Kia Rio 2016 Review

Kia Rio SLi
Road Test

Good things do come in small packages, as proven by the Kia Rio SLi, the new range topper in Kia's light car line up. Offering TARDIS-like interior space with a pleasant finish, and substantial overall feel, the Kia Rio SLi is worth cross-shopping against the light car market leaders. But in sitting at the higher end of the price spectrum, is it worth its price premium?

There's a lot of choice at the tiny end of the car market where popular entrants like the Mazda 2, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Accent have the lion's share. It's a segment that's full of good cars at compelling prices. Yet, just like larger cars, it's under pressure from the relentless march of the SUV.

The Kia Rio has through several generations been a hot contender in the local market. Currently, it sits in fourth place in its segment, just behind the Hyundai Accent.

Kia is no-doubt hoping that it's re-introduced SLi model – which comes equipped with a perky 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and likeable six-speed automatic – will kick sales into gear. After a week in the Rio, it's not hard to conclude that for light car buyers, Kia delivers.

The Kia Rio range now includes five models – the S and S Premium, which feature a 1.4-litre direct injection engine with choice of manual or optional automatic transmission, and the Si, SLi and 3-door Sport; each of which is powered by Kia's larger 103kW 1.6-litre GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine paired exclusively with a six-speed automatic.

The SLi's engine is surprisingly brisk, and it offers swift power delivery. The transmission has relatively short gear ratios, supporting solid acceleration and offering an engaging drive experience.

Optimum performance from the powertrain is definitely on city roads and in traffic, where the Rio can hold its own at suburban speeds. Under load, however, the engine does shows its limitations, the Rio pushing hard to tackle steep inclines especially when loaded with four occupants.

Kick out the passengers, and apply some throttle on a country road, and the Rio reacts well. It provides adequate get-up-and-go to make driving really quite entertaining. On tight, twisty roads, I even found myself wondering whether paddle shifts might add to the SLi's appeal...

It wasn't all positive news, however, as the fuel economy of the Rio was clearly impacted by its thirst for revs. Over a 450km drive I achieved an average of 10.2L/100km, well above the ADR Combined figure of 6.1L.

While the Rio is not exactly a hot hatch, Kia has partnered the likeable engine and transmission package with an equally capable suspension set-up. In short, it will appeal to drivers looking for a good level of feedback from their car.

It's substantially well built, too. It feels solid behind the wheel and secure on the road. Sometimes, driving a light car can be intimidating when travelling in fast flowing traffic, but the Rio doesn't suffer from that fate at all. It's a confident little machine.

That confidence continues on the open road where the Rio handles well. Its composed cornering and reassuring communication hold up well to all but the choppiest of regional roads. The suspension is quite comfortable, but it does have limitations – and that's arguably more a reflection of the state of our roads than the suspension's state of tune.

The electric steering is quite direct, giving good feedback to the driver. However, in parking manoeuvres, it did feel a little heavier than might be anticipated for a car in this class.

As you might expect for the price, the Kia Rio SLi is well specified with a bold equipment package. Included as standard are projector-style headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED rear combination lamps, privacy glass in the rear and tailgate, and 17-inch alloy wheels shod with Continental rubber.

The Rio is also equipped with a full-size spare wheel.

Unusually for this class, the Rio SLi also features static cornering lamps, which light up dark corners as you turn the wheel.

The interior finish is good for the price. The SLi is the only model in the Rio line-up that features leather and cloth-trimmed seats. The Si, SLi and Sport models also come with a premium interior finish that upgrades some of the plastic to soft-touch material. Driver comfort is also enhanced over other models in the range with climate control.

Practicality is good with a range of interior features including 60:40 split-fold rear seats, a centre console armrest with sliding function, storage bin, twin cup holders and four bottle holders. At 288 litres the boot is generous, and with the rear seat flipped flat grows to 923 litres – sufficient for most medium-sized loads.

On the tech front we find a single-CD player with AM/FM radio, auxiliary and USB input, Bluetooth connectivity including audio streaming, and steering wheel mounted audio controls. Given Kia has given the Rio SLi a top-of-the-range price tag it's a bit of a disappointment that it doesn't receive satellite navigation or a reversing camera – neither of which are available, even as an option.

With even smaller vehicles like Holden's updated Spark offering state-of-the-art Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Kia might just be missing a trick in not keeping up in the high-stakes technology game.

Conversely, the Rio offers the best after-sales support program in its segment. The warranty extends to seven years (unlimited kilometres) and includes capped-price servicing and roadside assistance for the duration. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

The Kia Rio SLi is enjoyable to drive and worth a look if your budget will stretch. But with pricing of the larger Cerato so close (from $19,990 plus ORCs), we can't help feel there's a better deal to be had elsewhere in the Kia showroom.

2016 Kia Rio SLi pricing and specifications:
Price: $23,510 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6 litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 103kW/167Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 145g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Hyundai Accent (from $14,990 plus ORCs)
>> Mazda 2 (from $14,990 plus ORCs)
>> Toyota Yaris (from $14,990 plus ORCs)