The Rio life
The Kia Rio made quite a splash in the B segment hatch market, quickly becoming a bestseller for Kia South Africa. It has had a number of revisions since and each iteration has been markedly better than the last for over a decade now.
Related: Growing Up With The Times – The All New KIA Rio (FDI) 2017
The Rio has now received its latest revision and it although it would seem to be superficial, the changes are far-reaching and very important.
What's new?
Kia has kept the exterior styling very much the same with only changes to the headlights, grille and front bumper being made. The headlights are now sharper and more angular, the grille is now more subtle with a small air intake just above the number plate and the bumper gets a new mesh and new pods for the fog lights. the bulk of the changes are to the interior and a host of small upgrades to lower spec models have taken place.
The lowest spec LS range now gets the addition of a 1.4 engine option and 15-inch alloy wheels. The entire range now gets an 8" touchscreen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto across all models. The LX model gets a 4.2 inch (10.67 cm) digital cluster in the drivers binnacle and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) while the EX range gets the same as well as 17-inch alloy wheels. The top spec TEC model has all the above as standard and the addition of rear seat alert.
All the above changes have only had a small effect on the overall pricing structure and is set to make sure that Rio remains a strong contender in this segment.
The Drive
We had the 1.4 LS derivative on test for the day. The 1.4 is a naturally aspirated engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto transmission. The combo is good for 73kW and 135Nm which is more than sufficient for a well paced jaunt through the countryside
The addition of a decent infotainment system and the Rio's famous interior comfort made the trip rather enjoyable. Cruise control would have been a nice addition for the longer stretches but these are meant to be city cars, and we can see why this was left out. There was however quite a bit of intrusive road noise which we will attribute to the notorious Cape Doctor and rural road surfaces of the West Coast.
The Rio handled the open road and city manoeuvres with ease and was a very pleasurable drive overall.
Models and Pricing
| KIA Rio 1.2 LS Manual | R280,995 |
| KIA Rio 1.4 LS Manual | R291,995 |
| KIA Rio 1.4 LS Auto | R308,995 |
| KIA Rio 1.4 LX Manua | R306,995 |
| KIA Rio 1.4 LX Auto | R323,995 |
| KIA Rio 1.4 EX Manual | R319,995 |
| KIA Rio 1.4 EX Auto | R336,995 |
| KIA Rio 1.4 TEC Manual | R344,995 |
| KIA Rio 1.4 TEC Auto | R361,995 |
KIA models ship as standard with KIA’s Unlimited Kilometre/ 5-year warranty – inclusive of five years’ roadside assistance (also unlimited kilometres). The Rio 1.2 LS includes a 2-year/60,000km Service Plan, while all 1.4-litre models includes a 4-year/60,000km Service Plan.
The KIA Rio TEC may also be ordered with a factory-fitted sunroof as an option (R8,000).
Verdict
The Rio has cemented its place in the segment, being the most searched for Kia brand next to Sportage on the AutoTrader website. The addition of connectivity across the range and pushing better options down into the entry level offerings is sure to have more consumers casting an eye over a Rio in the future. We like the styling changes and additional tech and really enjoy the drivability and with a strong plan in place for 2021 and a host of model introductions on the horizon, the future looks good for Kia SA.
Recommended next:
Which Kia Rio trim level depreciates the fastest?
Mazda2 vs Hyundai i20 vs Kia Rio: which one has the lowest running cost?