior style, navigation system with an 8-inch touch-screen and standard Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and various new safety measures.
2020: GT and GT-Line versions were added to the range; the company removed the S trim.
2021: No significant alterations
If you’re thinking about buying an older version, read the reviews and check out 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 Cerato prices & specs so you can make your final decision soon!
Kia Cerato’s 2021 Interior: Sophisticated and Roomy
The cabin capacity of the Kia Cerato is 15.3 cubic feet wide, which is among the largest in the compact vehicle class. The rear seats have a Split-folding feature which is standard on all versions except the base version. The GT-Line and other higher versions have a standard hands-free power liftgate.
Quality of Cerato’s Interior Materials
The Cerato’s cabin is loaded with high-quality materials, especially in the higher variants, and elegant interior accents like spherical air vents contribute to its overall appearance.
How Many Passengers Can the Cerato Accommodate?
The Kia Cerato has two rows of seating for up to five persons. The seats are padded, supported, and reasonably large, making them pleasant to sit in for extended periods. There is also enough headroom for taller people.
The Kia Cerato 2021 has two full pairs of LATCH connections for the outer rear seats and a tethering attachment for the rear center seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded this LATCH system the second-highest grade of Acceptable for how conveniently passengers can use it.
The bottom anchors are situated deeply inside the seats, so you can comfortably slip your hands towards them and fasten the car-seat belts with no trouble.
Cerato’s Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation
A basic navigation system has an eight-inch wide touch screen. This system is located towards the top of the dashboard and contains external buttons for temperature and sound settings underneath the display. The interface is simple and easy to view and access from the driver’s seat, and it is simple to use.
- Standard Navigation Features include four speakers, Bluetooth, an eight-inch widescreen, a USB port, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
- Available Navigation Features include HR radio, satellite radio, Harman Kardon sound system with eight speakers, navigation, and wireless device charging.
- Additional features include a keyless entry via remote.
- Other available features include remote start, button starts, keyless entry, and a sunroof.
Cerato’s Efficiency: Performance Over Precision
How Good Is the Engine?
Most of the Kia Cerato models have a four-stroke engine with a 2.0-liter capacity – creating an output of 147 horsepower, which is a good output for driving around the city. The base FE versions have a standard manual gearbox. It also has the Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT) as an optional feature, but it is inefficient. However, it can help Cerato to offer decent fuel efficiency.
If you want additional power, you should go for the GT grade, which offers a four-cylinder turbocharged engine with an output of 201 horsepower. You can pair this engine with a six-speed manual gearbox or a basic seven-speed automatic gearbox with dual-clutch.
How Much Mileage Does It Have?
The basic Cerato featuring a manual gearbox achieves 27 miles per gallon in the town and 37 miles per gallon on the interstate, which is quite decent for the compact vehicle class. If you choose a version with a CVT, you will earn an even higher 31 miles per gallon in the town and 41 miles per gallon on the interstate.
The GT grade, the sole model, equipped with the 1.6-liter powertrain, achieves up to 27 miles per gallon in the town and 35 miles per gallon on the interstate.
How Is the Drive and Handling on the Road?
The driving and handling characteristics of the Cerato have received mixed reviews. Some claim the drive is very comfortable, while others believe the handling is shaky and the strong suspension setup causes a jarring drive over rough ground. It has a front-wheel conventional drivetrain.
Safety Features and Crash Prevention Test Results
The Kia Cerato 2021 received a total safety score of 4 out of 5 stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including 4 stars for the frontal collision and rollover assessments and 5 stars for the side impact test. Significantly, the NHTSA’s lateral barrier backseat passenger test indicated that an incursion of the rear left door increases the chance of injury.
The Cerato 2021 received the highest grade of Good from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety throughout the six road tests. The Cerato’s headlights scored the lowest grade of Poor among most models according to how well they brighten the path ahead. The LED headlights of the Cerato GT, on the other hand, received Good ratings for forward visibility.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) grades collision prevention features using a separate scale. The base vehicle-to-vehicle frontal accident prevention technology on the Cerato received the highest grade of Superior. In contrast, the available vehicle-to-pedestrian collision prevention technology received the midtier ranking of Acceptable.
The Final Call
The Kia Cerato 2021 excels at several aspects, making it an excellent choice in the compact vehicle sector. It has a sophisticated interior, a long list of standard equipment, and high fuel efficiency. It also has comfortable seats and a large trunk.
The Cerato, on the other hand, is not especially enjoyable to drive due to a relatively sluggish CVT and a dubious ride quality.
