Words and Photos by Rob McSorley
Saving money is a hot topic during these turbulent times with everyone trying to find ways to save money to make ends meet. A decade ago when petrol prices we are low as 70p per litre your cars fuel economy was a distant thought, as long as it didn’t seem that you were visiting the petrol pumps more than once a week drivers were happy with their costs, also worth considering back then, prices of new cars were relatively low and sales were booming. Now however times have changed drastically, new car sales are struggling after the end of the recent scrappage scheme and fuel prices has reached an all-time high, more than ever anyone crazy enough to own and maintain a car, or even two are forced to consider the costs associated with this comfortable way to travel. How have car manufacturers responded? By finding new and interesting ways of increasing fuel consumption and reducing the costs of road tax and even developing zero emissions hybrid or full electric cars that dodge expensive congestion charges. When you talk about a car that is capable of returning 74 mpg on a combined cycle most people will insist that it must have ultra-thin, low resistance tyres devoid of any grip, ugly aerodynamic flourishes, or have to be inconveniently charged every 40 miles. But no, a car company that as little as 5 years ago was quietly producing low budget, uninspiring cars for those on a shoestring has managed the impossible. Enter the all-new Kia Rio CRDi Ecodynamics a very ordinary car capable of mind-blowing economy without anything more than a small capacity 1.1, 3 cylinder diesel engine and a simple stop-start system. I find out if the Kia Rio is as good as the figures suggest and whether it can now be considered a viable alternative to the current class leaders the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.
What is it?
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The Rio is the latest entry into the popular supermini sector sitting above the Picanto and below the Cee'd in Kia's range. The third generation Rio tested here is another step on Kia's way to becoming a credible brand on par with the likes of Ford and Volkswagen. The new car aims to banish all memory of its lacklustre predecessor by offering improved cabin space, fuel efficiency, refinement and good looks. Here we test the mid spec '2' trim in 1.1, 3 cylinder diesel form.
Rivals; Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio, Peugeot 207, Volkswagen Polo
Technical Data
Price as tested: £13,795
Engine: 1.1 12v 74bhp - 0-62mph: 15.5 secs - Maximum Speed: 98mph -
Economy: 67.3 mpg (urban) –80.7 mpg (extra-urban), 74.3 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 99g/km (Band A) - VED (12 months): £0
Dimensions: Length: 4045mm - Width: 1720mm - Height: 1455mm - Wheelbase: 2570mm
*data from Kia UK
Key Features
To look at the Kia is an utterly conventional design however gone
is the dull, dated and anonymous styling of the previous Rio. The new car is a
well-proportioned and attractive car featuring Kia’s now signature Tiger nose
grill, large swept back headlights, and a neat uncluttered rear end with
attractive rear lights mounted on the cars hip-line. Dimensions have increased
all round with similar dimensions to its competitors, what really stands out is the long wheelbase and
the Rio’s relatively low roof line and slim window area. The windscreen has also
been pushed forward by six inches to improve space inside and the back doors
taper nicely towards the rear in a coupe-like fashion, attractive 16” alloy
wheels on our mid spec ‘2’ Rio finish the design off nicely . Overall the
exterior is very cohesive and modern but is somewhat lacking the flair you would find with a Seat Ibiza.
The interior of the Rio is a very nice place to spend time
in. In line with its key rivals interior space is much improved over its
predecessor, front leg and headroom are ample, as is rear legroom, only the
tallest rear seat passengers will find that their heads brush the headlining.
Boot space is also very good at 288 litres with the seats up increasing to 923
litres with them down but is let down by a high load lip. In terms of design
the Rio really can rival the class best, everything is simple and logically
laid out and all of the switches and controls operate smoothly, highlights
include toggle-like switches on the centre console, an attractive leather
trimmed steering wheel and individually cowled,
easy-to-read dials. The choice of materials used could be improved, the main
section of the dashboard and door panels are constructed of tactile, slightly
rubberised plastic but it is in short supply with everything else being
constructed of black, hard scratchy plastic however there is no doubt that the
interior is well screwed together without a single rattle present on our test
car and the doors close with a satisfying thud. All Rios are relatively well
equipped, our car came with front and rear electric windows, air conditioning,
ABS & EBD, traction control, remote central locking and a great sounding CD
player with Bluetooth connectivity.
On the road is where the Rio really impresses. Engine noise
at idle and on the move is well suppressed and only at high revs can the unit’s
characterful 3 cylinder thrum be heard but this only adds to the Rio's charm.
Wind noise is very well suppressed giving the impression that you are
driving a car much larger from one or two classes above. The ride is a tad on the firm side but is
never tiring as it’s well damped smoothing out all but the worst of road
surfaces with ease. The payoff is minimal body roll through corners and plenty
of grip front and rear but there is a lack of feedback through the controls
leaving the driver feeling slightly disconnected from the road. A real
highlight though is the excellent short-throw 6 speed gearbox
that operates with real precision, if only the same could be said for the
steering which is overly light, inconsistent and completely lacking in
feel. With 78bhp on tap and a 0-60mph
time of 15.5 seconds you would expect the Rio to feel sluggish but in reality
this is far from the truth. The car feels much quicker than the figures suggest
due to a healthy 170Nm of torque available from a mere 1500rpm and well spaced gear ratios mean that keeping up with the flow of traffic on faster roads is
easier than you would expect. The big question is whether 88mpg on a combined
cycle really is achievable, during our time with car the average figure we achieved was a fairly
decent 55 mpg which when you consider our average speed was only 33 mph a figure
nearer 70 mpg should be achievable thanks in part to the unobtrusive stop-start
system.
Kia’s new Rio is a deeply impressive car that we have
thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend at this mid-range “2” trim level
with the superb diesel power plant. It manages to offer class leading economy,
excellent practicality and is a thoroughly thought out design inside and out. Best of all it's pitched at a price that undercuts its rivals. On the road the Rio is much improved with
comfort and refinement an equal match for any of its competitors, sadly the drive falls
short of the driver involvement offered by Ford's Fiesta. Ultimately the Rio is no class leader but it
really does demonstrate how far Kia has come in recent years and it would be
foolish of anyone in the market for a supermini not to consider the Rio against
established rivals from Ford and Volkswagen.
You will like
- Fuel economy
- Refinement
- Standard Equipment
You won't like
- Vague steering
- Below-par interior finish
- Rear visibility
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