Kia Rio

The Kia Rio might be a budget hatchback aimed at large families. However, the build quality and fit and finish inside the cabin are quite exemplary and feels like it is a car from a segment above.

The slim looking steering wheel is loaded with buttons for audio, Bluetooth, cruise control, and voice recognition. However, the instrument console dilutes the sporty essence of the driver’s cockpit generated by the steering wheel, and looks too plain for anyone’s liking.

The centre console looks wide thanks to the large 2-DIN audio system flanked by two vertical AC vents. However, we would have loved to see a touchscreen unit here, given the current trend.

The Kia Rio comes packed with some really nice features like push-button start with keyless entry, fully automatic climate control, cooled glove box, rain sensing wipers, tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel, and driver seat height adjustment.

The Kia Rio is well proportioned and feels like a car from one segment above, owing to its premium styling, and large dimensions.

At the front, the Rio comes with Kia’s traditional ‘tiger-nose’ grille, albeit in a longitudinally stretched form, which gives it an impression of a very wide car. The swept back headlamps come integrated with projector headlights with daytime running LEDs, thus adding the premium appeal of Rio.

The side profile of the Kia Rio doesn’t come with any prominent character line, which makes it look too sober and dilutes the aggression of the front stance. However, the large 17-inch alloy wheels do give it a sportier stance.

At the rear, the Kia Rio looks a bit bland with a plain rear hatch with large bulbous looking tail lamps with LED inserts on either side. However, the rounded profile with roof-mounted spoiler gives it a squat stance when viewed from the rear.

Based on the Hyundai i20 hatchback, the Kia Rio inherits all the positive traits of the former. The front Macpherson struts with stabilizer and rear coupled torsion beam axle are tuned on a softer edge to impart a plush ride quality over all kinds of roads. However, the steering lacks the precision and might feel wallow at higher speeds. Space inside is adequate for five passengers.

The Kia Rio is being offered with just one engine option. Sourced from Hyundai, the 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine employed for the job is adequate enough to produce a maximum power output of 100 PS and a peak torque of 134Nm. The engine has got two transmission options on offer. While the base variant (SL MT) comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, the rest of the three are equipped with a 4-speed torque converter.

The Kia Rio is kitted with all the basic essentials, keeping the pricing in check. The list of safety equipment in the Rio includes dual front airbags, ABS, ISOFIX mounts for child seats, keyless entry with alarm, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, and reverse parking sensors.

To sum it up, the Kia Rio hits the sweet spot by getting all the basic aspects right. The hatchback feels well-built in and out, has a powerful engine under the hood, is packed with essential comfort, convenience and safety features and looks the part too. The Rio might not emerge out as a driver’s delight, owing to the very plush suspension setting and soft steering setup, however, rest assured, it does prove itself as a very practical option for a family oriented buyer.