Rio not so grand on style
The all-new Kia Rio is a capable supermini in a very competitive market, writes Martin Brennan
COMPETITION has never been as keen in the supermini segment as Ford Fiesta, VW Polo, Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio and Opel Corsa battle it out. A new Micra has recently broken ground with a very grown-up feel so it is timely that Kia replaced its offering here with an all-new Rio.
The outgoing model had a facelift a few years ago but now the fightback from sluggish sales begins on March 1. High on the agenda for the older driver fans will be Kia’s trump card, the seven-year warranty.
But for younger drivers, female drivers are being targeted, and style and advanced technology are critical elements in any campaign to win new fans.
The new model is longer, lower and wider now but the exterior styling is on the conservative side and not as stand-out as the target audience “young customers with style in mind” may appreciate.
The ‘tiger nose’ is still there with a bigger and bolder lower grille, new headlights but the overall shape is not as exciting as one would have liked, so Kia may have to play up the brand’s long-recognised reliability.
The body lines are sleek and the rear shows wide light clusters but dramatic changes like we have seen in the Micra are missing.
On the inside, there are big improvements with 5” and 7” screens available, depending on trim levels.
The dashboard is well laid out and seats are comfortable and there is a choice of furnishings. Head height has been increased by 5mm, legroom by 8mm and the Rio is now 15mm longer so there is more interior space — a good point for supermini models.
There is now a bigger boot (two levels) which can extend from a larger-than-usual segment size of 325 litres to a full flat big load carrying area of 980 litres.
Build quality has also been improved, making the bodyshell 30pc stiffer and the Rio is 17kgs lighter which benefits fuel consumption and handling.
New also are the improved front suspensions, new steering geometry and new shock absorbers which all add to a smoother drive up front. But strangely on bumpy, winding roads the damping is not quite up to the same standard of comfort for rear-seat passengers.
Insulation is good with low levels of wind and engine noise penetrating into the cabin.
Prices are predicted to start at €5 below €16,000 for the entry level 1.2 petrol model in the basic LX trim.
This is ideal for driving around town where the Rio will be very much at home with a tight turning circle but those wanting a more energetic drive have two diesel options.
There is also a 1-litre turbo 3-cylinder available in the near future. The 1.2 litre petrol offering gives 84bhp with 4.8L/100kms with C02 levels of 106g/km.
The entry level 1.4 litre diesel gives 77bhp (92 g/ km) while the 90bhp unit claims a fuel consumption of 3.8L/100km (80mpg) with 98g/km of C02.
The 1-litre engine, which is due in July production models, is currently used in the Hyundai i20 and Kia cee’d.
It has a 99bhp output and 102g/km of C02 with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 4.2L/100km (62mpg).
This gives a lively engaging drive and will be a favourite, although more costly.
A special automatic transmission is being developed for this engine which urban drivers will appreciate.
With the 1.2litre petrol engine, this will be the best seller at what we believe to be around €18,000. Prices and specifications will be finalised in the coming weeks.