Handsome but heavier Korean hatch
Colin Smith mall things can count for a lot in small cars. The few extra millimetres of dimensions offered by the fourthgeneration Kia Rio make a considerable difference to its passenger and load- carrying space to provide small hatchback family functionality.
The differences are small but an overall length of 4065mm ( rather than the typical sub- 4 metre super- mini measurement) and a body slightly wider than most at 1725mm provide benefits. So does the generous 325- litre load volume.
It’s enough to consider the new Rio as a quarter- size larger than rivals such as the Mazda2, Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris.
But measuring up a little bigger means the Rio is also heavier than its competitors — at 1246kg something in the region of 150- 200kg depending on specifications.
And that flows through to a level of performance and efficiency that isn’t as modern as the new Rio’s handsome looks
STHE CAR WOULD BE TRANSFORMED BY HAVING TWO MORE GEARS AND A SMALL EXTRA HELPING OF KILOWATTS and appealing equipment levels appear to promise.
Under the bonnet there’s a 1368cc fuel- injected engine with 74kW output at 6000rpm and 133Nm of torque at 4000rpm.
The power and weight numbers mean the Rio is a little on the low side when it comes to performance. But the biggest thing that makes a difference in a new- for- 2017 small car is an oldschool four- speed automatic transmission.
The Rio can deliver smooth response around town but venture out on to highways and four gears aren’t enough to provide a modern level of response and efficiency.
Reasonably wide ratio gaps and sometimes reluctant kickdown response are impediments to refined highway performance and the car would be transformed by having two more gears and a small extra helping of kilowatts and Newton metres.
At 100km/ h, the engine is already beginning to sound busy using 2600rpm in fourth gear with a big step to 3600rpm with the shift into third.
Four gears also count against efficiency. On an open road journey, I managed to ease the consumption down to 7.1L/ 100km, but it’s still a stretch to the claimed combined cycle consumption of 6.2L/ 100km.
Stay within the urban environs and the Rio will achieve about 8.0L/ 100km.
More engine and more gears would bring the Rio to life and there’s a chassis that would easily cope with some extra urgency.
The new Rio is a step forward in its dynamics and it steers accurately with wide- track confidence and plenty of cornering grip — especially in the Limited model with excellent Continental ContiSportContact 5 tyres in 205/ 45 R17 size fitted to eight- spoke alloy wheels.