Business Car Manager car review verdict
The new generation cee’d hatchback that arrived in the summer has made a big surge forward beyond its predecessor, and the cee’d Sportswagon is on the same road.
It is a much better car all round and moves up much closer to the competition. It is dearer too, but remains competitive in its sector.
The 1.6 CRDi has extra power, but the 1.4 CRDi is more refined with better economy and lower CO2 emissions, and it’s our choice of the two engines available. Sure, there’s not as much power, but there’s enough and the financial payoff for company car drivers is lower company car tax. In pounds, shillings and pence, a 20% tax paying company car driver saves nearly £100 on company car tax by choosing the 1.4; and benefits from greater fuel economy, too. The major disadvantage is the limited range available in the 1.4: just the one model.
In a business car comparison the new Kia cee’d Sportwagon is not as good as the class-leading Ford Focus estate – but it’s the equal of the Astra estate and i30 estate. And it makes a canny company car choice for a business driver looking for a good value alternative to the Focus.
You could also read our review of the cee’d 5-door hatchback.
The low down
| P11D Value | £ 16,840 |
| Monthly business rental (ex VAT) | From £n/a |
| Tax Bands 2011/12 to 2013/14 | 15%, 16%, 17% |
| Benefit in kind 2011/12 to 2013/14 | £2526, £2694, £2863 |
| Engine | 1.4 litre, four cylinder turbo diesel |
| CO2 Emissions | 109g/km |
| Power/Torque | 89hp/220Nm |
| 0-62mph/Top speed | 13.4 secs/106 mph |
| Economy (official) | 67.3 mpg combined |
