Plenty
of new car choices are available for under $20 grand on the road, but pretty
much all are in the light car or smaller micro car segments.
In
total, some 26 models are available from about 15 manufacturers which gives
consumers a wide selection to choose from. Offerings come from all quarters...
India, Thailand, Japan, Korea and Europe with the lion's share of sales going
to Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris with Hyundai's i20 and Suzuki's Swift on the scent.
Kia is in there too with the Rio, arguably one of
the better lookers in the segment and priced from an affordable $15,990…. plus
on roads which takes it to about $18 grand... drive away.
CELLAR DWELLER
We were
interested in the bottom dollar car - the one that, on price alone, would get
you, the buyer, through a Kia
dealer's door. We couldn't actually do that because the absolute base model
wasn't available so we drove the next one up - the five door, manual, Rio S hatch that
sells for $16,990 plus on roads.
Kia recently freshened Rio adding
some kit and fiddling the model range adding some more choices. Rio's sporty
style has been enhanced with a revised bumper, grille and other minor body
hardware changes while the interior gets a new style centre fascia, audio unit
design and metallic highlights.
Not
much at all really but enough to stay in the race in the face of a new
generation Mazda2, Honda Jazz and revised Yaris.
UNDER THE BONNET
The Rio S is powered by a
1.4-litre, fuel injected, four cylinder petrol engine that achieves 79kW/135Nm
output. If you want the more up to date direct injection engine you'll have to
go for the 1.6-litre car at significantly more money. It also gets an optional
six speed auto whereas the 1.4 engine makes do with an old school four speed
auto. Why?
The
manual across all Rio variants
is a six speeder offering a smooth shift action and relatively closely spaced
gear ratios. It needs them in the 1.4 because engine performance is OK as long
as you are prepared to work the gearbox.
Fuel
economy is a claimed 5.7-litres/100km, a figure we got close to on test and it
runs on regular unleaded which is a bonus.
CHASSIS
Kia Australia takes great pains
to give its cars a sporty 'Euro' feel on the road and such is the case here
with the Rio S delivering a sporty ride with a decent level of comfort and
control. The same applies to the car's steering and overall dynamics and it has
disc brakes all round unlike many competitors which have drum rear brakes - say
what?
Kia takes its cars out into the
Aussie countryside with a bunch of suspension parts, laptops and engineers to
get the ride/handling right. The process works a treat with the Rio ahead of
most rivals in this area even with a fairly rudimentary strut front/torsion
beam rear suspension. Pity it weighs so much as 1221kg for the one we drove.
KIT
The
test car had a reasonable amount of kit including air conditioning, trip
computer, Bluetooth phone and audio, steering wheel audio controls, trip
computer and phone controls, hill start assist, remote central locking, OK
cloth upholstery, gear shift indicator, reasonable seats (no lumbar adjustment)
and a 60/40 folding rear pew.
Happily,
the Rio has a full size
spare which isn't matched by many of its competitors. It also scores a five
star crash rating with all that brings.
DRIVING
Rio is
OK on this score... at the better end of the scale thanks to its dynamics but
is no firecracker that's for sure. The silent at idle engine is 'adequate' and
when you put the foot down you get more noise and a bit more acceleration. Best
as an urban runabout.
STYLE
Rio is a handsome
little beast from all angles and is acceptably modern inside even though
there's too much hard grey plastic
We like
the look of the Rio with its
distinct European lines setting it apart from most of the competition many of
which are stylistically challenged (ugly).
In
contrast, Rio is a handsome little beast from all angles and is acceptably
modern inside even though there's too much hard grey plastic. Plenty of storage
compartments are provided and it's an easy car to drive and live with.
VERDICT
A bit
more go from the 1.4-litre engine would be welcome as well as lumbar support
adjustment but as it is, the price, warranty, capped price servicing drive feel
and look of the car are hard to resist.
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