Leaked images have revealed the 2021 Kia Cerato will have sharper, more distinctive styling and more technology.
The updated hatch and sedan range will arrive in May 2021.
The images were published by Autospy and on the Bobaedream forums and reveal both the front end and part of the interior.
In the leaked exterior image, Kia’s new corporate logo is front and centre, surrounded by new halogen or LED headlights and a slimmer grille.
There’s also a restyled front bumper with more aggressive front air intakes.
The images confirm Kia will continue to offer a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine in the higher-spec GT model.
Current outputs for this motor are 150kW of power and 265Nm of torque and these aren’t expected to change.
The engine will likely continue to be mated to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.
It isn’t known whether Kia will also offer a six-speed manual as in the mechanically related Hyundai i30 N Line.
Lower grades in Australia are expected to retain a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, though it’s unclear whether it’ll stick with a conventional six-speed automatic or move to a continuously-variable transmission (CVT) like the related Seltos crossover and Hyundai Kona.
The 2.0-litre engine currently produces 112kW of power and 192Nm of torque in the Cerato.
Both sedan and hatch body styles will be available for customers.
The Cerato will add a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a first for the line. This will likely be available on the higher-grade models in the line-up.
Entry-level models will receive an 8.0-inch navigation touchscreen while up-spec models could upgrade to Kia’s new 10.25-inch touchscreen, as seen in the Seltos.
Like other recently updated Kia and Hyundai products, expect the Cerato’s suite of driver assist technology to be expanded with features like lane-following assist and safe exit warning.
Pictured: the current Cerato 
The Cerato was Kia’s top selling car in Australia, with 17,559 units making their way into homes in 2020.
That put it behind only the Toyota Corolla (25,882 sales) and Hyundai i30 (20,734) in the small car segment.
While it’s expected to adopt the K3 name in additional markets, it’ll continue to be called Cerato locally.
