User manual Kia Rio
When it becomes clear, they are swimming in a shrinking lake, the fish will instinctively struggle to have space and oxygen available. Suddenly, all bets were off and only managed the strongest and most competitive competition to rise above an increasingly agitated package to fight another day.
And so it goes in Australia’s new car ecosystem. The ‘light’ category is still one of the largest on the market, where cars like Hyundai’s Accent, Mazda2 and Evergreen Yaris live. But the line on the sales chart is always facing south.
Annual sales for light vehicles under $ 25,000 fell by no less than 20% and that’s a 16% decline throughout 2016. Meanwhile, mid-sized SUVs increased by nearly 10%.
So it’s clear that our automotive tastes are changing, but the big school of small cars is still going crazy, with a strong battle for market share leading to new models and upgrades. provide a seemingly endless stream of advanced technology and standards increasingly extend the equipment list.
Entering Kia’s Rio hatch, the brand’s global best-selling, with annual sales declared “nearly 500,000”, is certainly a big number. But in Australia, Rio is a midsize player in a lightweight car field of about 15 determined competitors.
That means the new fourth-generation Rio, launched here in January of this year, is crucial to Kia’s opportunity to get a piece of light-weighting tires that rapidly decline.
Not surprisingly, the entry-level S model boasts enhanced multimedia connectivity and enhanced security technology, not to mention improved dynamics and more space. It sounds good, but is it enough to take a jump in a big car?
Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
The architect of Kia’s recent style revolution is Peter Schreyer, a talented designer who raised automobile eyebrows around the world when he stood up at Volkswagen Group in 2006 to join the manufacturer. Korean automobile manufacturer.
According to its watch, Kia’s design team has internationalized and unified the look of the entire range, from the tiny Picanto to the huge Carnival car.
A characteristic element in the entire lineup is the tagged ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, and the new Rio proudly wears a sleek and neat version of it, with scraping headlights, particularly sitting at two. side.
Even so, overall, it expanded a lot of numbers. No discomfort but not tiring, with a general approach to records and treatment behind.
A strange touch is a pronounced handle on the rear hatch door. Flying on the current trend towards the low key integration of this kind of function, it looks like a clumsy comeback of the 1980s.
Inside, the dashboard is cool and clean, with a 7.0-inch center touchscreen multimedia display proud of the main watch. The control keys are clear and simple, while the soft instrument box contains a large speed and speed meter, with a multifunctional LCD display (including a digital speed reader) between them.
The interior color palette of the Rio S stretches from gray to dark gray, with tight and delicate fabric contours on the seats.
A small whip involves the four-button space in the dashboard. Yes, the S is the base model, but the space in place of the controls for the ‘engine’ fitted to the higher variants actually spoils the actual home.
How realistic is the inner space? 7/10
Measuring just over 4.0m long, 1.7m wide and 1.45m high, Rio fits a lightweight car up to a tee. Its 2.6m wheelbase places the wheels close to each corner to maximize the interior space, and the result is surprisingly spacious accommodation.
Plenty of space in front, with two cups (of different sizes) in the center console and bottle container (big enough for a 1.5 liter bottle) at the entrance. There is also a storage box between the front seat and a glove box.
To provide power and connectivity, you’ll find 12-volt sockets, auxiliary sockets, USB ports, as well as drop-down sunglasses on the roof. And if you’re using gaspers, there’s even a lighter (removable ashtray).
Swings and torches at the back, with a generous amount of head and footrest (for this 183cm tester), is offset by the absence of a controllable vent, central armrest or cup.
The three adults in the back will be uncomfortably tightened for anything but short trips, but there’s a 12-volt power outlet, USB port, a map pocket at the back of the front passenger seat (only) and (500ml) barrels in the doors.
Open the rear hatch door and you are greeted with a 325-liter cargo compartment with 60/40 folding rear seats. That’s enough to hold our three-piece suitcase (35, 68 and 105 liters), or the CarsGuide trolley, albeit in an awkward position.
Fold the rear seats down (flat) and the load space increases significantly to 980 liters. As with the main cargo area, there is a handy storage bin on the passenger side, light hook, parcel hook and four anchor points. The widget is a space saver.
The towing capacity is limited in an easy-to-understand manner, with 450kg allowed for an unlimited trailer and 1000kg for a brake trailer.
Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 7/10
The Rio S manual is priced at $ 16,990 (before on-road costs), which is 10% higher than entry-level services from key segment players such as Hyundai Accent Active, Mazda2 Neo and Toyota Yaris Ascent .
For that money, you’ll get standard features including a remote central key (no lock), a 7.0-inch multimedia screen that manages six-speaker audio system with Bluetooth connectivity as well as the ability to Compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, (manual) air-conditioning, automatic headlights and reverse parking sensors.
Not bad for a pentagram at the end of the budget, but forgot to cruise control, sat nav or alloy wheels. For those of you who will need to step up Si at $ 21,490 and if your heart rests on the wipers, climate control air and sunroof, the top SLi is your only option. at $ 22,990.
It is worth noting that there are seven colors available and only one of them (white) has no additional price.
What are the important stats for engine and transmission? 7/10
Rio’s only engine option is a 1.4-liter ‘Kappa’ four-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine, producing modest power of 74kW at maximum speed of 6000 rpm and 133Nm at speed. relatively high 4000 rpm.
It is a completely alloy, overhead cam, 16 valve design, which features valve timing changes (inlet and exhaust). It drives the front wheels via a six-speed manual (as tested here) or a four-speed automatic transmission.
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