Car Review: Kia Rio

Kia’s all-new small hatch is a sensible, grown-up car

No frills... but the Rio will probably last the test of time rather better than the more fashionable competition (Kia)

Would it be a mistake to buy a Kia Rio? Depends what you want, really. If you want practical transport rather than a fashion statement, the answer is, very likely, “no”. You and your Kia will be very happy together, in your unshowy way. As we head into the Brexit future, this sensible sort of mindset may spread. We shall see.

Here is a smart, contemporary reasonably good value smaller hatch in the traditional style. I liked the glossy grille, the choice of engines and the nice touches they add to the top-of-the range trim, such as a heated steering wheel. The controls for the sat nav, entertainment and air con were easy to use, far from a given with today’s complicated cars. And of course you’ll get Kia’s excellent seven-year warranty as standard (which is also transferable if and when you come to sell your Rio).

This is a very sober sort of design. Though all-new, the exterior styling is very close to the model it replaces, and there are none of the dramatic swooshes around the bodywork that feature on some of its toughest competitors, such as the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio and Vauxhall Corsa. Nor is its handling quite as tidy, but that’s probably of marginal importance for many buyers. Indoors, things are just as conservative. The special “First Edition” models get a splash of colour around the dash, bigger alloys and all the creature comforts but otherwise, even with these fancier versions, things are predominantly monochrome and sombre. It contrasts strongly with, say, the new Citroen C3, which is as avant-garde French, modish and faddy as the Kia is business-suit Korean. There are very few talking points in the Rio; no air-bumps, no door pulls in contrasting leather, no crazy options for personalisation as with, say, a Mini or Fiat 500 or Skoda Fabia, no unusual pastel shades. But I suspect the Rio will last the test of time rather better than the more fashionable competition. To that degree it’s more like a VW Polo, but not yet endowed with the VW’s image of reliability and durability (deserved or not). My only gripes with the Rio are the high lip on the boot, and the lack of a proper spare wheel.

The 7 inch touchscreen has live TomTom updates for the satnav (Kia)

However the Kia is a dedicated follower of engineering fashion. As you’d expect from a Korean maker, it boasts state-of-the-art consumer electronics: 6-speaker audio system; 7 inch touchscreen satellite navigation/entertainment, including DAB and live TomTom updates; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity; lots of USBs front and rear, plus a colour reversing camera/display.

The spec

Kia Rio ‘First Edition’ 1.0 GDi

Price: £17,445 (range starts at £11,995)

Engine capacity: 3 litre 1-litre petrol; 6-sp gearbox

Power output (PS @ rpm): 118@6,000

Top speed (mph): 118

0-62 mph (seconds): 9.8

Fuel economy (mpg): 60.1

CO2 emissions (g/km): 107

Or take its new engine design – small capacity but turbo-charged three-cylinder engines, increasingly the norm across the market. On the plus side these motors are lighter, more economical and cheaper to make than their four-cylinder predecessors, so they ought to work for both manufacturer and consumer. On the other hand I remain a bit of a sceptic about their long-term performance, and am not yet convinced they won’t turn out like other engineering fashions, and leave the motorist with a very bad case of buyers’ regret, the most egregious example of that being the diesel boom of the last couple of decades. Day-to-day, drive-to-drive, you’ll find three cylinder power quite “thrummy” and not quite as smooth as a four-cylinder you might be used to. They need a bit more revving and working the gears, though, as I say, willing enough. Kia, maybe hedging their bets a little, offer three- and four-cylinder petrol-powered options. I didn’t have the opportunity to try out the more conventional four-cylinder models, though I’d put money on them lasting somewhat longer than their smaller-engined, more stressed siblings.

The Rio’s interior is predominantly monochrome and sombre (Kia)

Then there’s the diesel (four cylinder only). I confess I was one of the journalists who pretty much bought the line that modern turbo-diesels were the holy grail; sporty performance really was compatible with excellent fuel economy, lower CO2 emissions and, with advanced engine management and filters, “Nox” pollution (soot really) could be kept down as well. Anyway, we all know better now.

Then again, when you jump into a diesel-powered Rio straight after a petrol version, you do see how diesel makes a difference – much more power at low revs, a more flexible response and not much less sophisticated, if at all. Were it not for the various proposed bans and imminent war on diesel, and the genuine environmental issues with this fuel, I’d have no hesitation in recommending the diesel-powered version of the Rio.

An annoyingly high lip on the boot – and, alas, no spare wheel (Kia)

The Kia Rio is not destined for the same level of success as its stablemates – the Sportage, a hugely successful entry into the SUV sector, the mid-range c’eed, the funkadelic Kia Soul, or the Picanto (a favourite choice under the scrappage scheme a few years back). Kia has shown that it can punch way above its weight, and the brand has travelled a huge distance in recent years – with the Optima saloon more than a match for the mainstream opposition. The Rio just lacks a bit of showroom magic. No one should regret buying a Kia, though.