THERE’S a certain buzz at Kia Motors in Port Shepstone. And some of it is about the Kia Rio, available in 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre hatch and sedan derivatives, manual and automatic.
Dealer principal Grant Gouveia’s enthusiasm for Kia products is infectious, and it’s no surprise then that Kia continues to make its mark on the South Coast.
With a stunning array of technology the Kia Rio makes sure that you’ll get where you’re going, comfortably and safely, while looking good.
It’s what Kia calls designer technology.
Tasked with the difficult job of improving upon the remarkable international commercial success of the previous generation Rio model, Kia’s engineers and designers have created a new Rio family of models which combine European finesse with Korean spice to create a form language that also communicates Latin flair – for a truly global appeal.
The Rio hatch and sedan come at the same price. Both are loaded with features, most of which come standard.
This includes the likes of electric windows, air conditioning, power steering, adjustable headlights, foldable side mirrors, and more.
In terms of technology there’s a CD player, radio, MP3 player and Bluetooth.
A sunroof and 17″ alloy wheels are optional in the 1.4-l TEC and 1.4 respectively.
The vehicle is spacious and seriously comfortable, with a decent-sized boot.
The Rio comes with a five year/150 000km warranty and four year/60 000km service plan.
In the 2015 People’s Wheels Awards, the Rio won the Compact Commuters category with 26,15 percent of the vote.
Its nearest competitor had 16,05 percent.
The judges said that the Rio, affordably priced, won top honours against Audi’s more expensive A1/A1 Sportback and Volkswagen’s Polo.
Making up the top six were the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio and Corolla Quest.
The Rio was a finalist in the 2013 South African Car of the Year competition.
On a personal note, I got to take both the 1.2-l and the 1.4-l for a quick spin.
Neither disappointed.
I was struck by the comfort, and classy feel the cars both had. Lots of legroom, too.
The power was pretty good too, with 79kW in the 1.4-l and 65kW in the 1.2-litre.
Both were fairly quick off the mark, agile in traffic and smooth on the road.
Peak torque for both was reached at 135Nm at 4200rpm in the 1.4-l and 120Nm at 4000rpm in the 1.2-l.
For more on the Rio visit the showroom in Port Shepstone.
