In the past, small-capacity three-cylinder turbo petrol engines would normally have been associated with some rather quirky little Japanese cars.
In the past, small-capacity three-cylinder turbo petrol engines would normally have been associated with some rather quirky little Japanese cars. But to meet ever-lower emissions targets, car makers are turning to them to boost efficiency without sacrificing performance. And Kiahas just joined the fray.
It has introduced a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo unit with the updated Cee’drange. It comes in two outputs, and it’s the more potent 118bhp version we test here in GT-Line trim.
For this first test, we’ve lined up two very different three-cylinder rivals. The new Vauxhall Astrais our current compact hatch champ, and is now offered with the three-cylinder turbo that debuted in the Corsalast year. A revised pricing structure means the top-spec Elite Nav model is closely matched to the Cee’d GT Line on price.
Image 5 of 23
A car that beats both for value is the Citroen C4. It comes with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder, and the top-spec Flair model is well equipped.
So, does adding a small-capacity turbo to the Cee’d make sense? And more importantly, does it have the measure of its rivals here?
Head to head
Assistance
Vauxhall’s OnStar system puts you in touch with a call centre to assist you. It can unlock your car if you manage to trap your keys inside, and can automatically call the emergency services if you’re involved in an accident.
Citroen’s SOS system adds an emergency button that you can press to send your car’s location to the emergency services.
Wipers
Both the Astra and C4 have clapperboard-style wipers that sweep from the base of the windscreen and up to either side.
Image 23 of 23
But the Citroen’s leave a large strip of the screen unswept on the driver’s side, which limits visibility. It’s a small niggle, but can be frustrating on wet days.
Emissions
The Cee’d emits 115g/km, compared to 107g/km for the C4 and 102g/km for the Astra. Emissions only drop to 113g/km in the less powerful Cee’d.
For free road tax, go for the 1.6 CRDi Cee’d, which emits 94 or 99g/km, depending on model.
Verdict
First place: Vauxhall Astra
Image 3 of 23
It’s another victory for our class favourite, the Vauxhall Astra. The 1.0 turbo isn’t the fastest engine around, but it’s quick enough, and the lack of a six-speed gearbox isn’t a hindrance to its performance. The Astra handles tidily, is well equipped and is comfortable, too, while Vauxhall’s new pricing strategy pushes the newcomer to the top of the class.
Second place: Kia Cee’d
Image 2 of 23
Kia’s first small-capacity turbo engine is a good effort, and its rev-happy nature suits the sporty character of this GT-Line model well. This version looks smart, is well equipped and is enjoyable to drive in most situations. However, Kia needs to do a bit more to reduce the car’s emissions and engine noise to put this three-cylinder model at the front of the compact hatch pack.
Third place: Citroen C4
Image 4 of 23
The C4 is being left behind by newer and more accomplished rivals, even within Citroen’s own ranks. While the C4 is comfortable, fast and decent value, the driving experience falls well short of the other cars here. Add in poor economy and steep depreciation, and it makes the C4 hard to recommend to even the most dedicated Citroen fan. We’d have a C4 Cactusevery time.
Other options in this category…
SEAT Leon1.2 TSI SE Technology Pack
Price: £18,785
Engine: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 108bhp
SEAT’s Leon is still a class favourite, thanks to its sharp looks, practicality and handling. Its 1.2 four-cylinder is smoother than its rivals here, while the Tech Pack adds LED headlights and sat-nav for £1,200 less than the Astra.
Ford Focus1.0T EcoBoost (100) Titanium
Price: £20,095
Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 98bhp
The lower-powered EcoBoost engine makes do with a five-speed gearbox, but emissions of 105g/km mean the Focus is a better company car choice than the Cee’d. Titanium spec adds lots of kit, and it’s more fun to drive than the Kia.
Figures Vauxhall Astra 1.0T (105) Elite Nav Kia Cee’d 1.0T (118) GT-Line Citroen C4 1.2 PureTech (130) Flair On-the-road price/total as tested £20,015/£20,015 £20,220/£20,220 £18,245/£20,945 Residual value (after 3yrs/30,000) £8,707/43.5% £7,320/36.2% £5,346/29.3% Depreciation £11,308 £12,900 £12,899 Annual tax liability std/higher rate £599/£1,198 £726/£1,452 £582/£1,164 Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) £1,397/£2,328 £1,384/£2,306 £1,740/£2,900 Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost 13/£438/B/£20 11/£431/C/£30 19/£537/B/£20 Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service £569 (3yrs) £329 (3yrs) £400 (3yrs/35k) Length/wheelbase 4,370/2,662mm 4,310/2,650mm 4,329/2,608mm Height/width 1,485/1,809mm 1,470/1,780mm 1,489/1,789mm Engine 3cyl in-line/999cc 3cyl in-line/998cc 3cyl in-line/1,199cc Peak power 104/5,500 bhp/rpm 118/6,000 bhp/rpm 128/5,500 bhp/rpm Peak torque 170/1,800 Nm/rpm 171/4,000 Nm/rpm 230/1,750 Nm/rpm Transmission 5-spd man/fwd 6-spd man/fwd 6-spd man/fwd Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel 48 litres/£95 53 litres/space saver 60 litres/£75 Boot capacity (seats up/down) 370/1,210 litres 362/1,300 litres 408/1,183 litres Kerbweight/payload/towing weight 1,188/592/1,220kg 1,279/541/1,200kg 1,205/585/1,550kg Turning circle/drag coefficient 11.1 metres 10.6 metres 10.7 metres Basic warranty (miles)/recovery 3yrs (60,000)/1yr 7yrs (100,000)/1yr 3yrs (60,000)/1yr Service intervals/UK dealers 20,000 miles (1yr)/404 10,000 miles (1yr)/170 16,000 miles (1yr)/196 Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. 30th/19th 19th/14th 20th/9th Euro NCAP: Adult/child/ped./points 86/84/83/5 (2015) 89/88/61/5 (2012) 90/85/43/5 (2010) 0-60/30-70mph 10.7/10.4 secs 10.1/9.7 secs 9.0/8.5 secs 30-50mph in 3rd/4th 5.1/7.7 secs 4.9/6.9 secs 4.0/5.9 secs 50-70mph in 5th/6th 11.7 secs/N/A 10.7/14.5 secs 8.1/10.5 secs Top speed/rpm at 70mph 124mph/2,600rpm 118mph/2,400rpm 124mph/2,250rpm Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 44.9/32.7/9.6m 44.9/31.6/9.7m 46.3/32.5/10.3m Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range 42.1/9.3/445 miles 42.5/9.3/495 miles 33.8/7.4/446 miles Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 54.3/72.4/64.2mpg 45.6/67.3/57.6mpg 47.9/67.1/58.9mpg Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 11.9/15.9/14.1mpl 10.0/14.8/12.7mpl 10.5/14.8/13.0mpl Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket 155/102g/km/15% 154/115g/km/18% 193/107g/km/16% Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/camera Six/yes/£450/£595* Six/yes/yes/yes Six/yes/rear/no Auto gearbox/stability/cruise control No/yes/yes No/yes/yes £1,200/yes/yes Climate control/leather/heated seats Yes/yes/yes Yes/no/no Yes/no/no Met paint/LED headlights/keyless go £545/£1,560/£395 £510/no/yes £525/no/£300 Sat-nav/CD changer/MP3 connectivity Yes/yes/yes/yes Yes/yes/yes/yes £950/yes/yes/yes Sunroof/automatic lights/wipers £500/yes/yes No/yes/yes £490/yes/yes