As per recent reports by various automotive journalists in Pakistan, Kia is all set to launch Cerato in Pakistan by the end of this year. Cerato is a midsize family sedan that will compete against the likes of Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra.
As per reports, Cerato shall feature a 1.6 Liter in-line 4 cylinder Petrol Engine that makes 123 horsepower and 154 newton/meters of torque and can be mated to a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Furthermore, it is believed that Kia Lucky Motors has already brought in multiple Cerato units for testing.
Interior and exterior specifications of the KIA Cerato
The Kia Cerato has a sleek exterior, with pronounced curves in the body of the car giving it a modern look. It is also accompanied by the trademark KIA grill at the front. The looks of the car make it well-positioned to compete in the family car segment.
KIA Cerato measures 4640 mm in length, 1800 mm in width and is 1440 mm tall. The dimensions can be compared to the 11th generation of Corolla. The KIA Cerato is shorter in height but longer and wider than Corolla.
According to unverified reports on the internet, the KIA Cerato will also sport many cutting-edge features in its interior. This includes USB and Bluetooth connectivity, rear AC vents, paddle shifters, hill assist and temperature controlled seats.
Read more: Hyundai Elantra 2020 ‘compact car’ all-set to launch in Pakistan!
4th generation Cerato, also known as the Kia Forte in the North American market, or the Kia K3 in the Chinese and Korean markets, was revealed at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in January 2018. The car borrows its styling cues from their flagship, full-size sedan, the Kia Stinger.
Kia Cerato Forte is expected to be launched in Pakistan at the end of this year!
Will it give a tough competition to Honda Civic & Toyota Corolla?
Estimated price: Upto 3 – 3.7 million#hondacivic #toyotacorolla #kia #competition #kiacerato #forte #expected pic.twitter.com/i5qJPIkd2F— PakWheels.com (@PakWheels) July 25, 2020
Kia Cerato of the international markets is loaded with tech-features for its base model that other competing cars offer as options. These include:
- Automatic front headlights
- Tilt and telescopic steering column
- Rear trunk light
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Rear seat heat ducts
- Eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Steering wheel-mounted volume controls
- Cruise control
- Forward Collision-Avoidance (FCA)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA).
The following features are available as options for Kia Cerato:
- LED interior lighting
- 10-way power-adjustable front driver’s seat with lumbar support
- Heated and ventilated dual front bucket seats
- Soft-touch interior surfaces
- Harman Kardon 320-watt eight-speaker premium amplified audio system
- Wireless device charging
- Drive mode Selection
- Adaptive Cruise Control
The Cerato is expected to have tough competition
The car is believed to be priced from Rs. 3.1 million to 3.7 million, depending on the trim level and the extra features offered. The retail price of the car in North America is in the region of $18,000.
The midsize sedan market picking up pace is indeed a good sign for Pakistan. A healthy competition between multiple automakers is likely to have an effect not only on the marketing strategy but also on the pricing and quality control as well.
Furthermore, competition can also prompt the automakers to finally give consumers the features in cars that justify their price tags.
Read more: All-new 5th generation 2020 Honda City, the longest car in its segment launched
Toyota Indus has recently released its Toyota Yaris in the 1.3L segment. Further, there are reports that Honda Pakistan is also mulling releasing the next generation of Honda City late next year.
This will give the KIA Cerato good competition in the sedan segment. However, with a competitive price tag and state-of-the-art features, the Cerato can make its mark in the hearts of Pakistan’s automobile customers.
The automobile sector in Pakistan has been experiencing difficult times due to an unfavourable exchange rate, high-interest rates, increasing competition and a high number of indirect taxes on car list prices.