Ceed crosses over into coupe territory with new XCeed.

Kia’s has applied pseudo-coupe styling and some gravel travel packaging to its premium hatchback, the Ceed.

This new version of the C-segment hatch is unsurprisingly called the XCeed and is a touch larger than the standard car. Measured bumper-to-bumper, the XCeed is 85 mm longer, stands 43 mm taller (thanks to additional ground clearance) and is also 26 mm wider across.

Those larger dimensions mean it is a bitbigger inside too, with luggage capacity growing by 31-litres over the Ceed hatch, to total 426-litres in the XCeed.

Kia’s engineers have made the XCeed slightly more adaptable to rough road use, by reducing suspension compression rates by a median 5%. Ground clearance also increases by 42 mm over the normal Ceed, to register 184 mm, if you specify the 18-inch wheel. That should be sufficient for travelling on less than perfect roads and off-the-map gravel tracks.

Powering Kia’s gravel travel capable crossover coupe is a range of turbocharged engines. The smallest of these is a 1-litre triple-cylinder turbo, good for 88 kW and 172 Nm.

There is a boosted 1.4, delivering 103 kW and 242Nm and a powerful 1.6-litre turbo too, boosting 150kW and 265 Nm.

For those who desire the range of a diesel, there’s a 1.6-litre TDi in two outputs, either 85- or 100 kW. All engines can be had with a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, but for the entry-level 1-litre, which is only configurable with the manual.

Unfortunately, the stylish XCeed is unlikely to become available to South African buyers, as Kia has targeted Europe as its primary destination market. SA will however get the Seltos Compact SUV to fill the void.