I had serious reservations about a recent junket to drive the all-new Kia Rio saloon in Seoul, and it had nothing to do with the tension between North and South Korea. My concerns about heading there were far more trivial — I’m rendered useless in crowded places. Take for example the malls during weekends. People rush at you from all directions, kids crash into your legs, prams are intent on mowing you down... It’s damn right dangerous there. So, just how would I cope with the 10 million population of Seoul?
Throw in the fact that it’d be freezing at this time of year — and yours truly doesn’t own a coat — and that we’d be flying economy, and I was looking for any excuse to get out of this trip. But having braved the elements, bustling streets and subsequent deep-vein thrombosis, I’m glad to report that the all-new sub-compact saloon is a gem of a car.
New look
The transformation of not just this, but Kia’s entire range, is nothing short of extraordinary. These days when one drives by, you actually stop whatever you’re doing and gawk at it. Some people even point. You can thank Peter Schreyer and his design team for the fabulous new looks. Ever since Kia roped him in, the carmaker has come along leaps and bounds. He’s worked his magic on this four-door Rio and it now looks bolder, more dynamic and sportier than ever. Measuring 4,365mm long, 1,720mm wide and 1,455mm high, it manages to blend style, advanced technologies and tremendous value to create an attractive package that first-time buyers will surely aspire to. That’s especially true when you consider rising fuel prices and this car’s ability to give you 7.0 litres-per-100km.
While the other hacks were enjoying the majestic sight of the N Seoul Tower on the Namsan Mountain, I spent a good few minutes taking in the beauty of the Rio.
The saloon’s aggressive character lines projected an athletic profile not too dissimilar to the Optima. Wearing Kia’s signature grille, albeit a smaller one, a bigger air intake, 17in wheels and body-coloured door handles to boot, the Rio sure is a tasty looking thing. I especially liked the LED daytime running lights and dual chrome exhaust tips which round off what is a very neat package.
Stepping into the cabin, the first thing that struck me was the quality of the materials used. It’s a modern interior and not only does it look spacious and comfortable — it is. The wheelbase has been extended by 70mm and this has had a huge impact on passenger room. Front-seat occupants get 1,015mm headroom and 1,112mm legroom while those at the back have 955mm and 790mm legroom. That’s plenty to make for a relaxed ride. In the top-of-the-line EX trim with the swanky Premium Package, the Rio is fitted with a sat-nav, push-button start, leather seat trim, metal pedals to enhance the sporty character, a multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control and a hands-free communication and entertainment system that also boasts a rear-camera display. The large moonroof allows natural light to swathe the interior, making it seem larger while a satellite radio and a USB port come as standard.
Powered by a peppy 1.4-litre direct-injection four-pot featuring a start-stop system and mated to a smooth shifting six-speed automatic, the front-wheel-drive Rio produces 107bhp. And it was time to put those horses to the test on the bustling streets. Taking the car out from the extremely narrow COEX Intercontinental Hotel’s underground car park was the easy bit. Having driven down the 88 Olympic Highway, over the Yeongdong Daegyo bridge and through the Jamsil-dong neighbourhood, I could have parked the Rio, blindfolded, in reverse, back in that car park. You thought driving in Sharjah was tough? Multiply that by a hundred in Seoul. Their only saving grace is they use their indicators and… no, that’s it.
Nestled inside the Rio, I was able to charge into the tiniest of gaps and meander my way through the traffic with ease. It felt quicker than the 107bhp figure would suggest and behaved impeccably in jams and (eventually) the open highway. Built from high-tensile-strength lightweight steel and weighing just 1,068kg helps to make it feel quite nippy while the steering offers good road feedback. The independent front and rear MacPherson struts with coil springs and a stabiliser bar did a fine job in softening those road imperfections while keeping it composed around the bends.
It boasts high levels of standard safety features such as the innovative Halo Body construction which helps protect occupants during side impact and if you roll over, not to mention six airbags and side-impact door beams. Standard on all trim levels is ESC and ABS.
Verdict
Kia has lofty ambitions of becoming one of the world’s elite carmakers. Only the ignorant would scoff at that. With products such as this fabulous all-new Rio, it is well and truly on its way of realising those dreams. But it’s done little to cure my phobia of busy shopping malls.
Specs & ratings
- Model Kia Rio EX
- Engine 1.4-litre four-cylinder
- Transmission Six-speed auto, FWD
- Max power 107bhp @ 6,300rpm
- Max torque 135Nm @ 4,200rpm
- Top speed 183kph
- 0-100kph 11.5sec
- Price NA
