The new Kia Cee’d Sportswagon was revealed alongside the Cee’d hatchback at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

Although it’s not a car to set pulses racing, it combines fair pricing with good quality, space and style.

Exclusively for European markets, the Cee’d Sportswagon has a more sporty and premium look and feel than its predecessor. The entry level 89bhp 1.4 CRDi engine develops 220Nm of torque from just 1,500rpm, while the 126bhp 1.6 CRDi raises the torque output to 260Nm from 1,900rpm.

Both transmissions, including the 1.6 automatic, are six-speed units, while manual-gearbox models are fitted with Kia’s Intelligent Stop & Go fuel-saving stop/start technology. As a result, the 1.4-litre Sportswagon is capable of 67.3mpg and has CO2 emissions as low as 109g/km, which means a Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) taxation rate of 15 per cent in 2012-13.

Manual 1.6-litre versions fall into the 17 per cent BIK band. With prices starting at £16,895 and low mainten-ance and insurance costs, the Cee’d Sportswagon is a relatively cheap car to run for business motorists and fleet operators, as well as private consumers.

The trim options are simple – ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘4’, with an option of a ‘4 Tech’ version.

The Sportswagon has a bigger luggage capacity than most of its competitors – 528 litres with all seats upright and 1,642 litres up to the roof with the 60:40 split rear seats folded flat.

Every model has an under-floor storage compartment and side load areas, a retractable luggage cover, load-securing net hooks, a boot light and a 12-volt boot-mounted power socket. Roof rails are standard, so extra cargo can be carried outside the car.

Other standard features include air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, a CD player, soft-touch dashboard mater-ials, Bluetooth and a comprehensive trip computer.

The Sportswagon boasts all of the usual safety features, such as Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Stability Manage-ment, Hill-start Assist Control and six airbags.

All versions have Emergency Stop Signalling, which causes the rear brake lamps to flash in an emergency stop to alert following drivers.

A colour reversing camera, a Parallel Park Assist System which automatically steers the car into kerbside spaces and a Lane Departure Warning System are available as options.

It’s reasonably quiet, steering is precise and nicely weighted and the ride is firm.

And the seven-year warranty is always a strong selling point for Kia.