Kia Ceed 1.4 ISG (2008) CAR review

Kia will go electric, in a small way at least, when it introduces the Ceed with a stop-start system early in 2009. The Ceed ISG (Idle Stop and Go) will be the first of a series of new, green, technologies on the way from Kia which is also working on hybrids and fuel cell cars.

How does this Kia Ceed ISG work?

Stop and go systems give the greatest real-world benefit in urban conditions when creeping along in traffic and are less effective if your journeys' don’t involve many stops. But from the manufacturers’ point of view it looks good on paper anyway, because the ECE test cycle includes 12 stops. The system cuts in when the car comes to a halt, the driver selects neutral and engages the clutch. It doesn’t kick in if you sit at the lights riding the clutch either in gear or in neutral.

Will it wear out?

The conventional starter motor has been beefed up to withstand 300,000 start cycles during its life rather than the usual 50,000. Although adding stop-start seems fairly simple, there are quite a number of other things that have to be added too, such as a crank sensor, a beefed-up battery and switches to monitor the position of the brake, clutch and gear selector. 

Click 'Next' below to read more of our Kia Ceed ISG drive