Overall rating:

Things have moved on for Kia - no longer is it the poor relation chasing sales from the mainstream with underwhelming products but incredible value for money. With its cee'd Sportswagon the product is just as good as the warranty; anyone looking for a reasonably priced family wagon need look no further.

Key Facts

Model tested: Kia cee'd Sportswagon 1.6 CRDi '3'
Pricing: £21,095
Engine: 1.6-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder diesel
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door estate
Rivals: Ford Focus Estate, Hyundai i30 Tourer, Volkswagen Golf Estate
CO₂ emissions: 116g/km
Economy: 64.2mpg
Top speed: 120mph
0-62mph: 10.8 seconds
Power: 126bhp at 4,000rpm
Torque: 260Nm at 1,900 to 2,750rpm

In the Metal:

Gone are the days when an 'estate' derivative of a family hatchback simply had a box applied to its rump - the cee'd Sportswagon is much more stylish than that. In fact, for many this Sportswagon will hold greater visual appeal than the hatch. It includes the same sharp headlights and distinctive grille, but has a rear end that treads the fine between style and practicality.

The cabin is shared with the hatchback as well, at least as far back as the forward section with its neatly designed layout and high-quality materials. There's a shade more headroom in the rear seats though, while the 528-litre boot is 148 litres larger than the hatchback's. Fold the rear bench seat and that figure expands to 1,642 litres, and all models feature an under floor storage area - top spec models also benefit from an integrated luggage rail system.

Driving it:

No big surprises here; from behind the wheel the cee'd Sportswagon is exactly the same as the hatchback - after a few minutes you soon forget there's a little extra mass there. Noise and refinement on the move are the same, as well as being an improvement over the outgoing model. On the whole it's a competent family wagon on the road, doing everything asked of it without complaint or fuss.

But it doesn't tackle any of its tasks with vigour and it's almost impossible to get excited from behind the wheel - even with the 'Flex Steer' steering system set to Sport mode. It's worth leaving this in its default Normal mode anyway as Sport is too heavy and Comfort too light - and every setting presents the driver with an over-elasticated action.

There's little feedback from the rim, but it manages to complement the light and hassle-free gearshift of the six-speed transmission as well as the easy-going pedal weightings. The 1.6-litre diesel engine is no ball of fire either, instead concentrating on relaxed but relatively refined performance; it completes the 0-62mph dash in 10.8 seconds. There is the occasional background rumble from the unit though, especially at light throttle loads, but it's never truly intrusive.

One thing that can be a little overbearing is the suspension. For a car that's not particularly entertaining in the corners, the damping does seem a little firm - especially at the rear. On the broken Slovakian roads there was the occasional bang or crash entering the cabin when dealing with the surface changes. However, the smaller wheels on the '1' model we drove on day two was a little more compliant.

What you get for your Money:

Value for money has always been Kia's USP - but while previous models of the cee'd have had to rely upon this as a sole sales method, this latest example is good enough to entice with its talents as well. But for those that want to have their cake and eat it, the '3' trim car has it all: climate control, Bluetooth, satnav, cruise control, colour reversing camera, LED daytime running lights, Flex Steer adaptive steering, electric windows, iPod input and alloy wheels.

It does cost £21,095 with the 1.6-litre CRDi engine though, and if it were us we'd probably save ourselves £1,800 by opting for the mid-spec '2', which includes most of the necessary kit listed above. Regardless of trim the cee'd Sportswagon can achieve less than 120g/km of CO₂ emissions and over 64mpg. Include the firm's excellent seven-year warranty and it's clear that value is still top of the list.

Worth Noting

We also drove the 1.4-litre CRDi in entry-level '1' specification - and the result of that drive is two fold. We couldn't recommend the 1.4-litre unit for a start, as, while it's fine when the car is nearly empty - or the road flat and traffic free - it struggles with hills, overtaking and we suspect when loaded with extra occupants and their paraphernalia. However, we'd happily stick with the lower specification trim, which has much of what is needed for day-to-day family life. Looks like the '2' models are probably the sweet spot of the whole offering.

Summary

Is the cee'd Sportswagon 1.6 CRDi '3' the pick of the range? Probably not, but that's because the '1' or '2' models make the most sense - they cost a lot less yet still have plenty of kit and that seven-year warranty. The boot's big, the cabin neatly designed and comfortable and even the styling's something of a talking point. So save yourself some money and enjoy the satisfaction that comes from owning one of the best compact family wagons around.