The Kia cee'd SW is an example of the latest generation of estate cars that measure modestly from bumper to bumper yet have adopted all sorts of packaging tricks to actually offer decent carrying capacity. It comes to market with a decent foundation, the hatchback cee'd models having been warmly received by both press and public alike.

Small estates used to be rubbish; really, deeply, genuinely, useless vehicles. Buying an estate is all about having the freedom to haul a whole lot of gear around with you, and buying a small one rather defeated that purpose. With the boom of utility-style MPV vehicles, the small estate looked as if it was on the endangered list. Nature had selected against it. Like all of Darwin's survivors, however, the small estate adapted. It stole many of the tricks of the MPVs yet retained its low centre of gravity and car-like driving dynamics.

The 1.6-litre 16v direct injection common-rail diesel engine could be the best all-round powerplant. Packing 115bhp it's a decent unit, getting to 60mph in 11.5 seconds and then on to a top speed of 116mph. Alternatively, there's a 122bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine that will probably net the biggest sales figures. This requires a bit of right boot to access all of its available performance though, with peak power arriving at a rather raucous 6,200rpm and peak torque of 154Nm not making itself felt until the tacho needle hits 4,200rpm. This means that the engine doesn't feel notably punchy off the line in the same way as the excellent diesel does but if you're prepared to keep it on the boil, it can cross country at a respectable clip. Those seeking extra performance can pick the 138bhp 2.0-litre CRDi diesel in the Sport model.

The steering lacks a little of the polish of some of the very best contenders, although we're talking about tiny percentage differences here. There's certainly very little in it when it comes to ride quality, the Kia adopting much the same MacPherson strut front suspension as the best of its rivals and a clever independent set-up at the rear. The cee'd corners well with well-suppressed lateral roll and even when provoked, steadfastly refuses to do anything unexpected. The long wheelbase helps ride quality with only lumpy B-roads extending the suspension unduly.

"It's decently spacious, well screwed together and carries some eye-catching prices"

The additional load space in the cee'd SW hasn't come as a result of extending the hatchback's wheelbase. It's come by lengthening the rear overhang and increasing the roof height to the rear of the car. The total length of the car goes up by 235mm as a result. The carrying capacity of 534 litres when loaded to the height of the rear windows is almost 200 litres more than the cee'd hatch. The tailgate is an interesting design, taking with it a huge bite of roof when opened. This means that you won't need to stand back when opening the hatch - handy in confined supermarket spaces.

There are storage bins under the boot floor, the rear seats fold completely flat and the load bay is protected by a metal finished cover. Quality fabrics, doors that 'thunk' shut and a thoughtful approach to design have made the cee'd a landmark Korean car. There are still some improvements that need to be made. The plastics quality is still a little hit and miss and the orange dash lighting isn't overly easy on the eye but let's not be patronising and proclaim the car as 'a lot of metal for your money' or any other such bunk. This Kia is a good car, by any measure.

The small estate market is enjoying a bit of a revival thanks to some very credible contenders. In order to make a worthwhile impression, the Kia cee'd SW must elbow aside some decent mainstream models, the best of which is the long wheelbase Vauxhall Astra estate. Whereas the Vauxhall retails at over £18,000 for a 1.9CDTi 8v diesel model, a decently specified Kia cee'd SW 1.6-litre diesel shouldn't trouble you for much more than £15,500. SW prices start from £13,195.

Trim levels open with the GS models which feature air-conditioning, six airbags, a stereo that can accept MP3 file inputs from the CD, a trip computer, 16-inch alloy wheels, remote locking and electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors. The plush LS adds climate control, part leather upholstery and front fog lamps, while the Sport takes a slightly sportier tack with 17-inch rims, sports seats and black bezel headlamps.

The 1.6-litre petrol engine that's expected to take the lion's share of sales does reasonably well at the fuel pumps, returning an average of 44.1mpg. The continuously-variable valve timing helps efficiency and also means that the engine is good on emissions, something that hasn't always been the case with South-East Asian powerplants. At around 155g/km, the cee'd SW is miles better than, say, a Peugeot 307 1.6 which emits 174g/km.

Used values will doubtless be propped up quite nicely by Kia's excellent warranty arrangement. Buyers get full cover for seven-years or 100,000 miles. It's about as good as the industry can offer and puts mainstream rivals like Ford and Vauxhall in the shade. This promise of trouble free motoring will be enough to tip the balance for many potential customers. Insurance ratings also look very reasonable, predicated upon a low cost of repair, a generally mature buyer profile and excellent safety provision.

It's amazing how often car manufacturers bring a model to market and don't get the basics right. Kia certainly hasn't fallen into that trap with the cee'd SW. It's decently spacious, well screwed together and carries some eye-catching prices. What it lacks in the final couple of per cent when it comes to finish is easily offset by the bargain pricing and excellent warranty arrangement. It's a decent size too, the added 235mm grafted onto the rear overhang giving the SW model some respectable load-lugging ability.

The cee'd feels as if it's built for the long term and recent customer satisfaction surveys have shown that owners aren't needing to tax Kia's industry-leading warranty scheme too heavily. Shopping for a bargain usually means putting in the footwork and making a few compromises. Kia makes managing those compromises a good deal easier than you may have thought.

TOP 5 CEED DEALS

The results below show the top CEED deals on buyacar

	Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDi LS 5dr [113] Station wagon Estate
	ETR	Mthly £270	Saving £1,901	Price £13,289
	Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDi GS 5dr Station wagon Estate
	ETR	Mthly £241	Saving £1,888	Price £12,052
	Kia Ceed 1.6 GS 5dr Station wagon Estate
	ETR	Mthly £224	Saving £1,880	Price £11,310
	Kia Ceed 1.6 LS 5dr Station wagon Estate
	ETR	Mthly £246	Saving £1,890	Price £12,300
	Kia Ceed 1.6 LS 5dr Auto Station wagon Estate
	ETR	Mthly £270	Saving £1,900	Price £13,290

typical 12.61% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000