With the Rio being such a big seller for Kia – the brand’s best-selling model worldwide in fact – changing too much can be risky. With that in mind, Kia has gone for a subtler approach with its new fourth-generation Rio, refreshing some aspects of the car’s character without straying too far from the script.
So, what’s new, then? Well, although there is nothing major, there have still been quite a few changes to Kia’s little supermini. For a start it sits 10mm lower and, due to its wheelbase being 10mm longer, it’s 15mm longer overall. It also has a stiffer body, re-tuned shock absorbers and springs, a revamped interior, a new 1.0-litre turbo and even a new tiger-nose grille.
Those changes are all well and good, and they will be welcomed with open arms from Rio fans no doubt. But will they be enough to convince Ford Fiesta and VW Polo fans to join team Kia? We take its new 1.0-litre turbo for a spin to find out.
Performance 4/5
A familiar engine line-up adorns the new Rio, with a 1.25-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel, but the big news is the new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol. This new three-pot is set to rival Ford’s EcoBoost and Vauxhall’s Econetic, and it comes available with two power outputs: 99bhp and 118bhp.
We tested the lower output 99bhp 1.0-litre T-GDI mated to a five-speed manual gearbox – and it offers all the likeable characteristics of a peppy turbo, with low down pull and a throaty engine note. It does take 10.5 seconds to reach 62mph, so it’s hardly boy racer, but it still allows you to have a fair bit of fun.
Is it as entertaining as its Ford and Vauxhall counterparts? Not quite. Kia’s 1.0-litre T-GDI has all the right traits, it’s just not as flexible as its competitors and it doesn’t really offer that ‘big engine’ feel of other small turbo units.
Ride and Handling 3.5/5
The Rio has always been a conservative choice in terms of driving dynamics, and the same can be said for the new model. To be fair to Kia, it has done a great job of making the Rio feel more planted and confident in the corners, thanks to a new stiffer body shell construction, but the overall package is still very vanilla.
There is still some sophisticated systems on-board to enhance the drive. There’s Straight Line Stability and Cornering Brake Control, both of which aim to improve stability when stopping in a straight-line or when cornering by evenly applying brake pressure, either symmetrically or asymmetrically.
However, its steering fails to offer the levels of engagement of the Ford Fiesta and its ride - which is by no means rough - is still behind the Volkswagen Polo for comfort. The cabin falls victim to tire roar at higher speeds too.
The Rio is still competitive as an all-round package though, with easy to manoeuvre steering and a comfortable, no-nonsense character which is more than capable of tackling the likes of the Skoda Fabia and Vauxhall Corsa. Just don’t expect it to peak the senses.
Interior and Equipment 4/5
Kia has only made subtle changes to the Rio’s interior, but they are for the better. The biggest change is the addition of a new touchscreen system, which sits slightly raised from the dashboard. We tested the seven-inch configuration and, just like other Kia systems, found it incredibly responsive and easy to use.
According to Kia, the dashboard is now angled slightly more towards the driver for enhanced engagement, although we couldn’t really tell. What is noticeable however is the slight bump up in quality, with soft touch materials applied more liberally.
There is a familiar line-up of trim levels in the Rio: 1, 2, 3 and First Edition – although expect a sporty GT Line model to be added at a later date. We tested the ‘3’ model which came generously equipped with the likes of automatic air-con, faux leather upholstery, sat-nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Although the Rio has been lowered by 10mm, Kia claims that the supermini has been stretched in other areas, which makes for greater space for rear passengers. Head room is certainly in abundance, even for taller passengers. Leg room however can get a little cramped for six-footers, especially if a six-footer is behind the wheel.
The boot on the other hand is a bit more rounded, as its opening has been widened by 71mm and the load lip has been lowered by 26mm, improving ease of access. Storage space has been boosted by 37 litres too, bringing overall storage space with the seats up to 325 litres – which is bigger than the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen polo. Whack the seats down and you get 980 litres.
Costs 3.5/5
The new 99bhp 1.0-litre T-DGI claims average fuel economy of 63mpg, but as with most three-pot turbos, this figure is unrealistic. However, with an average of around 50mpg, 55mpg at a push, it’s certainly closer to its claimed figure than many of its rivals. CO2 is quoted at just 102g/km too.
Pricing of the new Rio is a bit of a funny one. At £11,995, entry-level Rio’s are more expensive than a Volkswagen Polo – although they are very well-equipped and also come with the added bonus of Kia’s coveted seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. The 1.0-litre T-GDI ‘3’ model we tested was priced at £16,295.
Verdict 4/5
It feels Kia are still being a little safe with the Rio, opting for something that is merely in the mix with the rest of the supermini crowd instead of attempting to break the mould, either in terms of style or driving dynamics. And that’s fine, it will still rake in sales.
It’s not quite to the benchmark-setting standards of some of its rivals, but it remains a strong competitor for those who want a comfortable, well-equipped supermini with a good warranty.