| First Drive | Sintra, Portugal | Kia Rio |
Key Facts
Model driven: Kia Rio 1.25 petrol / 1.4 diesel
Pricing: Starts at £10,595 for 1.25 '1' model
Engine: 1.25-litre petrol / 1.4-litre turbodiesel
Transmission: five/six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door hatchback
Rivals: Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Polo
CO2 emissions: 114 / 105g/km
Power: 83bhp at 6,000rpm / 89bhp at 4,000rpm
Torque: 89lb.ft at 4,000rpm / 162lb.ft at 1,500 - 2,750rpm
In the Metal: 
At this stage it's well known that Kia's design resurgence is lead by Peter Schreyer, previously of Audi. The most obvious change he has made to Kia's cars is the addition of the 'tiger grille' and it's a prominent feature of the new Rio too. Sharply contoured headlights emphasise it, with LED daytime running lights for good measure. Elsewhere the Rio is reminiscent of several other cars in the class, including the Toyota Yaris, SEAT Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo, but it's still a coherent, attractive design.
The interior is less dramatic, but still smart. The plastics seem of good quality and there's a tactility to the switchgear and surfaces that blows the old Kia Rio away. Space and comfort up front is good, while rear legroom seems about average for the class. The boot is, surprisingly, smaller than the Fiesta's and that of the Toyota Yaris.
Driving it:
Kia has pitched the Rio's chassis in the middle of comfortable and sporty, so it handles a twisty road in a tidy, safe fashion, while dealing with the worst of urban decay adequately. There is a slightly hard edge to the ride over the worst bumps, but it's no less comfy than its rivals. It feels remarkably like the Fiesta in fact.
In terms of engines, there are 1.25- and 1.4-litre petrol options with 83- and 107bhp respectively, with diesel alternatives in 1.1- and 1.4-litre sizes. We tried the 1.25-litre petrol engine and the 1.4-litre turbodiesel. While the petrol engine's 83bhp will be adequate for around-town driving it feels a little out of breath on twisting mountain roads, though the five-speed gearshift is slick enough. The 1.4-litre diesel has a much more useful 162lb.ft of torque. That's telling on the same hilly stretch of road as it needs less revs and doesn't bog down so easily. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on that car.
What you get for your Money:
We'd have hoped that the Kia Rio would gain five stars in this category, but its purchase price pitches it straight into competition with well established premium superminis such as the Ford Fiesta. Instead it hopes to compete in terms of equipment and of course that seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Four trim levels are offered. The '1' model is sparsely equipped so best avoided, despite a tempting £10,595 sticker price. The '1 Air' has air conditioning for a little more. Level '2' is better with 16-inch alloys, air conditioning, front fog lights, electric windows all round, electric folding door mirrors, a leather steering wheel and gear shift, plus a centre console. That starts at £12,495.
The Kia Rio '3' features 17-inch alloys, climate control, privacy glass, auto wipers and lights, cruise control, heated seats and an upgraded stereo. This spec is only available with the 1.4-litre engines, so it costs £13,795 for the petrol version and £14,895 for diesel.
Worth Noting
The new 1.1-litre CRDi three-cylinder engine emits just 85g/km of CO2, which is apparently the lowest figure of any non-electric car on sale in the world.
A three-door version of the Rio will follow the five-door to market in 2012.
Summary
Kia has done it again. An aging model that served it well in terms of sales has been replaced by one that looks great and is competent in all areas. Of course that seven-year warranty attracts many buyers into the showroom too. Can it knock the Fiesta off its perch? Time will tell.
