The
third-generation Kia Rio has been given a
makeover with a smarter edge to the styling and a revision of the trim grades.
There's no big news under the bonnet, but efficiency was never a weak point.
Prices are keen and the seven-year warranty speaks for itself.
Kia might have changed quite a bit
about this latest Rio but it
has left the oily bits well alone, the Rio campaigning on a familiar theme of
modest power outputs and sheer ease of use. Buyers in this sector don't require
outright speed, instead valuing more prosaic attributes such as ease of
parking, low steering effort, excellent all round visibility and the Rio excels
in these areas. The Coupled Torsion Beam Axle rear suspension introduced in
2011 was a smart move, dialling out the understeer its predecessor had and was
also more tunable than the old suspension. The ride is firmer but body control
has been improved with less roll through corners.
No
small car can make significant headway without at least one super-efficient
engine and the Rio gets a very
impressive three-cylinder diesel. Although it only generates 81bhp, that's
plenty for city duties and Kia
has worked hard at engine refinement at low engine revs, that part of the power
band you'll be using in urban areas. The 0-62mph of 16.4s looks a bit
yawn-inducing but the torque figure of 162Nm means there's more zip than the
sprint figure suggests. You will have to work the gearbox to extract it though.
The
third-gen Rio was always
a tidy looking thing, if a little generic. This update largely concentrates on
giving the car a bit more aesthetic personality. The styling gets a slightly
sportier edge with revisions to both the front and rear. The lower front air
intake has been redesigned, as have the front fog light housings, which feature
twin chromed horizontal bars. The rear bumper has also been modernised and incorporates
a revised number plate strip and restyled reflectors. The sculpted flanks,
intricately finished lights, 'tiger nose' grille and bold wheelarches remain,
giving both three and five-door versions of the car a taut, poised look.
The
cabins are nicely finished, with tough materials used throughout. This time
round, Kia has fitted some
high-gloss black embellishments on the centre fascia, replacing the metallic
effect formerly found on grades 2 and above, and there's also a chrome handbrake
button. Grades 1 and 1 Air get black cloth upholstery, while grades 2 and 3
have a premium black cloth upholstery. Grade 4, which was introduced to the Rio range at the
start of 2014, continues with black leather upholstery with faux leather inserts.
As before, four tall adults can fit inside and the boot measures a decent
288-litres, which can be extended via the 60:40 split rear seats. There's also
stacks of stowage space around the cabin.
The Kia Rio came of age with the third
generation model and this facelift merely adds a little more sparkle. Unlike
some mid-life updates, the styling refresh really does add something a bit
extra to the Rio, giving it a bit more confidence than before, while the
interiors now bear scrutiny against any of the best-selling rivals in the
supermini division.
With
prices starting at a smidgeon over ten grand, Kia has kept the
value proposition keen, building additional equipment into the Rio at little or
no extra cost. It's a bit of a shame that the 1.4-litre diesel engine isn't
available more widely throughout the range, but other than that it's hard to
grumble. The usual verdict of 'good car, great warranty' sells the Rio a long
way short. If you've overlooked it in the past, it's well worth another chance.
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