Review of the new Kia Rio Range

Kia's second generation Rio supermini offers decent refinement, strong quality and clean styling. And its value proposition makes rival models look embarrassingly expensive.

In the unlikely event that you owned a MK1 Rio model, you'll find this car to be much better. That styling, for example, should go down well, featuring as it does a bolder nose, a more dynamic profile and a neater interior. Comfort-wise, there's more headroom, legroom and shoulder room, especially in the rear. From a safety perspective, there are now twin front, side and curtain airbags, active head restraints and the availability of the electronic stability programme, ESP.

As for performance, well it's all surprisingly class-competitive under the bonnet. Both engines feature much stronger refinement than Kia have been able to offer in the past, courtesy of sleeker aerodynamics, a stronger structure and greatly enhanced NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) measures. Finally, customer convenience has also been high on the developers' list, with this Rio offering a more versatile cargo space, a trip computer, solar glass and the availability of keyless entry.

"An endearing little car."

Some things don't change. The Rio still revels in its shameless affordability, with prices starting at under £8,000 for the entry-level model. Plus you get a class-leading 7-year warranty. There is only one body style - 5-door hatch with three equipment levels ('1', '2' and 'Graphite'), one petrol engine, a 1.4 litre unit with manual or automatic transmission, and a diesel engine (1.5 litres) with a manual gearbox.

The 3,990 mm long Rio hatchback is taller (+50 mm), wider (+15 mm) but shorter (-250 mm) than the model it replaced. The car also has a much longer wheelbase (+90 mm) which, combined with careful packaging of the mechanical components, enables it to claim 'best-in-class' interior space for maximum occupant comfort.

The Rio's wheelbase is between 9 mm and 40 mm longer than rivals like Volkswagen's Polo, and Ford's Fiesta, while its overall width is from 12 mm to 49 mm wider. The overall length is between 30 mm and 168 mm longer than those potential supermini rivals.

Diesel power should be a popular option for Rio customers. The 1.5 CRDi unit on offer features a common rail fuel injection system and an advanced variable geometry turbocharger (VGT). This powerplant produces decent power and clean emissions that meet Euro 4 criteria. Performance of the 110PS 1.5 diesel unit is highly competitive. The 16-valve engine delivers 235 Nm of torque at just 2,000 rpm, so you shouldn't have to row this Kia along with the gearlever.

For customers who prefer petrol power or require an automatic transmission, a 1.4-litre 16-valve petrol engine is also available. This 16-valve unit generates a maximum of 97 PS and maximum torque of 125.4 Nm at 4,700 rpm, making the Rio one of the most powerful cars in the 1,400cc class. Thus the car outperforms most of its 1.4-litre supermini rivals, with up to 22 PS more power than some competitors. Both engines available in the five-door are offered with a five-speed manual transmission as standard. Available as an option, a four-speed automatic transmission specifically developed and tuned for the Rio, is offered on petrol engine only.

The Rio is a surprisingly tight-feeling package on the road, with a reasonably taut suspension set up that keeps body roll well in check. Whereas the old car was pretty entertaining but somewhat crashy, the latest model's revised suspension geometry offers a little more refinement over ruts and potholes without sacrificing the fun factor. Indeed, the Rio is good sport to hustle about, the rack and pinion steering is light and accurate; something that has defeated the best efforts of many more prestigious manufacturers.

Kia hope more customers take notice of the Rio. It's an endearing little car with a generous warranty arrangement that punches well above its weight.

TOP 5 RIO DEALS

The results below show the top RIO deals on buyacar

Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi 1 EcoDynamics 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Price £10,601 Read Rio Reviews	Save £1,294
Kia Rio 1.4 CRDi 3 EcoDynamics 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Price £13,121 Read Rio Reviews	Save £1,774
Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi 1 Air EcoDynamics 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Price £11,273 Read Rio Reviews	Save £1,422
Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi 2 EcoDynamics 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Price £12,197 Read Rio Reviews	Save £1,598
Kia Rio 1.25 1 5dr Hatchback
Price £9,509 Read Rio Reviews	Save £1,086
VIEW MORE DISCOUNT RIO DEALS