2021 (71) Kia XCeed 1.6 GDi PHEV 4 5dr DCT

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

In 2020, Kia's XCeed PHEV delivered Plug-in Hybrid technology to the mainstream part of the mid-sized SUV segment - and at the time, that was still a relatively rare thing in this class. This model featured the usual Plug-in model draws - a fantasyland official fuel figure, a tax-efficient CO2 reading and a near-30 mile WLTP electrified driving range. But as usual with a PHEV, there was a bit extra to pay for the technology and packaging compromises to make. 

History

Back in 2020, most brands were failing to offer any Plug-in hybrid models in the volume part of the 'Qashqai-class' SUV 'C'-segment, but Kia managed to offer two, PHEV versions of the Niro and, as in this case, the XCeed crossover. This XCeed was introduced in PHEV form in 2020, then got a light makeover in late 2022.  Unfortunately, the XCeed PHEV never got the larger 11.1kWh battery that's allowed the Niro PHEV from this period to go a few miles further between charges. As you might expect, if you're comparing against the more conventional versions of this XCeed, you've to accept quite a price premium, a weight penalty and compromises in interior packaging. Can the Plug-in drive advantages here compensate? The XCeed PHEV sold in this form until late 2022, when it got a mild facelift. Sales ceased in 2023.

What You Get

You'd have to be fairly familiar with the standard XCeed to recognise this PHEV version as being in any way visually different. The eagle-eyed will notice this plug-in variant's closed 'tiger-nose' grille at the front (which aids aerodynamic efficiency) and the distinct 'eco plug-in' exterior badges. Plus of course there's the addition of a charging port, integrated into the left front wing of the car.  As for the changes made to the post '22-plate revised version, well the front grille was restyled, as were the LED headlamps that flank it, plus there was a restyled front bumper and air intake design. The 18-inch alloy wheels draw attention to the ground clearance - which is 182mm. Otherwise things on the facelift car were much as before. Wheel arch and side sill cladding, along with satin chrome roof rails, lend the XCeed a tough presence.  Take a seat up-front and it's all quite smart. Hardly anything changed with the updated model at all apart from a slight lower dashboard redesign, which saw the introduction of touch-sensitive buttons, dials and switches that control the audio volume, heating and ventilation systems. It's not the highest quality cabin you'll find in the class from this period, but the brand did at least trim it a little more jauntily as part of the facelift and both the ergonomics and the driving position are difficult to fault. Standard is an excellent 10.25-inch 'Touchscreen Satellite Navigation' centre-dash touchscreen which has an incorporated eSIM chip that retrieves and updates all kinds of data as you drive. The Korean maker claimed that the adoption of the PHEV powertrain had a 'minimal impact' on packaging, but that's not quite true. Most plug-in models manage not to reduce rear seat space over their conventional counterparts but here, the way that the system's battery is located beneath the rear bench pushes the seats slightly up and forward, fractionally reducing leg room. Like virtually all PHEVs, boot space is reduced too - in this case falling by 135-litres to 291-litres - which is not far off the sort of capacity you might get from a supermini. For bigger items, you'll need to flatten the 60:40 backrest, which frees up 1,243-litres with this PHEV.  

What to Look For

We had quite a lot of trouble finding anyone with a bad word to say about this XCeed. So it's just the usual stuff. Give the electrical systems a thorough test and make sure the central screen has had all its necessary map updates. Check the alloys for scuffs. The interior for child damage. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history. Previous Ceed model variants weren't great for paint quality, so check that. And if you're looking at the CRDi diesel, make sure the DPF Diesel Particular Filter hasn't clogged up with too much suburban and town driving. Careful questioning of the seller's driving habits should help here. Checking the charging system works as it should and that the lead hasn't been run over or damaged.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2020 XCeed PHEV 1.6 T-GDi ex VAT) An air filter will be priced in the £8-£15 bracket, an oil filter will sit in the £4-£7 bracket and a pollen filter costs in the £7-£21 bracket. For a pair of front brake discs, you're looking at paying in the £41 to £119 bracket, with a pair of rear discs costing up to around £23-£60. A pair of front brake pads are around £18-£45, while a pair of rear pads sit in the £11-£48 bracket for a set. An alternator can cost anything between £208-£313

On the Road

In practice, a current engineer might think the basic ingredients here to be a touch out-dated. Even back at this variant's original introduction in 2020, this PHEV system's fundamental elements - a 1.6-litre GDI petrol engine mated to a 6-speed version of the brand's DCT auto gearbox - had long been abandoned by more mainstream Kia engines. Back then, the electrified part of the package - a 44.5kW electric motor mated to an 8.9kWh battery pack - looked a bit more cutting-edge, but by the time of this model's facelift in 2022, only slightly bigger PHEVs than this were arriving on the market with batteries more than three times that size.    All of which explains this XCeed Plug-in's rather below-par EV range figure for its period, which at 29.8 miles couldn't quite crack the 30 mile barrier. It's difficult to understand why, as part of the 2022 facelift, Kia didn't replace this battery pack with the 11.1kWh one used in the Niro Plug-in Hybrid, which would have pushed that EV range up towards a much more acceptable 40 mile-style figure. Perhaps Kia didn't want to further blunt kerb weight here; at a portly 2,030kgs, it was already 224kgs more than the ordinary 1.5 T-GDi version. Which is why even though the total system power output (139bhp) here isn't much lower than that of the ordinary model, the performance you get is quite a lot slower, 62mph from rest occupying 10.3s en route to just 99mph. You'll need to select the more urgent of the two provided drive settings ('Sport') to replicate that. Next to the button for this on the lower centre console is another 'EV/HEV' one that allows you to switch the powertrain between 'Hybrid', 'Electric' and 'Automatic' drive modes. The effect of which you can view on various provided Energy Monitors.   Of course, for a Plug-in Hybrid XCeed to make any sort of sense, you'd have to establish a regular battery replenishment regime for it. Recharging to 100% takes 2 hours and 15 minutes using a 240-volt 3.3kW AC charger. With a PHEV XCeed, owners can use the centre-dash touchscreen (or the provided 'Kia Connect' app) to pre-set charging times and to locate nearby public charging points. As for the fantasy figures delivered by the PHEV variant, well it's rated at 201.7mpg on the combined cycle and 32g/km of CO2. Sounds good, but those aren't actually particularly good stats for a PHEV. Because the EV range figure of this one can't crack thirty miles and the CO2 reading is over 30g/km of CO2, the Benefit-in-Kind tax rating is higher than it might otherwise be.

Overall

Kia could have offered more for XCeed buyers with this PHEV powertrain - it certainly should have been updated in line with the brand's similarly-sized Niro crossover. Because it wasn't, the potential tax and drive efficiency savings on offer here aren't quite as great as they are with other PHEVs from this period you might consider - but this Kia is a little more affordable for used buyers than many of those.  The looks will possibly sell it, as will the roomy cabin. But you'll need to be aware that the bulky PHEV system significantly reduces boot space and also affects the conventionally-engined version's rather supple standard of ride. Opportunities for improvements in all these areas weren't taken as part of the facelift changes made to this car, but for a certain kind of customer, it still offers an engaging package. Plug-in Hybrids still have their place in the market; and this one deserved its place in the XCeed range.