.

The hatch has a far more appealing look than the sedan, says our writer.

Related Stories

• New Kia Cerato Hatch in pictures       

MOM'S TAXI TEST - KIA CERATO HATCH 2.0 SX AT:

I popped the gearshift into reverse to back out of my driveway and nearly gave myself whiplash.

The spunky new Cerato hatch (2.0) has surprisingly quick acceleration, and I certainly wasn't expecting it when I slid into the leather seat. Point one in its favour.

Point two was the appearance. Far more appealing, to me, than the more staid but nevertheless incredibly popular sedan, the hatchback is likely to gain an instant fan base from those wanting a lively, well-specced and moderately priced set of wheels.

Although it's the same width, height and wheelbase as the sedan, the length and overhang have been shaved slightly, so it's way more compact and has a more dynamic and far sportier feel than the sedan.

Available in two versions, the 1.6 EX and the more powerful 2.0 SX, the hatch comes with a battery of features to add to its allure. I was driving the auto version of the 2.0, and loved the paddle-shifters, the rear park assist, the auto climate control, and, of course, the added power.

It's not too thirsty, either, delivering about 7.6 litres per 100km from its 52-litre tank.

Nicely finished inside, with an extraordinarily large boot, the 2-litre Cerato also boasts a digital info display, showing you fuel consumption, distance to empty, door open warnings, etc. Also, and a big feature for me, the doors lock automatically. There's also a tilt and reach steering wheel, which is always a fantastic feature to have.

The drive is fun, and great: smooth, ultra-responsive, perfect suspension, barely discernible road noise, and excellent braking. It also has front, side and curtain airbags, active headrests and ABS.

Kia is taking on the giants in the category, the Mazda3 and VW's Golf, among them, and with its attractive pricing, is bound to make a dent. You're looking at R185 995 for the entry level 1.6 EX and for the top of the range 2.0 SX auto, R215 995. Not bad at all.

Cerate, by the way, means “a thick ointment composed of fat, wax, and other ingredients, applied externally to cure various diseases”, and comes from the Latin word ceratum, which means to “to cover with wax”. And ceratotherium is the scientific term for the white rhino, from the Greek “cerato” meaning horn, and “thorium” meaning wild beast.

I prefer to think that Kia had ceratotherium in mind when it named this car, as opposed to “a thick ointment composed of fat, wax, and other ingredients”.

A charging white rhino going full tilt against the opposition certainly conjures up a better picture!