Kia could axe famous hatchback used on Top Gear for sporty alternative

could axe a model that has been a part of the company's range for the past 19 years and used on in favour of a new model.

The has been the South Korean brand's flagship family hatchback since its launch in 2006, rivalling best-sellers including the , , and .

The model was the first to be entirely designed in Europe, with its unconventional name standing for 'Community of Europe, with European Design'.

Three generations of Kia Ceed have been produced over the past 19 years, with the current model introduced at the start of 2018 and receiving a facelift in 2021.

Based on the same platform as the Hyundai i30, the latest Ceed is available as a hatchback, compact crossover, or shooting brake-style estate, with the majority of examples featuring a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

The Kia Ceed is probably best remembered by many Brits for its role as Top Gear's 'Reasonably Priced Car' - with dozens of famous faces getting behind the wheel in order to get the best lap time of the show's famous circuit.

Appearing on the show almost every week from 2010 until 2013, A-list celebrities, including Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, and Mick Fleetwood, all competed to reach the top of the show's leaderboard. Friends star and future Top Gear host Matt LeBlanc recorded the fastest lap in the Kia - completing the circuit in 1:42.1.

Despite experiencing three years of hard driving from celebrities, one of the three Kia Ceeds used for the Top Gear segment still exists, featuring the signatures of Ben Collins (who played The Stig) and Tiff Needell (who hosted the programme in the 1980s and 90s) on the dashboard.

Whilst Kia has yet to confirm that production of the Ceed will end, many are speculating that it will be replaced with the K4 - a new family hatchback unveiled at the 2025 New York Motor Show.

The Kia K4 features particularly bold styling, including a front end with fang-like LED headlights that can also be seen on the EV3 and EV9 and a long, swooping bonnet.

Whilst buyers in America can choose between a 2.0-litre or 1.6 turbo petrol, Kia noted that it will give new car buyers in Europe the choice between internal combustion engines (ICEs) and all-electric models across their range.

Steven Center, COO and EVP for Kia America, highlighted that the K4 is designed to be a particularly sporty alternative to most other family hatchbacks.

He explained: "After the overwhelmingly positive response to last year's hatchback teaser in New York, we knew we had struck a chord with car enthusiasts and consumers alike.

"Built on the success of the K4 sedan, this hatchback isn't just about style - it's about attitude. With available turbo power, a sport-tuned suspension, a more compact footprint, and exceptional versatility, the K4 Hatchback is designed for those who crave excitement at every turn."