Kia cars of the past were at best functional and reliable daily commutes without much excitement on the styling front.
However, things started to look up with the arrival of Peter Schreyer as the South Korean company’s chief designer in 2006.
With the touch of the man who designed the Audi TT, Kia vehicles soon developed their own niche identity, most notably the “tiger nose” grille design as well as stylish curves.
Among those to benefit from this styling upheaval is the latest Kia Rio five-door hatchback which made it way to local shores last week.
Featuring a hunkered appearance with a wide stance and curvaceous rear, the Rio comes in two trimmings of entry level EX and the top-of-the-line SX.
Powering both grades are the 1.4-litre Gamma CVVT engine with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Prior to the launch, local Kia vehicle distributor Naza Kia Malaysia managed to whip up ten units of the Rio for a 300km plus drive on a mix of highways and trunk roads from Kuala Lumpur to Sepang Gold Coast and back.
Our first unit test unit was the entry EX variant priced at a tempting RM73,888 on-the-road with insurance.
Even at this price level, the Rio comes fully-loaded with six airbags and electronic stability/traction control and vehicle stability management that some larger Japanese executive sedans that is twice the price do not offer.
Easily visible, the LED daytime driving lights with projector-type headlights give the Rio a touch of class and refinement.
Though categorised as a B-Segment class, which means it is a compact car, the Rio is not cramp inside with ample room for five adults.
Aluminium pedals, contrasting red lighting for control dials and buttons against the dark dashboard whipped up a sporty interior.
The illuminated glovebox with cooling feature is exceptionally spacious and can swallow a handbag, a laptop computer or several mineral water bottles.
To my surprise, the level of refinement in the 1.4-litre engine has increased significantly for a Korean brand, purring away smoothly even as the tachometer needle reaches the upper rev range.
Even when the engine has been tuned for fuel economy with a claimed consumption of 16.6km per litre of petrol, its output of 109bhp and 137Nm of torque rivals the performance of some larger 1.5-litre engines.
The powertrain combination delivers smooth acceleration and driving performance that should satisfy anyone shopping for a daily compact car.
Though calibrated for effortless steering at low speeds, the motor-driven power steering felt detached until the Rio is driven faster where electric assistance is gradually reduced.
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| All variants come with aluminium pedals. |
Shod in 195/55R16 Kumho Solus KH17 tyres, the car handled well, allowing us to take on winding hilly roads in the Ampang area with confidence.
The ride was comfortable and the Rio easily cushions the occupants from shocks caused by going over potholes and bumps.
For speed buffs, the Rio is still a planted ride should the need for fast driving comes in.
Good sound insulation and improved aerodynamics worked well for a quiet drive even at higher speeds which enabled us to enjoy the crisp sounds from the Rio’s Arkamys audio system that supports AUX, USB, iPod and Bluetooth.
After our drive in the EX, we got the SX which came with more convenience and luxury features even though the engine and transmission were the same.
Costing RM6,000 more, goodies include a smart key entry with push start button, sunroof, fog lights and automatic air conditioner with cluster ioniser.
The SX’s instrument panel is the better looking Supervision Cluster that features a trip computer and even has a temperature gauge which was missing in the EX.
Besides running on larger 17-inch wheels, the wheel design is also much aggressive-looking with five thick spokes.
However, the usage of low-profile 205/45R17 Continental ContiSportContact 5 tyres in the SX made the ride firmer and also increased the steering feel, response as well as the car’s grip at winding roads which were the things I liked very much.
Besides a full five-star rating for crash safety, the Rio also scores another set of five-star rating for pedestrian safety.
The Rio is available in deep blue, signal red, clear white and bright silver while the electronic blue is reserved for the SX.
With its stunning appearance and array of upscale features with an enticing five-year unlimited mileage warranty, the Rio looks set to become a hit on the local front.
After all, the Rio was Kia’s best selling model last year with some 460,000 units sold globally.