German auto magazine Auto Bild compared four vehicles that are C-segment hatchbacks. These hatchbacks are the most beloved vehicles in the European continent since they are cost-efficient, practical, and well-performing. Many automakers aim to dominate the segment because this is the biggest market. And since Kia released Ceed in 2006, the European automakers started to lose control over the market.
Auto Bild decided to run the test for the Opel Astra added a 3-cylinder 1.2ℓ turbo engine recently. With a new competitor, C-hatchbacks with 100-ish hp needed to be re-evaluated. In the test, Auto Bild compared the Kia Ceed 140hp 1.4ℓ T-GDI GT-line, the Ford Focus Active 125hp 1.0ℓ Ecoboost, the Opel Astra 130hp 1.2ℓ turbo engine, and the Renault Megane 140hp 1.4ℓ TCE. They all feature manual transmission.
Auto Bild conducted the test regarding the seven criteria - body(package & quality), powertrain, driving dynamics, connectivity(AVN & ADAS), eco-friendliness, comfort & convenience, and cost. The most important was the body(package & quality) when the judges gave the scores because it was regarded the most among the C-hatchback consumers. The three vehicles gained similar scores except for the Renault Megane.
The Kia Ceed was considered to have user-friendly and quality interior layouts
Auto Bild picked the Kia Ceed for having the best interior quality. Ceed and the Opel Astra featured the best visibility and convenience. The Ford Focus Active was also considered as having large rear seats and cargo space. The Renault Megane, on the other hand, its relatively small passenger's space was considered not so practical.
The Renault Megane(left) and the Ford Focus Active(right) had the worst and the best interior, respectively
The Kia Ceed with a 1.4ℓ turbo engine and the Renault Megane were chosen to have the best powertrain. Both vehicles scored high on the acceleration and the passing ability and exceeded the 3-cylinder Ford Focus Active and Opel Astra on NVH. The Kia Ceed had good engine power and response but lacked fuel economy.
Opel Astra with the new 1.2 L, 3-cylinder turbo engine
Each vehicle showed its unique character in driving dynamics. The Kia Ceed scored well in stability, agility, steering feel, and braking. Auto Bild said the chassis of Kia Ceed was 'as good as Volkswagen Golf'. Auto Bild reported that the Ford Focus Active proved to be the safest and have the best steering feel, but did not have a good braking system. The Opel Astra also showed to have good stability but lacked agility and steering feel. The Renault Megane scored less than the others in driving dynamics, especially in the braking test (100km/h→0, cold).
Connectivity included infotainment system and driver-assistance system
The connectivity included smartphone-to-car connectivity, navigation systems, applications, and ADAS(Advanced driver-assistance systems). The Ford Focus Active received the highest rating, for having the best navigation and application system. ADAS is one of the trends that caught consumers' attention. The system structure and composition were the key aspects of ADAS. The Kia Ceed scored 15 points, the Ford Focus 16, the Opel Astra 13, and the Renault Megane 11.
Car comfort refers to how comfortable a vehicle is to the driver and the passengers. It consists of seat position, seat cushions, seat adjustment, and ride comfort. All four competitors scored similarly, but the gap occurred in some items. The Kia Ceed featured comfortable front passenger's seat but the Renault Megane had uncomfortable seats.
The Kia Ceed received the highest rating for most of the criteria
It was a tough game, with all four competitors scoring almost the same. The judges had to compare the overall ratings until the result shows. The Kia Ceed got the best score (528 out of 750). It featured convenient driving, superior quality, sophisticated steering feel, a well-made body, and a powerful engine.
The Ford Focus Active received 518 points, scoring the second place. The Opel Astra got 509 points and the Renault Megane received 489 points. The Ford Focus Active got a decent overall score as the only crossover. The judges adored the Ford having a high ground clearance. The new Opel Astra with the new engine showed a good body(package & quality), eco-friendliness, and cost-efficiency. The other aspects of the car were not very noticeable.
