Kia Ceed running costs and reliability

Item: Kia Ceed (2018 onwards)
Rating: 3.8

2018 onwards (change model)

Running costs rating: 3.8 out of 53.8

Kia Ceed (2025) dynamic front three-quarter

Written by Tom Wiltshire and James Dennison Updated: 31 August 2025

Miles per pound (mpp)

Low figures relate to the least economical version; high to the most economical. Based on WLTP combined fuel economy for versions of this car made since September 2017 only, and typical current fuel or electricity costs.

Petrol engines	5.6 - 8.0 mpp
Diesel engines	6.5 - 8.2 mpp

What is miles per pound?

Fuel economy

Low figures relate to the least economical version; high to the most economical. Based on WLTP combined fuel economy for versions of this car made since September 2017 only.

Petrol engines	38.2 - 54.3 mpg
Diesel engines	51.1 - 64.2 mpg

View mpg & specs for any version

Average fuel economy for the class
Manual gearbox versions are slightly more economical
No hybrid options

The Ceed’s single engine choice is reasonably economical returning between 44.8mpg and 50.4mpg depending on what spec and gearbox you choose. You could previously get even better returns from the diesel, but that has been discounted.

There’s no option for a full hybrid or plug-in hybrid model like an increasing number of the Ceed’s rivals including the Toyota Corolla and SEAT Leon. That means there aren’t any tax-busting models with super-low CO2 emissions, making the Ceed a worse bet than its opposition when it comes to running one as a company car.

Kia Ceed cornering — Spec and gearbox make a difference to fuel economy – ‘2’ trim with manual is best!

Servicing and warranty

Kia’s warranty is one of the best in the business, offering seven years or 100,000 miles of cover. That’s beaten only by Toyota with its up to ten-year ‘Relax’ warranty.

Servicing can be pre-paid for at purchase, either as a three-year or five-year plan for a reasonable sum. Kia dealers won’t charge the earth for routine maintenance, either.

Reliability

Nothing screams ‘confidence in reliability’ like a seven-year warranty. It doesn’t seem like that faith is misplaced, either – the Ceed’s proven reliable since this model was launched in 2018.

There’s one recall in place for a small number of cars that may have been topped up with the incorrect brake fluid, but other than that the Ceed’s reliability record is squeaky clean.