Car Review: 2017 Kia Rio
The first-generation Kia Rio, which came out in 2000 was, to put it bluntly, not amazing. It was known as a “sporty wagon” but was in no way sporty. It was really just to get you from point A to point B reliably. When the second generation made its debut in 2007, things started to look up. We got new powertrains including the 1,6-litre engine and Kia was on right track. But it was really when designer Peter Schreyer arrived on the scene that things changed for Kia. In 2011 the third generation Kia Rio hit our shores and together with the Sportage, put Kia on the map!
Before these two cars I had never considered a Kia, it just wasn’t on my radar. I remember the first time I saw the third-generation Rio, I was sitting at my desk (I was still working for CAR magazine back then) and my colleague went, “Yoh, take a look at this.” My reply, “The Polo better watch out!”. 450 000 Rio’s were sold globally! The Volkswagen Polo remained the segment leader, but the Rio was the perfect alternative. And I believe it still is.
This is the fourth generation and it is still a really good looking hatch. South Africans are hatch mad! They look sporty but are somewhat practical as well. We were long overdue for a new product in this segment so the Kia comes at the right time (but with the new Ford Fiesta hot on its heels). This time round the design is similar but the roofline is lower, front overhang increased, rear overhang shortened and the rear is more upright. Attention to detail is evident with things such as a change in width to the C-Pillar and the rear glass being widened for better visibility. The tailgate has been widened and lowered to make loading things much easier.
A floating interface and black gloss detailing create a modern and fresh cabin, but hard plastics unfortunately make it feel a bit cheap. Higher spec models boast a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The new Rio can pride itself on spaciousness, both in the front and the rear. The luggage capacity is 325-litres and the rear seats have a 60:40 split. The higher spec models really leaving you wanting nothing more. From Bluetooth with Voice Recognition, leather seats, rear park assist, and Apple and Android integration to cruise control, alloy pedals, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and an electro chromatic rear-view mirror.
There are still only the two engine options available, 1,25-litre and 1,4-litre. A five-speed manual, 6-speed manual or four-speed auto transmission is available. We hopped in to the 1,4-litre TEC with its 74 kW of power and 135 N.m of torque, and as much as I want to report that it was great, it was exactly how I expected it to be (especially in Johannesburg) which is pap! But Kia Motors South Africa is not to blame for this engine, it is what South Africa is given. They are fighting to get the 1,0-litre turbopetrol here and I really hope they win this battle! But, not everyone wants speed and performance, some want looks, convenience, practicality and reliability…all boxes Kia can tick. So, don’t let the lack of oomph scare you away from what is a great product. Especially when you get Kia’s 5-year/unlimited km warranty and 4-year/60 000 km service plan as standard.
Another major positive is that Kia managed to keep the pricing of this new generation as close as possible (and identical on some models) to the outgoing model.
KIA RIO PRICING
1,2 LS: R219 995
1,4 LX: R234 995
1,4 EX: R249 995
1,4 TEC: R274 995