New Kia Rio 2017, presentation and test drive of a very European city car

Name: KIA Rio 2017
Brand: Rio

Diego G. Moreira 13 February 2017 8 min.

New Kia Rio 2017, presentation and test drive of a very European city car

Many of you will surely remember those South Korean vehicles that, 20 years ago, became an alternative thanks to their modest prices and reliability, but which were far from matching European offerings; among them was Kia, which was barely known in our country. Things have changed, and what remains of that story is perhaps the modest pricing that the South Korean manufacturer still maintains across its range, and reliability turned into a brand image with its 7-year warranty. That said, its line-up now includes models that can compete on equal terms with their European counterparts.

The latest launch has been the Kia Rio, the brand’s third sales pillar, and a model that is completely renewed, adopting the brand’s new image and betting on driving sensations, in a segment where this aspect is often neglected. Available from 10,909 euros, we were able to test the new Kia Rio at its European presentation in Lisbon, and we were surprised by how much this city car has changed.

Design: More exterior personality and European-style quality inside

One aspect that stands out, and that has improved thanks to the work of the brand’s designers, is the exterior design, which is now wider, longer and lower, creating a city car with a sporty look. The front stands out with a muscular appearance, pronounced straight lines, a wider C-pillar and LED technology in the daytime running lights and rear lights (depending on the trim level). The front bumper has a more imposing and sporty look (especially compared with the previous generation), while on the side the wheels stand out, which can be 15, 16 or 17 inches.

Inside, there are once again straight lines, simple design and a European (or rather German) feel, with good fit of the finishes and, overall, good quality in the materials used. The screen dominates the dashboard (floating HMI) and is standard on all trims (without navigation), and just below are the climate controls which, in both automatic and manual versions, maintain an elegant design and quality. The instrumentation is simple but includes an on-board computer with all kinds of information. The improvement in interior design and quality is remarkable

We particularly liked the space in both the front and rear seats, there is enough room for feet and head, making it practical, with a 325-litre boot and several storage spaces spread around the centre console for all kinds of objects. What is more, the rear doors have a bottle holder (a nice practical touch), and there is a USB port with charging function.

Equipment: safety and connectivity as its strong points

At Kia they are clear that the segment the Rio is aimed at is increasingly demanding in terms of technological equipment, and safety remains a key factor to consider when buying a new car. Among the standout elements of the Kia Rio 2017 are the automatic emergency braking system with pedestrian detection, the lane departure warning, and a multimedia system designed for full connectivity with our smartphone via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. It is also worth adding that the speaker system (although simple) has a remarkable quality for this segment and outperforms what some brands offer even in higher segments. I am not saying it has enormous acoustic power, but at least you can turn the volume up to maximum and the sound remains clear (although with little bass).

The equipment levels for our country will be three: Concept, Drive and Tech. Even the base trim already comes with 6 airbags, ABS, stability control, USB and Bluetooth, 15-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, light sensor, among other features. The Drive is the most balanced level, adding navigation, 16-inch wheels, rear-view camera, rear electric windows and climate control (among other features). Finally, the Tech trim adds safety systems (automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane departure assist), 17-inch wheels, tinted rear glass and LED rear lights, among other features.

Behind the wheel: Two petrol engines (with the 1.0 T-GDI) and two 1.4 CRDI diesels of 77 or 90 hp

The engine range of the Kia Rio 2017 consists of two petrol options and two diesel options. In petrol, you can choose between a naturally aspirated 1.2 CVVT with 84 hp or the new 1.0 T-GDI with 100 hp (and a 120 hp version will come later), both with five-speed gearboxes.Available with four engines, for a chassis that stands out for its agility. Meanwhile, in diesel there are two variants under the same engine, the 1.4 CRDI with 77 hp or 90 hp.

Diesel in a city car? It depends on the mileage and how you plan to use the car. For my part, I am not yet ready to be among those announcing the imminent disappearance of diesel: while it is true that for short journeys (urban environments or short trips within the city) a diesel makes little sense, if we do longer trips the 1.4 CRDI is highly recommendable given its driving enjoyment and low consumption. It is also a car that performs very well on motorways.

During the first contact drive in Lisbon (or more specifically around Sintra) I was able to try all three engines (1.0 T-GDI 100 hp, 1.2 CVVT 84 hp and 1.4 CRDI 90 hp). The first thing that pleasantly surprised me is the lightness and stability of the Kia Rio; it is an agile car that moves with ease on any type of road. The route included stretches with bends, and behind the wheel the Rio managed to draw more than a few smiles from me and, above all, to take the monotony out of driving.

The interior soundproofing is also remarkable. On a short stretch of motorway, despite being a city car, it maintained more than acceptable comfort levels, both in terms of interior noise and stability and ride comfort, making it a genuinely comfortable car in this environment.

1.0 T-GDI 100 hp or 1.2 CVVT 84 hp? Within the petrol range, the two engines are radically opposed. The 1.0 is a three-cylinder that, thanks to the turbo, reaches 100 or 120 hp (depending on the version). Although it is very performance-oriented, it does not stand out for its smoothness or refinement. That said, it is an ideal engine for getting the most out of the Rio and having fun behind the wheel, with a more than reasonable push provided by its 172 Nm of torque. The 1.2 MPI is an engine of the old school: naturally aspirated, four cylinders, with a more sluggish response until you rev it higher, but it stands out for outstanding smoothness.

In fact, apart from performance, my recommendation for pleasant everyday use and for urban environments (even if it is somewhat lazier) is the 84 hp 1.2 CVVT. It is an engine you have to rev up to feel those 84 hp, but in town it moves the Kia Rio with relative ease and with extremely low noise, very smooth operation and normal consumption (on our road route it averaged around 6.8 litres per 100 km). The 1.0 T-GDI is much more energetic, ideal for those who want more dynamic driving, but on the other side of the scale is its lack of smoothness. That said, its average consumption on our route was 7 litres per 100 km (similar to the 1.2).

The diesel we tested was the 1.4 CRDI 90 hp, which is even more performance-oriented than the 1.0 T-GDI (or at least that is how it felt to me), with good responsiveness and an average consumption on the route of 4.6 litres per 100 km. This consumption can be low even on motorways thanks to its six-speed gearbox, which makes it the ideal engine for covering mile after mile.

Prices of the Kia Rio 2017

The Kia Rio is available from 10,909 euros with the 1.2 CVVT 84 hp petrol engine (all discounts included), and from 13,284 euros for the 1.4 CRDI 77 hp diesel Rio.