Kia Rio version 4 releases in SA
Not too long ago Kia was an obscure brand trying to crack a tough South African market. This year sees the now established importer introducing its 4th generation Kia Rio. We drive the manual 1.4 tec around the bustling Johannesburg metropolis.
Looks
Kia Rio’s new design comes across as a refresh rather than an out-and-out new model. Up front the “tiger nose” grille is thinner, with gloss black grille surrounds. With U-shaped LED daytime running lights on our 1.4 Tec, Rio looked every bit as attractive as the gen three did on its first arrival. On the 1.4, the side vents which house the fog lamps are moved outwards and upwards, giving the car the appearance of more width. At the rear, LED lights are available on selected models.
The new Rio is available in a choice of 8 exterior colours, with two different aluminium alloy wheel designs in 15 and 17-inch diameter for mid- and high-specification models, while entry-level models feature 15-inch steel wheels and wheel covers.
Overall Rio version 4 looks like a Rio 3 plus, combining all the positive traits from the previous model with some latest design flair of its own. Some might unfairly criticize it for not being as ground-breaking as the previous model, but Rio 4 is more of a “step further” than “a leap beyond”.
Interior
The dashboard is now angled more towards the driver than before and at its centre is a ‘floating’ HMI (human-machine interface). High-specification models feature a new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. We tested the Apple Carplay function and this worked flawlessly. Below the infotainment system, the driver-oriented centre console features fewer buttons, with more ergonomic, concave switches, and rotator dials below to control the heating and ventilation.
Interior noise is exceptionally low with new NVH technology being implemented in the 2017 Kia Rio. At over 120 km/h this car has to be one of the quietest in its class.
The new Rio is available with a choice between black cloth seat upholstery for lower specification models, while high-specification models feature black leather upholstery.
The Rio’s 10 mm longer wheelbase and 15mm longer body contribute to larger cabin and cargo area dimensions. Legroom is now 1,070 mm in the front and 850 mm in the rear.
Luggage capacity is increased by 37 litres to 325 litres over the outgoing model.
Two engine options, and four specification grades
The new KIA Rio is offered with revised versions of KIA’s familiar naturally aspirated 1.25-litre and 1.4-litre MPI (multi-point injection) petrol engines. The 1.25-litre engine produces peak power of 62 kW at 6,000 r/min and 120 Nm torque at 4,000 r/min. The 1.4-litre engine produces 74 kW at 6,300 r/min and 135 Nm torque at 4,200 r/min. Both engines apply power to the front wheels, either through a five-speed manual transmission (on the Rio 1.2) or a six-speed manual transmission (on the Rio 1.4-litre). A four-speed automatic transmission is available on 1.4-litre models. The engines felt a little tight up at the reef but then the car did have less than 500km on the clock. I look forward to testing a higher mileage version at the coast.
With sales of the old model totaling over 37 000 units and this one looking even more attractive, the new Rio is, as with the old one, a solid choice at a good price with a premium feel. As mentioned the engine did feel a tad tight but if you’re looking for a quiet cruiser with a long spec list, as always, you can’t go wrong with a Kia.
