New 2022 Kia XCeed hybrid crossover gets styling and tech updates

Kia is updating the XCeed crossover hatchback, including the plug-in hybrid model, for 2022. The car’s refreshed exterior and interior styling has now been revealed, although exact specifications, technical details and pricing for the UK market are set to be confirmed at a later date.

According to Kia’s European design vice-president Gregory Guillaume, the XCeed’s updated styling “further highlights its sporty, urban and adventurous nature”. Notable exterior features on the facelifted car include redesigned LED headlamps and new looks for the grille, front bumper and air intakes.

5

The front foglamps are integrated with the headlights, leaving room for ‘air curtains’ that direct air around the wheels. At the rear, there’s a new diffuser with a gloss-black skid plate, slim LED tail-lamps with a distinctive light signature and new creased lines that give the car a wider-looking and more stable posture than before. The only body panels the XCeed has in common with the regular Ceed hatchback are its front doors.

Inside, there’s a ‘floating’ infotainment touchscreen with new graphic themes, along with touch-sensitive buttons, dials and switches for the ventilation and audio volume. There’s also satin-chrome dashboard trim and a choice of cloth, suede, synthetic leather or genuine leather seat upholstery. The top-end infotainment system has a 10.25-inch display, while lower-spec models make do with five or eight-inch screens.

A 12.3-inch ‘Supervision’ digital driver’s display is also available as an option, incorporating new graphic themes to go with the car’s ‘Eco’, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ driving modes, as well as sharply rendered dials, navigation instructions, audio information,trip information, diagnostic alerts and pop-up notifications.

5

Under the bonnet, buyers will be able to choose one of three turbocharged petrol engines, a mild-hybrid diesel, or the familiar 1.6-litre petrol-electric plug-in hybrid setup from the current XCeed PHEV. There are no significant improvements on the outgoing model’s fuel-economy, CO2 emissions or electric range figures anticipated, although exact numbers have yet to be confirmed.

A GT-Line trim level has also been added to the XCeed line-up for 2022, although it’s not yet confirmed whether this will be offered with the plug-in drivetrain. Differences from the rest of the range include a ‘tiger nose’ front grille, side bumper cladding, hexagonal rear lights, 18-inch alloys and a body-coloured diffuser.