Interior Comfort

Smooth controls for the driver and space for all

The interior is light and airy, thanks to the large expanse of glass, heightening the perception of the interior space which matches or beats most of its direct competitors. Both Ceratos offer 1,087 mm of legroom at the front and 898 mm at the rear, with 1,400 mm of shoulder room for front seat occupants and 1,370 mm across the rear seat. Front headroom is 1,017 mm, while rear headroom is 985 mm in the hatchback and 970 mm in the sedan. Compared to the Kia Shuma which the Cerato replaces, headroom is increased by 12mm (front) and 14 to 29 mm (rear) and rear legroom is improved by 25 mm - even though the new car is between 30 mm (sedan) and 170 mm (hatchback) shorter than the previous model.

The interior design continues the same bold styling that characterises the exterior of the vehicle, with arched surfaces and contoured edges. The design is simple, modern and clean-cut, and executed in high-quality materials to create an up-market ambience. The dash is divided horizontally, with the upper surfaces in a dark colour (to banish unwanted glare and reflections) which is continued around the upper surfaces of the doors, visually unifying the cabin.

The Cerato´s seats combine superior support (for low fatigue on long journeys) with superior hold (for good lateral support when cornering) and are generously proportioned to accommodate drivers and passengers of all shapes and sizes. The driver´s seat features six-way adjustment, with 45 mm of vertical travel operated by a ratchet-type lever. On both front seats, the slide function is operated by a bar lever under the front of the seat that can be easily operated with either hand.

For added comfort, the Cerato front seats incorporate Fullmaflex® type backrest support. The Fullmaflex system adjusts automatically to driver and passenger physiques according to their weight distribution, providing firm support to the lumbar and pelvic areas. The result is increased comfort and reduced driver fatigue. Both these seats can be ordered with optional cushion and backrest electrical heating, and, depending on markets, the driver´s seat can be fitted with two active head restraints to protect against whiplash injuries in the event of a collision. Manually adjustable head restraints are standard fit on both front seats, the outer rear seats (sedan) and all three rear seats (hatchback).

The hatchback Cerato has a rear seat with both cushion and backrest split 60/40. The sedan backrest is split 60/40 and folds forward onto the seat cushion to expand the trunk area (345 litres) for greater load-carrying versatility. Leather seating and interior trim (steering wheel, transmission gear shift and parking brake lever) is available as an option on both LX and EX grades.

The driving controls are laid out to ensure optimum vehicle control, with maximum comfort and minimum effort. The four-spoke, 370 mm diameter steering wheel is tilt-adjustable through 40 mm and neatly frames the four-dial instrument cluster and a multi-function LED panel. The illuminated ignition keyhole is mounted on the right side of the steering column.

Separate steering column stalks control the windscreen wipers and the (optional) automatic cruise control. The windscreen is cleaned by a washing system that engages the water jet and the wipers simultaneously with a single movement of the stalk. The wipers have two continuous-speed and three intermittent settings. Once set, the cruise control system can be disengaged by applying the brakes. A reset function returns the car to the most recently selected speed at the touch of a button.

Easy to read, the instrument cluster´s analogue gauges display road speed, engine speed (rpm), fuel status and water temperature. The level of back-lighting is adjustable for night driving, via a rotary switch below the steering wheel. The optional trip computer display is set into the bottom of the large speedometer and shows a variety of information, including average speed, travel time, fuel status and distance to empty.

A panel of switches on the driver´s door armrest allows control of all four electric windows and both door mirrors. The driver´s window has an auto-down feature for added convenience.

The central fascia is finished in a high grade plastic to match the colour tone of the interior and features a metal-grain surface for a more high-tech look. The fascia of the Cerato hatchback has a modular structure with simple lines and a curved bezel. The sedan´s fascia has a metal-grain surface and gives a high-tech feeling to the cockpit. Topped by a digital clock, the centre fascia flows smoothly down from the dashboard to encompass twin air vents flanking the hazard lights switch, the audio system and the heating/ventilation controls.

A distinctive feature of the dash is the four flush-type air vents and their directional controls. On the automatic model, the gear selector surround below the fascia features a metallic front plate that adds impact and a touch of flair to the interior.

An overhead console features twin map-reading lamps, sunglasses holder and (where fitted) controls for the powered tilt-n-slide tinted glass sunroof. Solar-control glass, which filters out UV and infrared rays and enhances air-conditioning efficiency, can be ordered for the front, rear and side windows.

Please note that technical and equipment specifications, as well as options availability for the Cerato LX and EX five-door and four-door models may vary country by country. Please check with your local Kia Distributor for final details and prices.