The third generation Rio was a revelation for the brand, with Eurocentric styling, a more upmarket interior and the same reliability and low running costs that the brand has been associated with since it arrived in the country.
The fourth generation model has been on sale for a few months now and judging from the recent sales figures, it has definitely been widely accepted by the South African public with around 800 or-so unit sales per month.
Updated inside and out
The previous generation Rio, particularly in range-topping TEC guise, was a fantastic looking machine, in fact, I distinctly remember going into a Kia dealership when I first saw the car, only to be told that there was a three month waiting list. A waiting list? For a Kia? There’s a Bob Dylan song for this sort of thing.
With the rather big shoes of the third generation to fill, the fourth generation model recently arrived for testing, also in TEC guise.
The overall design is unmistakably Kia and certainly fits right in with the Sportage and Picanto. There’s definitely a maturity about the latest Rio. Whereas the previous generation was all about funky, youthful aesthetics, the latest model is certainly a more grown-up and sophisticated-looking machine. Personally, I feel that the previous generation had a more striking exterior, but perhaps that also had to do with how much better it looked than its predecessor.
Inside, the upmarket theme continues with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominating the centre console. The system is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible and is generally one of the better units in this segment, for the moment that is.
The general ergonomics, fit and finish as well as practicality inside the Rio is pleasing. I also found the 325-litre boot to be rather handy for a car in this segment.
Driving Rio
So we’ve established that the latest Rio looks pretty good, is well designed inside and quite practical for a car in this segment, but what is it like to drive? Well, I remember driving the car at launch and thinking that the powertrain was lacking the urgency of some of its turbocharged contemporaries.
However, after a week with the range topping 74kW/135Nm 1.4-litre model, I have to say that the low consumption of 6.7-litres/100km(5.8-litres/100km claim), coupled with how well the motor works in an urban environment, made me realise that the unit works best in an urban environment. My tester was fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, however, for around R12 000 more, you can opt for an automatic.
An area of concern though was the ride quality, despite the fact that Kia has managed to curb the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in this latest model rather commendably. I think that perhaps the 17-inch wheels coupled with the 205/45 profile tyres may have made the ride feel a bit harsh. The more basic models in the range feature higher profile tyres, which should improve things.
Verdict
The latest Rio makes a strong case for itself as a very competent, value-filled offering in a segment where pricing versus kit, warranty and service plan offerings are key. If you can live with the slightly gutless motor and the fact that the automatic version is still a four-speed, then the Rio should provide you with many, many years of reliable service.
Service plan and warranty
The Rio Hatch 1.4 TEC comes with a four-year/60 000km service plan and a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty.
Price: R280 995
