All car makers talk the talk when they try to persuade you to hand over thousands of pounds on a new car.

But backing up that initial enthusiasm with action when that sparkling new possession gets a few years old has sometimes been a little slow in coming.

I well remember, years ago, the mixture of spluttering bemusement and incomprehension on the faces of some Rover car executives when it was suggested they might like to follow the, at-the-time revolutionary, Japanese example and introduce a three-year warranty.

Now that three years’ cover is the norm, it has been left to the South Korean car makers to up the ante. First, Hyundai went for five years and then Kia raised the warranty bar to an impressive seven years, or 100,000 miles.

Kia’s warranty is also transferable to subsequent owners, a major selling point for anyone trading in their car.

The Korean car maker has been determined to cut it in Europe and with the launch of the five-door cee’d hatchback has managed to make the transformation from cheap and cheerful car maker, to producer of solid, well-built, value-for-money vehicles.

To push home its advantage, Kia has expanded its Slovakian-built cee’d range with its first estate car — the cee’d SW.

The cee’d SW has the same wheelbase as the five-door hatchback, an identical front end and even the same rear doors. But the body has been stretched by 235mm compared with the hatchback — all of it added behind the rear axle line.

The tailgate has also been specially designed to allow you to stand closer to fully open it, a useful touch in restricted parking spaces or garages.

Inside, there is a sporty, thick-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel; a three-dial instrument cluster and dials and switches that glow red-orange at night and on the move, the car performs as neatly and as well composed as the hatchback.

The SW comes in two trim levels, both sporting silver roof rails, a 55-litre under-floor luggage tray, a cargo security screen, luggage net hooks and a 12-volt power outlet in the boot.

The test car was fitted with the zippy 1.6-litre petrol engine, which delivers bags of get up and go, but once it hits motorway cruising speeds, the 120 horsepower unit absolutely screams out for a sixth gear, which is sadly absent. Two 1.6-litre turbo-diesel units are also available, and these are likely to be the most popular.

In a further nod to European tastes, the cee’d SW is the first Kia to have its indicator stalk on the familiar left-hand side.

Until now, all Kia models have had the stalk on the Korean-style right-hand side and Kia promises this change in positioning will apply across its entire range in due course.

Auto facts Kia cee’d SW GS

  • Price: £13,125
  • Ins group: Six
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 43.5mpg
  • Top speed: 119mph
  • Length: 447cm/176in
  • Width: 179cm/70.5in
  • Luggage capacity: 18.8 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 11.6 gallons/ 53 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 154g/km
  • Warranty: 7 years/ 100,000 miles