Insurance Group: 7
MPG: 70.6
CO2: 105
0-62 Mph: 13.7 secs
BHP: 89 BHP
Range: 668 miles
PROS: The Rio is very spacious, the ride is smooth and the styling is sophisticated
CONS: The steering is too light and although the interior has been improved, it still lags behind its European rivals.
The Rio's 1.4-litre diesel engine delivers 88 bhp at 4000 rpm and 162lb-ft of torque at 2750 rpm. The engine really needs to be worked hard to give its best and feels very sluggish at lower revs.
The steering feels vague and overly light through corners and on twisty roads, again giving its main rival, the Ford Fiesta, the edge. On the other hand, the ride is very good and feels smooth even on sub-standard road surfaces. Body control is also decent for a car of this type.
The Rio offers superb levels of refinement - it's almost eerily quiet inside this car. Wind, road and engine noise are all well isolated and the Rio is a relaxing car to drive.
It’s not the most ‘out there’ looking supermini, but the sculpted flanks, 'bow-tie' grille and rounded profile create a classy look, showing progression in design from its predecessors. On top of that it’s longer, lower in height and wider than some of the earlier models.
Inside, it isn’t as luxurious as its European rivals, but nevertheless the interior has come a long way from earlier models.
In terms of standard equipment, you get front and rear electric windows, electric door mirrors, air conditioning, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, front fog-lights, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), MP3 connectivity, plus USB and aux-in ports.
The Rio is one of the largest cars in the class with 288 litres of boot space with the rear seats up and a full 923 litres when the rear seats are down. However, a high boot lip means that loading and unloading heavy items is trickier than it needs to be. There are also a number of cubby holes throughout the cabin and a decent sized glovebox.
Kias have a good reliability record and the Rio should prove to be a reliable car. It is also offered with a seven year/100,000 mile warranty which is reassuring.
ABS, hill assist control and twin front, side and curtain airbags all go to make the Rio a very safe car as well.
With a starting price of £14,195, the Rio 2 1.4 CRDi EcoDynamics is cheap but perhaps a little too expensive to fully justify its market presence - for roughly similar money there are superior cars available to buy.
The Rio will return a combined 70.6 mpg which is superb by any standards and the CO2 emissions of 105g/km also mean that taxing the car will cost you a measly £20 a year. Ultimately, this car is not just cheap to buy, but it is cheap to run, with insurance also being low.
The Rio is Kia’s best car yet. Far better than previous Kia models, it gives a quiet, comfortable ride and has enough punch to get you to your destination on time. It offers practicality, performan...
The Rio is one of the largest superminis you can buy. It looks good and has a very low running costs. It rides well and has a decent level of standard kit but its performance is underwhelming and t...
The Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi Ecodynamics is the most economical of all the versions of the Kia Rio, with exceptionally good fuel efficiency. It is developed primarily for the European market which is why i...
Kia’s reputation and market share has been growing. And why not? They’ve been making good cars! The Kia Rio 1 1.1 CRDi Air EcoDynamics looks like continuing that trend; it is a very competent car. ...
The Kia Rio is the larger brother of the Picanto, and those who are looking for a car that is still compact but a little more practical, then the Rio may be the option. The handling is reliable if...
You might want to read reviews for other Small Family cars that you can then compare to the Kia Rio. Here are some popular Kia Rio alternatives:
