‘You get what you pay for’ doesn’t always ring true, and Kia proves that with its insanely feature-packed Cerato sedan
SINGAPORE
Putting aside why we might actually need a certain type of car (getting from point A to point B), what is it that makes us actually want a particular one over another?
Looks are probably a big factor, and certainly so is price. But another major reason to most car buyers is the amount of features that car comes equipped with.
They’re the extra icing on the expensive cake that is a car purchase, will help you feel like you’re getting more value for money, and in many cases can be the make-or-break factor when choosing a car.

Unfortunately, most advanced and desirable features tend to be found in expensive continental luxury cars and not humble family cars, but the new Kia Cerato is the one mid-sized family saloon that bucks that trend in a major way.
It has a blend of good looks, a spacious cabin, a polished driving experience,and a very sensible price – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The Kia Cerato also packs an equipment list that is not only extensive, but also contains many luxury features that its rivals do not have, making it possibly the smartest and most advanced car in its class.
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

It’s not a good idea to use your smartphone in a car, but the truth is, our lives revolve so much around our phones that sometimes you just can’t help it.
Thankfully though, there’s a way to use one safely while driving, and that’s with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
These two apps allow you to access selected phone functions (such as calls, SMSes, WhatsApp/Telegram, Spotify and Google Maps) via the car’s infotainment system.
Additionally, you can also control it all via the Kia Cerato’s steering wheel buttons and voice input – allowing you to keep your hands on the road as you drive.   
8.0-inch Colour Touchscreen

Central to the effectiveness of CarPlay and Android Auto is the Kia Cerato’s infotainment touchscreen.
At 8.0-inches across, it’s the biggest in the class by quite a large margin, and unlike most others, it’s mounted at the top of the dashboard rather than the middle of it, making it safer to operate as it’s closer to your natural line of sight of the road.
Wireless charging

Nobody likes to look at a cluttered up mess inside their car, which is why the Kia Cerato is available with a wireless charging pad at the base of the centre console.
No need to mess around with plugging in wires that snake distractingly around the cabin, just place your smartphone on the rubberised pad and wait as the juices start flowing. Not to mention it’s perfect for checking your phone when safe and stationary, then simply placing it back, no messing around with wires needed.
Ventilated seats

Given Singapore’s tropical climate, anything that can help keep the heat away is a godsend.
Although you’ll find an air-conditioning system in all cars these days, there’s incredibly useful feature in the Kia Cerato that even some full-fledged luxury cars don’t have: ventilated seats.

Thanks to perforations in the leather and cooling fans integrated into the seat base and lower seat back, you’ll always be able to enjoy cool, soothing airflow, even around the parts of your body that the air-con can’t reach.
Smart Trunk

What is technology if not to make our lives easier and more convenient? One of the most convenient features found in the Kia Cerato is the Smart Trunk system. Imagine coming back to your car with armfuls of shopping, luggage or sports gear, and your key is stuck in your pocket.
Rather than forcing you to carefully put down all your barang barang, opening the boot and straining your back trying to pick everything up again, many premium cars feature a sensor which will open the boot if you wave your foot under the bumper.

The Kia Cerato’s Smart Trunk system though, goes one further: just stand in the detection zone behind the boot with the Smart Key on your person for three seconds, and the boot will automatically pop open – you don’t even have to raise your foot.
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A common theme when it comes to technological features – be it in a car, phone, home appliance, or anything else – is that you often don’t realise how useful they are until after you’ve experienced them.
This is certainly the case with the Kia Cerato, and its extensive equipment list, which enhances safety, connectivity and comfort. In fact, with a five-year warranty and 10-year industry-leading engine warranty, the only thing smarter than the Kia Cerato is the decision to buy one.