Smoother, quieter and punchier engines exist in this class, but the Cee’d’s engine is game. It gives its best below 4000rpm and peak torque appears from a handy 1900rpm.
Performance is perfectly adequate, though not quite up with the very high standard set by the class leaders. Rest to 60mph requires one gear change and 10.3sec, 0-100mph is a 37.9sec affair and the 30-70mph time is a reasonable 10.6sec. But as usual, the cold, empirical surroundings of the proving ground don’t give an accurate reflection of the real-world performance of this car. Using between 2000rpm and 4000rpm, it covers ground at an impressive rate. The fourth gear 40-60mph time of 6.5sec and the 10.0sec 50-70mph run in fifth are indicative of this accessible performance.
Furthermore, it’s a powertrain that builds a pleasing rhythm over A-roads. The gear shift is relatively long, but the action is pleasant, even if the metal gear lever is an odd shape. The clutch is light and the pedals well positioned. Noise levels are fairly well contained.
Broadly speaking, the Cee'd's chassis offers a very similar level of competence to the engine and transmission. Ask of it reasonable questions, and it will respond well enough.
The good work begins with a very accurate electrically assisted steering rack. It’s not too fast off the straight ahead, and even though there is little feel to speak of, the Cee’d is one of those cars that immediately feels agile and easy to place. That’s a key attribute on UK roads.
Try to extract too much from the Cee’d and it doesn’t work quite so well. Push hard and you’ll discover that the car is over-sprung and under-damped, causing it to be deflected by shorter wave imperfections. It doesn’t enjoy being grabbed by the scruff of the neck, but then again its market positioning would suggest that driving in such a manner is rather irrelevant. More importantly, though, ride comfort is slightly below the class average.