Rio is the better Korea move
platform as the Hyundai i20 that we already have here which, if you are a follower of these things, is something of a mixed bag.
The Rio comes to NZ in three forms – LX, EX and the new LTD – with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions in the LX, while the EX and LTD are auto only.
The LX comes standard with 15-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, a seven-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, cruise control and hill-start assist. It costs $22,490 for the manual and $23,490 for the automatic.
The EX adds 16-inch alloy wheels, projection headlights with cornering lights, LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights, exterior chrome trim, push button start, climate control, satellite navigation and rain sensing wipers. The EX is $25,490.
The new LTD trim adds 17-inch machine-finish alloy wheels, privacy glass, artificial leather upholstery and dash trim and alloy pedals for a further $1500 ($26,990).
All models of Rio are powered by the same 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the i20, which means it produces 74kw of power and 133Nm of torque. While the manual transmission is a sixspeeder, the automatic is a fourspeed unit.
Not something that is exactly cutting edge these days.
However, both the engine and transmission feel far livelier in the Rio. This is probably due to the programming of the transmission, as it seems far more eager to kick down in the Rio than it ever does in the i20.
Around town the transmission’s lack of ratios is barely noticeable, largely thanks to its agreeable responses. However out on the open road it becomes more more of an issue... but strangely, never as much as it does in the i20.
If an old-tech four-speed auto bothers you, then Kia also offers that increasingly rare thing – a manual transmission on the entry-level LX.
Hooked up to the manual transmission, the Rio’s engine seems even more eager. It isn’t exactly sports car-like, but has a nice feel and a good shift action, while the clutch is nicely light, yet still also nicely progressive. It is extremely easy to use at low speed and actually fun on a winding road.
The Rio’s chassis is a thing of surprisingly broad ability, with an impressive bigger-car ride allied to nimble and agile handling. The nose turns nicely into corners in response to input through the pleasantly weighted and decently communicative steering and the Rio feels nicely composed, even over rough surfaces.
On the outside, the new Rio is a handsome, if conservative car, with a distinct European bent to it. The main criticism we have of the exterior is that it swerves a little too close to the Volkswagen Polo for its own good, but otherwise it’s not going to offend anyone. Or excite them too much.
On the inside the conservative yet modern styling continues with an interior that is attractively designed and extremely well laid out, but somewhat monochromatic and drab, with quite a lot of hard plastic present. While a bit of colour would be a welcome relief, everything is very ergonomically sensible and the touch-screen is a highlight, being nicely responsive and boasting excellent integration of Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
The Kia Rio is an exceptionally well-equipped car at a sharp price. It handily out-does its Hyundai i20 cousin in terms of equipment and pricing, as well as making the four-speed auto work far better.
The availability of a manual is a bonus, but the whole package is a rather impressive one.
Will it outswift the Swift? No, it doesn’t have the personality for that, but Kia’s predictions of selling 700 of them (an increase of 20 per cent) is more than reasonable.