In a world increasingly dominated by SUVs, Kia’s Cerato is the Korean car maker’s bulwark in the passenger car segment, going head-to-head with the best-selling Toyota Corolla and second-placed Hyundai i30 to claim the bronze medal in this high-volume small car category.

The current fourth-generation Cerato launched here in 2018 and received a mid-life update in 2021 that brought revised styling and additional equipment.

The range spans four grades – S, Sport, Sport+, GT – with the hatch and sedan in each grade priced identically. Manufacturer-recommended pricing starts at $25,990 for the S, rising to $28,090 for the Sport, $31,140 for the Sport+, and topping out at $35,790 for the GT tested here.

Equipment highlights of our test car include 18-inch alloys, sports body kit, proximity entry, keyless start, leather trim sports seats, eight-way power driver’s seat with memory, flat-bottom leather sports steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats and dual-zone climate.

The generously appointed Cerato GT also lists a tilt-and-slide sunroof, front and rear park sensors, rear-view camera, auto-dim rear-view mirror, wireless phone charging, LED headlights and tyre pressure monitoring among its kit.

Kia hasn’t skimped on safety and driver assistance either, with the hatch’s standard features including six airbags, blind-spot detection and collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep and lane follow assist, driver attention alert with lead vehicle departure alert, AEB with forward collision warning (car, pedestrian, cyclist), rear occupant alert, safe exit warning, high beam assist and a speed limiter.

While other models in the range get some or all this safety kit, none can match the GT’s feistier 1.6-litre turbo GDI four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 150kW/265Nm versus the 112kW/192Nm output of the non-turbo 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol in other models. The turbo engine comes hitched to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto with sport mode and manual paddle shifts, while the rest make do with a six-speed auto.

The premium sports theme continues under the Cerato’s stylish body with grippy 225/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, multi-link rear suspension and larger 305mm front brake discs. Other models ride on a less sophisticated torsion beam rear axle and smaller 280mm front discs.

Kia’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty is still one of the best in the business, but GT buyers will need to visit the service department more frequently than other Cerato owners, thanks to shorter 12-month/10,000km service intervals compared with 12 months/15,000km for the 2.0-litre models. Capped price servicing costs are line ball, however.

With its tidy chassis dynamics, nicely weighted and accurate steering, and peppy turbocharged engine, the richly equipped Cerato GT stands tall as a confident, secure and enjoyable hatch to pilot briskly on a piece of entertaining blacktop.

Key stats

• PRICE: $35,790 (MRLP)
• ENGINE: 1.6-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder
• ANCAP CRASH RATING: Five stars (2019)
• POWER CONSUMPTION: (combined cycle, litres/100km): 6.8 (158g/km CO2)
• FOR: Responsive turbo engine, well-equipped, long warranty, neat chassis dynamics, reasonable space for a small car, extra kit.
• AGAINST: Space-saver spare, shorter service interval than lower-spec models, price increase, taut ride.