Kia Rio review

The Rio comes with a choice of three basic engines – a 1.25 non-turbo petrol in entry-level models, and a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol in 99 and 118hp guises. All are equipped with five or six-speed manual gearboxes while the 118hp version can be linked to a seven-speed dual0clutch automatic gearbox.

The 1.25 petrol is quite long in the tooth now so is best avoided,. The new 1.0-litre turbo, however – available on ‘2’ trim and up – is leagues ahead.

Even in basic 99hp guise, the little three-cylinder feels peppy in the low gears with enough torque in high gears to drag itself up hills or on motorway overtakes without feeling strained. The more potent 118hp version features mild-hybrid assistance and feels palpably faster – as much thanks to its six-speed gearbox as its extra output.

All 1.0-litre units are impressively quiet when cruising but let out a noticeable thrum under hard acceleration. Far from being a problem, however, the acoustically pleasing engine note serves to make the Rio feel more exciting to use.

Both engines return an average of 52.3mpg with the manual transmission fitted; the 100hp model does 50.4 with the dual-clutch gearbox attached, while the 120hp model does 51.4mpg.

In trying to please as many buyers as possible, Kia has tried to make the Rio both sporty and resistant to body roll, but also cosseting and comfortable – unfortunately it’s achieved neither in the Rio.

It’s by no means bad to drive – the steering has enough weight when pointed dead ahead that you need not make constant adjustments to keep the car going straight. Equally, the wheel’s position correlates logically to the direction the car is turning in – meaning you needn’t guess how much lock to apply.

In addition, the setup of the clutch, accelerator and brake pedals all make it very easy to drive the Rio smoothly within a couple of hundred metres of getting in it for the first time. The brake pedal also responds well to pressure so it’s easy to modulate the braking force according to the situation. The gearshift on six-speed manual models we tried was a smooth and slick with the five-speed version being slightly less so.

The ride, however, leaves quite a bit to be desired. At low speeds, the car gets bounced around over bumps and potholes while even fairly smooth road surfaces translate into a fidgety, unsettled ride quality. That said, the ride quality noticeably improves at motorway speeds – possibly a result of being set up for smooth German roads rather than pock-marked British lanes.

Trading up to the 16-inch alloys on higher spec Rio models amplifies the problem even more, so these are best avoided.