Yummiest car ever

When I head for Lisbon, it’s normally for pasteis. Let me explain. There is this most wondrous of foods – called Pasteis de Belém. It is what culinary Kretins call Portuguese custard tart – and I’m an addict. I have to travel to Lisbon regularly to feed my craving.

But last week I travelled to Lisbon to feed any fancy. One automotive. I went to the land of Pasteis to drive the brand new Kia Rio, which will arrive in South Africa late in October or early November.

What a car. The all-new, fourth-generation Rio – which made its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show – is almost certain to wow South Africa car buyers. It is a bold and beautiful new B segment contender, which will have local motorists rushing into Kia dealerships.

The first reason why is its styling. Let’s face it; we all want to look good in our cars. And even Quasimodo would look good in the new Rio (plus, it’s so spacious inside, he’d easily fit into the cabin, hump and all). My co-driver measured a whopping 6 foot six (pretty please don’t ask me to convert that into metrics), and he had head and legroom aplenty.

Because I am particularly perverted, I even asked him to sit in the back at one stage – and he didn’t have his knees around his ears. Not bad for a B segment contender.

Then there is the important issue of build quality. The Rio has a quality feel to it – there are no rattles or squeaks and all the materials are truly top notch. One of the journalists compared it to products from the Lamborghini stable. That’s pushing it (Kia isn’t quite there – yet). But it was a fair indication of just how dramatically the brand’s quality has improved.

We’ll get a five-door version of the Rio first – with sedan and possibly three-door versions to follow. It’s equipped with a 1,25 or 1,4-litre petrol engine and CO2 emissions start at just 125 g/km.

I reckon it will sell at about R150 000 to R160 000. If you’re in the market for a new car and you plan on spending that sort of money, don’t buy something else until you’ve driven the Rio.