Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Kia Ceed.
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With 128,562 currently licensed in the UK, the Kia Ceed is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Ceed 5 stars in 2019, with 88% adult occupant and 85% child protection scores.
It has a 79.8% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,575 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £215/month or 32p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
79.8%
75,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£215
est. annual total
New From
£23,000
Euro NCAP tested the Ceed in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
88%
Child Occupant
85%
Pedestrian
69%
Safety Assist
66%
There are 11 known DVSA recalls affecting the Kia Ceed. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/058
The printed circuit board (PCB) in the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) may become contaminated with fluid. A fluid contaminated PCB may lead to an electrical short circuit which in extreme cases may potentially result in a fire in the engine compartment while driving.
Build dates: 2019-11-11 to 2023-08-14
R/2025/058
The printed circuit board (PCB) in the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) may become contaminated with fluid. A fluid contaminated PCB may lead to an electrical short circuit which in extreme cases may potentially result in a fire in the engine compartment while driving.
Build dates: 2019-11-11 to 2023-08-14
R/2025/058
The printed circuit board (PCB) in the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) may become contaminated with fluid. A fluid contaminated PCB may lead to an electrical short circuit which in extreme cases may potentially result in a fire in the engine compartment while driving.
Build dates: 2019-11-11 to 2023-08-14
R/2025/058
The printed circuit board (PCB) in the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) may become contaminated with fluid. A fluid contaminated PCB may lead to an electrical short circuit which in extreme cases may potentially result in a fire in the engine compartment while driving.
Build dates: 2019-11-11 to 2023-08-14
R/2025/058
The printed circuit board (PCB) in the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) may become contaminated with fluid. A fluid contaminated PCB may lead to an electrical short circuit which in extreme cases may potentially result in a fire in the engine compartment while driving.
Build dates: 2019-11-11 to 2023-08-14
+ 6 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 75,000 MOT tests, the Ceed has a first-time pass rate of 79.8% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Ceed is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Kia Ceed are estimated at around £2,575 per year, or £215 per month.
Fuel
£1,046
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£929
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Ceed achieves a combined fuel economy of around 50.4 mpg (40.9 mpg urban, 47.1 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEED | PETROL | 50.4 mpg | 1.0L |
| CEED | PETROL | 46.3 mpg | 1.4L |
| CEED | PETROL | 47.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| CEED | DIESEL | 67.3 mpg | 1.4L |
| CEED | DIESEL | 78.5 mpg | 1.6L |
| CEED | PETROL | 38.2 mpg | 1.6L |
| CEED | DIESEL | 58.9 mpg | 1.6L |
| CEED 5DR | PETROL | 44.8 mpg | 1.4L |
Starting from £23,000 new, a Kia Ceed typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £17,250 | −£5,750 |
| 2 years | 64% | £14,650 | −£8,350 |
| 3 years | 56% | £12,900 | −£10,100 |
| 4 years | 50% | £11,600 | −£11,400 |
| 5 years | 46% | £10,700 | −£12,300 |
| 6 years | 43% | £9,950 | −£13,050 |
| 7 years | 41% | £9,350 | −£13,650 |
| 8 years | 39% | £8,850 | −£14,150 |
| 9 years | 37% | £8,450 | −£14,550 |
| 10 years | 35% | £8,000 | −£15,000 |
There are currently 128,562 licensed and 4,099 SORN Ceeds in the UK (132,661 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Ceed has a 79.8% first-time MOT pass rate based on 75,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Ceed 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 88% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 69% for vulnerable road users, and 66% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Ceed are estimated at around £2,575 per year (£215/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 11 known safety recalls affecting the Ceed. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new Ceed starts from around £23,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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