Overview

Kia’s latest Rio is no longer the wallflower of old, with a new look and the potential to unsettle European rivals. The Kia Rio isn’t as aggressively styled as its sibling, the Picanto, but its striking ‘bow-tie’ grille and large headlamps give the front end a bold stance.

The swooping roofline gives it a coupe look, making this Rio much more eye-catching. It’s longer, lower in height and wider than its predecessor, so the new Rio has grown up in more ways than one.

Some tough rivals

Kia has pitched the Rio into the midst of a very competitive class. Its rivals include the Renault Clio, Peugeot 207, Toyota Yaris, Volkswagen Polo and class-leading Ford Fiesta.

They all have a fight on their hands with the new Rio. There are four engines in the Rio’s line-up: two petrols (an 83bhp 1.25-litre and a 107bhp 1.4-litre) and two diesels (a 74bhp 1.1CRDi and an 89bhp CRDi).

Low running costs promised

They offer decent fuel economy and with a slick six-speed gearbox, unflustered, but unremarkable performance. With four trim grades – 1, 1 Air, 2 and 3, there’s plenty of choice but it is the attractive seven-year warranty that could turn the heads of those who would ordinarily opt for a Ford Fiesta or Volkswagen Polo.

Although a Kia Rio is on par with competitors in terms of list price, Kia dealers are usually willing to do a deal, so buyers could pick up a bargain quite easily if they are prepared to hunt around and haggle like mad. In spite of its modest proportions it could well be a decent option for a company car driver looking to cut his or her monthly costs.

Low emissions are attractive

The Rio 1.1 CRDi EcoDynamics CO2 emissions levels have been pegged back to 85g/km for all trims, which gives user-choosers low payments as well as the kind of generous kit levels needed for drivers who spends a lot of time in their car. The entire Rio range is also available with Kia’s fixed price servicing plans,

Care-3 and Care-3 Plus, which offer three or five years’ servicing for a modest outlay. For the full Kia Rio review read on.