Kia Motors has finally introduced the highly anticipated all-new model of the Cerato to the local market amidst a flurry of excitement. The third generation Kia Cerato was first unveiled at the North America International Auto Show and featured several thought-provoking design changes under the direction of Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer. The all-new 2019 Kia Cerato is packed full of goodies with enhancements to comfort levels, fuel economy and several driver assistance technologies.
Exteriors – Graceful yet Sporty
The 2019 Cerato is a marriage between the youthful and sporty looks of the older Cerato, coupled with the grace and elegance of the new Kia Stinger. The hood has been elongated thanks to the cowl point being pushed back five inches and has also been embellished with creases, giving it a beefier and more powerful look. The traditional tiger nose grille has also gone under the scalpel and comes out with a fresher look along with an aggressive lower valance in black that makes the Cerato appear muscular. The headlight design has also been revamped with design cues taken from the Stinger, giving it a sleeker appearance with stand-alone turn signal indicators mounted onto the bumper beneath the headlights.
The rear end has been treated to similar changes to give the Cerato the same graceful yet sporty appearance by adding dedicated turn signal indicators and linking the taillights together with a sleek horizontal trim piece. The new LED taillights, coupled with the turn signal indicators lend the Cerato an air of elegance and continuity.
Interiors – A sense of openness
The interiors of the 2019 Kia Cerato lend a sense of vast openness thanks to a new horizontal layout that has a minimalist effect on the overall cabin. The all-new Kia Cerato is 4640mm in length, up 81mm from the previous model and 1440mm in height, which has been upped by around13mm. While this may not seem like much and is barely visible, it does have a noticeable effect on the dash, giving the Cerato a sense of openness and comfort. The width of the sedan has also been increased by 18mm, bringing it to 1798mm.
Meanwhile thanks to the design import from the Stinger, the new Cerato gets a refreshingly neat and tidy looking dashboard. The buttons are placed in an ergonomic and intuitive manner for easy access, below a 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen that displays entertainment information to the driver and passenger. The spoken circular air vents are aeronautically inspired to maximise comfort while the overall layout enhances ergonomics and expedites entry and exit.
A New Standard in Safety& Comfort
The 2018 Kia Cerato was awarded the Top Safety Pick Plus rating by the US-based non-profit Organisation, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the 2019 Cerato has improved upon the structure thanks to a combination of top quality hot-stamped components and 54-percent Advanced High-Strength Steel. The seats too have undergone structural improvements to increase strength while reducing weight and piled with denser foam and improved lumbar support to enhance comfort and safety.
IVT, not CVT – It’s all About Intelligence
The all new-Cerato features an all-new Intelligent Variable Transmission that has been designed by the best at Kia Motors after data analysis conducted on CVTs from other manufacturers. The result is Kia’s proprietary IVT technology that utilises a chain-type belt instead of the traditional push-type belt, to provide smoother and more linear acceleration while also removing the rubber-band feeling experienced by most drivers in a CVT vehicle.
Meanwhile, the IVT is hooked up to the dependable second-gen, 2.0-litre Atkinson Cycle technology four-cylinder engine with multi-port injection and a cooled EGR system, to boost engine efficiency and fuel economy. The 2019 Cerato engine provides a cool 147 break-horse power (152PS) along with 179 Nm of torque at 6200 and 4000 RPM respectively.
Technology & Features
The focus for the 2019 Cerato is consumer safety, convenience and pleasure. The all-new Cerato has been packed with the latest in gadgets to ensure a comfortable and safe drive. The Cerato 2.0L EX trim offers tilt & telescopic steering, ABS, ESC, HAC brake system, power windows, keyless entry, Aux, USB, Bluetooth, DTRL and much more.
The new Cerato also contains a 320-watt premium sounds system developed in tandem with sounds technology leaders, Harman Kardon that has been placed ergonomically to relay sound through a unique speaker-hole pattern for maximum and even coverage. In addition to the premium sound system, the 2019 Cerato has now been furnished with Kia’s proprietary Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite, which is usually found in Kia’s more upscale models. The ADAS suite incorporates such technologies as Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) and Smart Cruise Control (SCC).
The 2019 Kia Cerato is currently available in two trims, the 2.0L LX AT and 2.0L EX AT. Please get in touch with your local Kia dealership to find out more or call at +974 4403 9444 to get more information or book a test drive.
For more information about Kia Motors and their products, please visit www.kiaqatar.com