Kia Rio (11 on) - Review

Kia’s latest Rio is no longer the wallflower of old, with a new look and the potential to unsettle European rivals. The Kia Rio isn’t as aggressively styled as its sibling, the Picanto, but its striking ‘bow-tie’ grille and large headlamps give the front end a bold stance. The swooping roofline gives it a coupe look, making this Rio much more eye-catching. It’s longer, lower in height and wider than its predecessor, so the new Rio has grown up in more ways than one. Kia has pitched the Rio into the midst of a very competitive class. Its rivals include the Renault Clio, Peugeot 207, Toyota Yaris, Volkswagen Polo and class-leading Ford Fiesta. They all have a fight on their hands with the new Rio. There are four engines in the Rio’s line-up: two petrols (an 83bhp 1.25-litre and a 107bhp 1.4-litre) and two diesels (a 74bhp 1.1CRDi and an 89bhp CRDi). They offer decent fuel economy and with a slick six-speed gearbox, unflustered, but unremarkable performance. With four trim grades – 1, 1 Air, 2 and 3, there’s plenty of choice but it is the attractive seven-year warranty that could turn the heads of those who would ordinarily opt for a Ford Fiesta or Volkswagen Polo. Although a Kia Rio is on par with competitors in terms of list price, Kia dealers are usually willing to do a deal, so buyers could pick up a bargain quite easily if they are prepared to hunt around and haggle like mad. In spite of its modest proportions it could well be a decent option for a company car driver looking to cut his or her monthly costs. The Rio 1.1 CRDi EcoDynamics CO2 emissions levels have been pegged back to 85g/km for all trims, which gives user-choosers low payments as well as the kind of generous kit levels needed for drivers who spends a lot of time in their car. The entire Rio range is also available with Kia’s fixed price servicing plans, Care-3 and Care-3 Plus, which offer three or five years’ servicing for a modest outlay. For the full Kia Rio review read on.