Sharp Pricing, But It’s Pretty Stiff! (Kia Cerato GT 2023 Review)

Detailed review and test of the 2023 Kia Cerato GT, including performance, ride quality, handling, price and features.

The Kia Cerato GT gives you 150kW of turbocharged power for less than $40K driveaway. So, what’s the catch with this semi-hot hatch?

Rivals to the Cerato GT include the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Volkswagen Golf and others.

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[jt]

I like the analogue dials and it makes it more attractive to me over the complete touch screen interfaces.

[TypicalTonk]

Couldn’t disagree more re: dash cluster. The analogue speedo/tacho looks far more premium than the cheaper full digital. The digital is cheaper to produce which is why theyre becoming more common. The analogue looks more classy.

[CrystalNinja]

I've been driving a 'warm' car for 6 years now. Elantra SR, also with MPS4 tyres. It's been a lot of fun, and puts a smile on my face. It's also arguably more than enough power for a daily road car. Recently I've been wanting to graduate from a smile to a grin, so I ordered a 24' i30 Sedan N. I'm looking forward to experiencing the performance differences. Also, props to Kia for continuing the flat bottom steering wheel.

[JJ-wiuw]

This is a direct competitor to the Hyundai i30 hatch/sedan N-Line. Not the N.

[gdawwg]

There were under 30 gramd a few years ago
Proces are getting insane and with interest rates how they are now as well

[kevinpayne]

I’ve had mine since 8/23. Overall I’m happy with the car especially on the open road. Although I have to use the 95 juice to get the urban figure on rural I get mid 5s regularly. Overall I would rate it 8.7/10. 😊

[ghiagy]

Remember it's also built at a price, you add all those things you suggest will up the price. Then will people be able to afford it

[yellowraincoat.]

Got one of these as a Sedan a few months ago and I absolutely love it, so much fun to drive. Really the only thing I wish was better is the firm suspension and road noise, not a deal breaker but still quite noticeable, especially if you're coming from a really soft cushy suspension. Also in heavy traffic with a lot of stopping and starting, occasionally you'll feel a slight 'jerk' from the transmission but very minor.

[HannahFortalezza]

I've got a 2019 model. Gotta disagree with you regarding the ride - it feels absolutely fine to me. Maybe that's cause I'm coming from an older Silvia which certainly felt the bumps more.

The transmission though, yes it sucks especially when cold and at slow speed. It's actively dangerous if you have the car in eco/smart mode and using middling amounts of accelerator pedal - it'll hunt between gears and go absolutely nowhere until you finally boot it to give it a clear understanding of what you want to do. They need to reprogram it.

[GiacomoThes]

Fun to drive but I do agree with the ride issue around town on our dodgy roads. Adaptive dampers would solve this issue. Michelin tyres are grippy but also noisy plus I get clutch noise when I’m slowing down or stop start in traffic.

[SuperMattb]

Got one of these towards the end of covid as I wasnt driving as much and wanted a small sedan. Swapped the springs out for Ebaichs - ride is way better and still excellent bang for buck.

[lagna]

the signal lights are still at the rear bumper? That is the most con factor

[jeremybean-hodges]

We chose between this, and the Mazda 3 G25 Astina last year.

Pros -
The Cerato GT is in another league power-wise - that engine is a bit of a velvet sledgehammer.
The transmission is a really good match to the car.
Its value-for-money equation is pretty much unmatched - and the ventilated seats are great.
It's pretty spacious for a small car.

Cons -
The ride. It is so, so jarring and bordering on crashy for regular use, and for not a lot of gain compared to the 3.
The interior... look, it's reasonably good, but it can't compete with the opulence and flair of the 3.
No manual option (I got in before Mazda stopped selling the manual).
The piped-in stereo fake-engine noise is just way too boy-racer for a grown adult man :)

We went for the Mazda in the finish. I'd love the Kia's power in the Mazda, but no dice.

If you have the money, the i30 sedan would be a good point of comparison.

[spiro]

Can someone give me an answer to this question ?? Hyundai i30n line has the same engine transmission yet does not accelerate like the Kia and the Hyundai also has a terrible jerky and hesitant off the mark transmission. It feels like the Kia has a totally different engine gearbox which is way ahead of the Hyundai

[SVW]

I leased a 2020 GT. Then when my lease was up I bought it.

[malsmith]

We have the pre face lift model and apart from the horrible ride it's awesome.. I have no idea how KIA engineers could all agree on that suspension tune as it's really really bad.

[JJ-wiuw]

I believe the engine on these is a direct injection engine, which can have issues with carbon build-up in the longer term.

[word]

i would take it over an i30 N line everyday of the week only thing i would do is make the red ring in the center of the wheels go away they are so tacky
fake center locks are pathetic no matter what car they are on

[SVW]

Complaining about stiffness on a sport sedan. 😂

[HughesyTech]

Embarrasing that he doesn't know the difference between the N and the N-Line.