The new stage in the development of the popular compact hatchback Kia Ceed will be marked by fundamental changes that should adapt the model to modern environmental standards and consumer preferences in different regions.
The French publication L'argus reported the first details about the next generation of the model, which will appear on the European market in 2026. According to the information, the Ceed will receive a deep technical and conceptual modernization.
Its successor will actually be the European analogue of the new North American Kia K4 model, albeit with power units and transmissions adapted for Europe.
One of the important differences of the future Ceed is the retention of a manual gearbox, which has become a rarity in modern cars, especially against the backdrop of widespread electrification.
The basic version for the European market will be equipped with a small three-cylinder one-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with a capacity of 100 horsepower, which will work in tandem with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed “robot“ with two clutches.
This drive option is not available on the American market, where a two-liter naturally aspirated engine with 149 hp is available instead. with CVT and a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with 193 hp with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
In Europe, the successor to the Ceed will have a more environmentally friendly and economical range of engines. In addition to the basic 1.0 turbo engine, another gasoline version will appear - a 1.5-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 140 horsepower.
All standard versions will be equipped with a 48-volt starter-generator, which indicates the introduction of mild hybrid systems to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
In addition, a full plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will probably be offered, combining a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine, an electric motor and a six-speed robotic transmission. The power of this hybrid installation should be about 140 horsepower.
At the same time, it became known that there will be no fully electric versions of the Kia Ceed. It is not yet known whether the successor will receive diesel modifications: the manufacturer is currently not saying whether the 1.6 CRDi engine with a capacity of 136 hp, which has so far been quite popular among most European buyers, will be retained.
The model is also expected to lose another characteristic feature - a wide range of body styles. If the Ceed is currently offered as a classic hatchback, station wagon and even the stylish ProCeed Shooting Brake, then in the new generation only the base five-door version may remain.
As for the current generation of the Kia Ceed, its life cycle is coming to an end. The online configurator of the model has already been closed, and the production of the standard Ceed and its raised version XCeed will be discontinued in the near future. Earlier, the ProCeed station wagon was also removed from the assembly line, which is no longer available for order.
According to L'argus, availability levels will continue until approximately the end of 2025, after which Kia's official websites in Europe will start the year with a significantly updated and at the same time reduced model range in the compact car segment.