DREAMING OF RIO? (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 92

Look beyond the obvious choices in the supermini segment and you might be surprised at what you'll find. Take this fourth generation Kia Rio, a smartly-styled supermini that challenged for class honours in the 2017-2023 period a way that will suit sensibly-minded buyers. It's pretty spacious, easy to drive and very affordable to run, especially in diesel form or when fitted out with the brand's impressive 1.0-litre T-GDI petrol engine. Plus prices are pitched keenly it came from new with a seven-year warranty. It is, in short, a very competitive car indeed.

Modelsword count: 12

5dr Hatch (1.0 T-GDi Turbo, 1.25, 1.4 [petrol] / 1.4 CRDi [diesel]

Historyword count: 204

The motor industry has learned to take Korean maker Kia very seriously indeed. Back in 2017, this car was the brand's global best-seller, the fourth generation Rio supermini. If you want an accurate perspective on Kia's progress over the last few decades, the Rio model line amply provides it. The first generation design launched at the turn of the century was an embarrassment, the MK2 model of 2005 progressed to the status of 'cheap and relatively cheerful' and the third generation version of 2011 was properly class-competitive. From that point though, there's still quite a step to genuine desirability. This MK4 model tried to make it. Prior to the launch of this car in early 2017, design teams on three continents worked on the smarter styling and the body was stiffer and safer. Plus there was the option of up-to-the-minute media connectivity and buyers could select a punchy yet frugal state-of-the-art three cylinder turbo petrol engine. You also get a classer cabin and one of the largest luggage bays in the segment. All packaged up with an industry-leading seven-year warranty and pricing able to undercut most mainstream rivals. There was a mild update in 2020. The Rio was discontinued in our market in 2023.

What You Getword count: 226

By 2017, the days of affordable Kia models betraying all the hallmarks of budget brand design were long gone. So were the days when a supermini was a relatively diminutive thing. This fourth generation Rio is not only a smartly turned-out, maturely styled contender but also a car that a decade before would have been seen as a competitor to a bigger family hatchback Astra or Focus, rather than a supermini-sized Corsa or Fiesta. Inside, things were embellished a bit over the previous model, up-spec variants featuring faux-leather upholstery, a premium automatic air conditioning system and a large sophisticated-looking 7-inch colour infotainment screen. Even mainstream variants though, get features like a lovely stitched leather multi-function steering wheel, through which you view a smart instrument binnacle with the two main dials separated by a 3.5-inch 'Supervision cluster' digital display. In the rear, you'd hope that this fourth generation model's increase in width and length might pay dividends. The 10mm of extra wheelbase does certainly benefit legroom back here: only if the front seat occupants happen to be particularly tall will there be any significant restrictions. Let's finish with a few words on boot space, which rose by 37-litres over the previous model. The tailgate is light to lift and reveals a 325-litre luggage area that's one of the very largest in the supermini segment from this period.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227