SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.

*To read one of our road tests, just select from the menu on the left.

*Please remember too, that prices quoted were those ruling on the days I wrote the reports.



Kia Motors SA released the 2011 Cerato Hatchback recently. We were there.

This is a launch report. In other words, it's simply a new model announcement. The driving experience was limited to a short drive over a prepared course chosen to make the product look good. We can therefore not tell you what it will be like to live with over an extended period, how economical it is, or how reliable it will be. A very brief first impression is all we can give you until such time as we get an actual test unit for trial. Thank you for your patience.


Pics supplied
A more vibrant and lively drive

Published in The Witness Motoring on Wednesday May 25, 2011

"It's hell having great products that customers can't get enough of," said Ray Levin, CEO of Kia motors SA. "We did lose a few sales owing to shortage of stock, but rather that than for any other reason." Unprecedented worldwide demand, hot on the heels of global economic meltdown, caught Kia and others flatfooted, capacity-wise. Things are looking up though and improvement is expected in a couple of months' time.

Cerato sedans and the Koup are Kia's best sellers, followed by Sportage, Rio and Sorento, but there is always an unfilled niche isn't there? Enter the new Cerato Hatchback, aimed at young families who prefer this format for both style and practicality. Apart from the new body shape, the Hatch introduces styling, equipment, refinement and technical improvements that now also feature on 2011 Cerato Sedans and two-door Koups.

The new car has the same overall width, height and wheelbase as the sedan, but rear overhang is reduced by 190 mm, as is the overall length, so the five-door model is 4,340 mm long.  Despite its more compact dimensions, the hatch’s cargo volume of 550 litres is highly competitive in its class and 135 litres bigger than that of the 4-door. The Cerato five-door Hatch is available in two versions - 1,6 EX or 2,0 SX.

KIA designers and engineers concentrated on several key areas while developing the Cerato Hatch: dynamic driving, fuel economy, improved ride and handling balance, cabin comfort, enhanced overall safety and introduction of frontline technologies, while maintaining functionality.

The roof, rear side panels, C-pillar, tailgate, rear bumper, light clusters and two-tone spoiler are all new.  At the front, styling updates include a new radiator grille, lower air-intake grille and restyled fog lamps.  New door mirrors include LED repeaters while restyled ‘double five-spoke’ 16-inch alloy wheels on 1,6 EX and 17-inch alloy wheels on 2,0 SX are standard.  The rear combination lamps, with etching-processed lenses, are split across the tailgate shut line while a sporty rear diffuser on the 2,0 SX model allows the exhaust tailpipe to be displayed prominently.

Two-litre models feature a ‘Super Vision’ cluster with red mood lighting and a ‘message centre’ digital information display at the bottom.  This display gives information about fuel level, engine temperature, door- or trunk-open alerts and fuel consumption.  When reverse gear is engaged, the rear parking assistance system is activated and the message centre displays a plan-view graphic showing the vehicle in relation to any obstructions.

Every Hatch is equipped with a six-speaker audio system featuring an MP3-compatible radio and CD player with iPod and USB connectivity.  Remote controls are mounted on the steering wheel. For maximum cabin versatility, rear seat cushions and backrests are split 60/40 permitting fold and flip to create a completely flat cargo floor.  Although overall heights of the Hatch and Sedan are the same, the extended roofline of the five-door creates an extra 20 mm of rear headroom.

NVH has been improved. There is additional sound-dampening foam in A, B and C-pillars and luggage bay side panels, heavier gauge steel for the exterior cowling top panel, thicker insulation on the interior dash-top padding, extra insulation on the rear parcel tray and the boot carpet is made from a heavier density material.

There is a choice of two DOHC four-cylinder petrol engines featuring CVVT and four valves per cylinder.  The 1998 cc Theta II power unit generates 114 kW at 6200 rpm with torque of 194 Nm at 4300 rpm. It propels the hatch to 100 km/h in 9,1 seconds, with a top speed of 190 km/h.  The smaller 1591 cc Gamma engine produces 91 kW at 6300 rpm and torque of 156 Nm at 4200 rpm. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 10,3 seconds. Average fuel consumption varies between 6,6 l/100 km for the 1600 manual and 7,6 l/100 km for the 2,0 litre automatic.

As standard, both engines are mated to six-speed manual transmissions with ‘high’ top gear ratios for reduced engine revs and improved fuel economy. Alternatively, a six-speed automatic transmission with fully automatic or sport modes is available. Steering wheel paddle shifters are standard on the 2,0 a/t SX. The Cerato Hatch is fitted with McPherson strut front suspension and a coupled torsion beam axle at the rear. Rear shock absorbers and coil springs are mounted separately to minimise intrusion. Brakes are ABS- and EBD-equipped 280 mm ventilated discs in front with 262 mm solid discs at the rear.

While both engine size models are well equipped, upgrading to the larger engine gains you bigger wheels, leather upholstery, cruise control, the supervision instrument cluster, dusk-sensing headlights, rear park assist and automatic climate control. At only R20 000 more, the package is worth considering.

During the familiarisation drive in a 2,0 litre manual, our impressions were of a solid, well built car with a fairly firm but comfortable ride, very good fit and finish, conservative and tasteful interior styling, plenty of space, a smooth gearbox and willing performance.

The numbers
Prices:
1,6 manual: R186 000
1,6 automatic: R196 000
2,0 manual: R206 000
2,0 automatic: R216 000
Engines, performance and economy: See text
Tank size: 52 litres
Warranty: 5 years/100 000 km
Service plan: 4 years/90 000 km

To see a review,click here



What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.

What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the central hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and go to kick back and relax. 

So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!

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