Used Kia cars buying guide
A used Kia car is a great option if you want a car that’s well-equipped, great value and can offer the peace of mind that comes with a long manufacturer warranty. Used Kia models range from small five-door hatchbacks to large seven-seat SUVs, along with a choice of petrol, diesel, hybrid or pure-electric power.
All Kia cars are backed by a seven-year manufacturer warranty from new. It’s transferrable to future owners and is valid as long as the car has been serviced according to Kia’s specifications, so it could be one less thing to worry about when you’re buying a used car.
Which used Kia cars are for sale?
There’s a wide range of used Kia cars for sale, including hatchbacks, estates and SUVs, all in different sizes.
The Kia Picanto hatchback is the brand’s smallest car and it’s one of the most cost-effective cars you can buy. The Kia Rio is a slightly larger hatchback but it’s still compact, easy to park and very inexpensive.
The Ceed is a popular mid-size five-door family hatchback, but it’s also available as the ProCeed, which offers the styling of a coupe with the practicality of an estate. If you need even more space, look at the Ceed Sportswagon, which is Kia’s name for an estate car. The XCeed is a ‘crossover’ SUV – a blend of hatchback and SUV elements that’s proving to be hugely popular.
You should have no trouble finding a Kia SUV that’s right for you, from the Stonic to the mid-size Sportage and all the way up to the seven-seat Sorento.
The Kia Optima – on sale new from 2015 until 2020 and available as a four-door saloon or a five-door estate car – is good value but wasn’t a big seller so you might not find many for sale.
Are there any hybrid or electric Kia models?
There are lots of hybrid and electric Kia models for you to choose from – in fact, Kia offers a larger range of electrified models than many rival brands. One of the most popular is the Kia Niro, available as a full hybrid (also known as ‘self-charging’ hybrid), a plug-in hybrid or a pure-electric car called Kia e-Niro. The popular Sportage and Sorento models are available with full hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, while the XCeed offers the option of a plug-in hybrid.
You’ll find several used Kia pure-electric models for sale – these are the Kia Niro, the Kia Soul EV and Kia EV6. The seven-seat Kia EV9 went on sale in 2024 but you’re unlikely to find any used models for sale yet.
What are the most popular Kia models?
Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto is a compact hatchback that’s comparatively cheap to buy and run yet feels like anything but a budget car because every version is well-equipped and good to drive. The current version has been on sale new since 2017, only as a five-door hatchback.
Kia Ceed
The Kia Ceed is available as a five-door hatchback and a choice of two estate versions. One is called the ProCeed, which is essentially a slightly more practical version of the Ceed, while the Ceed Sportswagon is a more traditional estate car.
Kia XCeed
The Kia XCeed shares many parts with the Kia XCeed but the XCeed has a sportier yet-more-rugged design, with (slightly) raised suspension, a more sloping roofline and tough-looking black and silver trim on the front, rear and sides. It has a slightly larger boot than the Ceed and all versions are very well-equipped.
Kia Niro
The Kia Niro is a distinctive compact family SUV that’s very fuel-efficient thanks to a choice of full hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure-electric power. All models come with climate control, sat nav, cruise control, parking sensors, a rear-view camera and smartphone connectivity.
Kia Sportage
It’s not hard to see why the Sportage is Kia’s most popular model in the UK. The current model has been on sale new since 2021 and is one of the most well-rounded family SUVs you can buy. You can choose from standard petrol, full hybrid or plug-in hybrid power.
Which Kia models are SUVs?
The Kia SUV models are the XCeed, Stonic, Niro, Sportage, Sorento, Soul EV and EV6.
The XCeed is essentially a high-riding version of the Ceed hatchback that’s a rival for cars like the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Toyota C-HR. The Kia Stonic is a compact SUV that’s similar in size to the Nissan Juke or Hyundai Kona, while the Kia Niro is a rival to cars such as the Toyota Yaris Cross and Renault Captur.
Kia’s most popular SUV is the Sportage: its rivals include the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga and it has the kind of styling that stands out in a supermarket car park. You get substance to go with its looks, including a roomy interior and a long list of equipment included as standard.
If you want something larger, the Kia Sorento could be the car for you. It has seven seats included as standard, a classy interior and a choice of petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.
For something a little different, check out the pure-electric Kia EV6 or wait for the Kia EV9 electric seven-seater to come on the market in 2024.
