THE new for 2022 Kia Cerato GT is superbly sharp and ready to thrill with hot, or at least super warm, hatch appeal. This hatchback is impressively sporty, and just as capable as an everyday driver.
We love the GT’s external design facelift and enhanced performance. With sharp angular features, and new LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights that look primo (and we’re not talking about smallgoods).
Athletic and agile, the Cerato GT has a strong muscular presence, with front bodywork that incorporates an aggressive tiger-nose grille, with red accents. The flared bonnet design is enticing, inviting the driver to get behind the wheel. And we did just that.
When sitting down into those leather sports seats with the GT embroidered logo and red stitching, you feel hugged, like being embraced through the seat itself. There’s plenty of comfort and adjustable lumbar support, with heated and ventilated front seating as well.
That should keep you comfortable even through the harshest of climate conditions, and when you want to let the outside world in, you’ll enjoy the power sunroof. You might also like the addition of a memory function for the driver’s seat.
We found these to be nice added inclusions, especially having recently stepped out of the Cerato Sport Plus variant. The range-topping GT comes with 18-inch alloys that have been fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, which provide excellent grip.
The suspension’s been re-tuned to suit the Australian conditions, and the ride is not as firm as the previous generation Cerato GT. We’ve been left impressed also with the precision handling and well weighted steering. The car feels engaged and connected to the road.
Under the bonnet you’ll find a 1.6-litre in-line 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, producing 150kW of power and 265Nm of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that provides smooth and responsive gear changes.
You’ll find four driving modes in the GT, including Normal, Eco, Sport and Smart, with performance output and suspension changes across the modes to suit the road conditions. It’s a lot of fun to drive and provides a sensational driver experience.
It sounds sporty from inside the cockpit too, and has a nice little rumble and a pop from its exhaust outside of the vehicle, especially in Sport mode. It’s also not just go fast hatchback either, as the GT also makes for a fantastic car for your everyday driver.
We could easily see ourselves utilising this car for all of our driving necessities, like travel to and from work, shopping, appointments, dropping kids off to and from school, and trips away. The rear seats are okay too, and probably best described as adequate.
They may not be as comfortable for long road trips due to the firmer ride. You will have loads of room for cargo space though with 428-litres of boot, as well as 60/40 split fold rear seats.
Like its Cerato Sport Plus sibling, the GT has a nice big 10.25-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system, and in this case is fitted with a premium JBL sound system that pumps out your tunes.
There’s also a small shelf in the centre console with wireless phone charging, but the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are still connected through a wired cable, plugged into a USB port.
The driver’s instrument cluster has an analogue tacho and speedo (something the nostalgic purists will like), but considering this is the range-topping model we would love to see a digital cluster design in future generations.
The 2022 Kia Cerato GT is packed with high-tech safety features too, including lane keeping and following assistance, smart cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and a safe exit warning system.
Useful features like blind spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assistance, along with parking sensors, rear-view camera, driver attention alert and lead vehicle departure warnings, all go a long way in helping to keep you safe on the road.
Priced at $36,990 drive away, you can have your 2022 Kia Cerato GT in Clear White, Platinum Graphite, Steel Grey, Silky Silver, Aurora Black, Horizon Blue, Mineral Blue Runaway Red and Snow White Pearl (as tested).
You can build and price a new Kia Cerato GT on the Kia Australia website. It comes with a 7-year warranty and capped price servicing.
Our test vehicle was provided by Kia Australia. To find out more about the 2022 Kia Cerato GT hatchback, contact your local Kia dealer.
