In its original second generation form, Kia’s cee’d no longer only looked to undercut Focus-class family hatchbacks: it wanted to tackle them on equal terms at equal prices.

That meant it had to be very good indeed.

Still, sharper looks, great quality and higher technology promised much. How does this model stack up as a used buy?

What You Get
In second generation form, the cee’d has a  more contemporary stance that’s both longer and lower than its predecessor, with the rising beltline giving the five-door hatchback a more aggressive, dynamic wedge shape.

And at the wheel? Well, the fascia layout is neat, though there are rather a lot of buttons.

What’s important though is that this is a classy place to be, with improvements in quality that are actual as well as perceived.

This is clearly a design that’s had a great deal of money spent on its execution.

What To Look For
The cee’d has proven an extremely reliable car, with both petrol engines and the diesel motor scoring well in reliability surveys.

Customers have noted that some of the interior finishes can get scratched quite easily and the alloy wheels fitted to top models are quite easy to kerb.

Other than that, it’s a clean bill of health.

Kia’s brilliant seven-year warranty arrangement means that these vehicles very rarely fall into premature neglect.

Overall
There will still be some buyers of used family hatchback of course, who’ll blindly buy a Focus, a Golf or some other contender in this class from a conventional mainstream brand without considering its Korean alternative.

But these will largely be uninformed folk yet to fully cotton on to the way that products in this segment have changed.

Thanks to the success of this cee’d, there are fewer and fewer customers of this kind around.

There are family hatch folk who’ll want more powerful engines or more dynamic handling than this car can offer.

But, we’d suggest, many more will enjoy this Kia’s sharp looks, impressive quality and low running costs.

We think you might like it.