Kia Motors UK has opened UK order books for its new Xceed urban crossover – with prices starting at £28,095.

Deliveries of the new addition to the Korean carmaker’s model line-up will commence at franchised retail sites in the key number plate change month of September with a range of 2, 3 and First Edition model trim available from launch.

Prices start at £20,795, for the entry-level 2 with a 1-litre 120PS petrol engine, while the range-topping 1.4 T-GDI First Edition costs from £28,095.

All Xceed’s are front-wheel-drive and enter the market to take on the likes of Ford’s Focus Active, sitting beneath the Sportage in the Kia range.

Based on the Ceed hatchback, the new Xceed has a raised ride height and different bumpers to provide a more rugged appearance and differentiate it from other Ceed models.

Kia said that the Xceed provides a sportier driving experience than traditional SUVs, but with comparable luggage and passenger space.

The interior is carried over from the rest of the Ceed line-up, featuring a floating touchscreen and soft-touch materials.

The Xceed is among the first vehicles in Europe to offer the brand’s telematics system, UVO Connect.

This provides information via the in-car touchscreen and to the driver’s smartphone such as; live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest, and details of potential on- and off-street parking (including price, location and parking availability).

The second element of the UVO Connect diagnostic data about owners’ cars and the trips they take, enables drivers to send route directions to their car before a journey, and enables them to check the location of their vehicle at any time.

The Kia Xceed will also be available with the brand’s first fully-digital 12.3-inch Supervision driver instrument cluster, replacing the conventional dials found currently in the brand’s passenger cars.

Active driver assist and safety technologies include Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind-spot Collision Warning, Forward Collision Warning with car and pedestrian detection, Intelligent Speed Limit Warning, Smart Parking Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and High Beam Assist.

From launch, two turbocharged petrol engines are offered; the three-cylinder 1.0-litre T-GDi engine, which produces 120PS; and the four-cylinder 1.4-litre T-GDi engine, which produces 140PS.

There are also two diesels, both 1.6-litres, with 115PS or 136PS.

Low-emission electrified powertrains, including 48V mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, will be launched into the Kia XCeed range later in early 2020.