2012 Kia cee'd Photos, engines & full specs

Kia introduced the second generation of its compact hatchback cee'd in 2012 at the Paris Motor Show in Europe, fueling European's appetite for such vehicles.

Just six years after the introduction of the first generation of the cee'd, the Korean automaker introduced an entirely new generation of the vehicle. Its rush through this model's generation came due to the automaker's wish to push harder on the market with this high-volume car. And despite this rush, it wasn't a product made in a hurry. In addition, since it shared its platform with the Hyundai i30, it also featured an attractive price.

The car's look was penned by Peter Schreyer, who changed the Korean automaker's design language. Moreover, this new generation of the cee'd it offered the "Tiger-nose" look with the pinched grille on the upper and lower side. In addition, the swept-back headlights that mimicked feline eyes further enhanced the aggressive look of the car. From its side, the vehicle kept the same proportions as its predecessor but with a more pronounced ascending beltline toward the C-pillar, where a small triangular window was installed. At the back, the raked forward tailgate was adorned on its upper side by a roof spoiler.

Inside, Kia kept what was good on the first generation of the cee'd, such as the bolstered front seats and the split-folding rear bench. In addition, the automaker used higher-quality materials for the dashboard and door cards. Moreover, the instrument cluster featured a TFT inside the center-mounted speedometer. Also, the car could be optioned with reversing camera, which was unusual for a compact hatchback.

Under the hood, Hyundai installed a choice of gasoline and diesel engines paired with either manual or automatic gearboxes.