Used Kia Cee’d 2012-2018 reliability

With the long warranty being such a draw for Kia buyers, it’s vital to check that the one for your potential purchase is still valid. By that we don’t just mean ensuring the car is less than seven years old and has covered fewer than 100,000 miles, but that it has been serviced to schedule by a Kia dealer. A full service history is therefore essential.

Have a good look around for any scrapes to the bodywork that could serve as a negotiation point, and be aware that the larger alloy wheels on higher-spec models are more vulnerable to kerb damage. The Cee'd's interior generally wear well, although it’s still possible to scratch the plastics when doing runs to the tip or throwing your keys into a door bin.

Refreshingly, there are no safety recalls to worry about when buying a second-generation Cee’d, and because all of the engines are chain-driven, there aren’t any cambelt changes to factor, in either.

Some owners have reported doors failing to lock, while others have had headlight units replaced under warranty due to flickering driving lights. Check the Bluetooth and (if fitted) sat-nav work properly, too. But other than that, the Cee’d has been impressively immune from otherwise common faults.

Kia as a brand finished in an excellent sixth place in our most recent reliability survey, out of 31 manufacturers. The Cee'd finished mid-table in the family car class in the same survey.