Kia XCeed gets a second facelift — electric looks, petrol engine
Kia has revealed a second facelift for the XCeed crossover-hatchback, giving it the vertical LED headlights and dual-screen interior already seen on the brand's electric models — while keeping a conventional petrol engine. Production starts May 29, 2025 at Kia's Žilina plant in Slovakia, the main factory supplying European markets. For UK buyers, prices run from £24,630 to £33,545, per Carwow UK.
The look
The front end is the biggest change. New vertical LED daytime running lights mirror the style found on the EV3 and the recently updated Stonic, part of Kia's push to unify its ICE and electric ranges visually. The grille is narrower, the bumper more angular. Around back, a redesigned lower bumper adds a protective skid-plate strip — the kind of detail that signals "crossover" without adding actual off-road ability.
The interior follows the same playbook. Two 12.3-inch curved screens sit side by side on a single panel, replacing a more cluttered dashboard. Kia has also fitted a two-spoke steering wheel carried over from the EV6, simplified the air vents, and tidied up the centre console. The cabin feels a clear step up from the outgoing model.
The engine story
Here's the trade-off: the XCeed's plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option disappeared from UK sale during 2024, per Autocar UK. The 2025 facelift currently confirms petrol and mild-hybrid (MHEV) powertrains only. That leaves a single 1.5-litre T-GDi petrol unit (138 bhp) as the headline engine — front-wheel drive, no all-wheel-drive option.
That's a meaningful gap against rivals. The Toyota C-HR comes with a self-charging hybrid as standard. The VW T-Roc offers an AWD variant. The XCeed counters with style and Kia's seven-year warranty — a strong package, but buyers who want electrified running costs will need to look elsewhere.
What to watch
Production launches at Kia EU Press on May 29, meaning UK deliveries should follow later in 2025. The XCeed will also compete internally with the Kia Seltos, which recently arrived in Europe on a similar footprint — an unusual position for any carmaker to be in. Kia appears confident both models can find their own buyers, with the XCeed leaning on its sportier proportions and now-updated EV-adjacent styling to hold its ground.