Kia Rio 1.5 CRDi : RIO GRAND

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Kia Are Bucking The Industry Trend By Pricing This Diesel Rio Supermini The Same As The Equivalent Petrol Model. Is This A Smart Move? Steve Ghosley Checks It Out

The last Kia Rio promised much but didnt really deliver and consequently wasnt the runaway success its manufacturer had expected. So, it was with little expectation that I got behind the wheel of Kias latest Rio fitted with a 1.5-litre common-rail diesel engine.

Despite my initial resigned apathy towards the car, it very soon grabbed my attention. The engine is surprisingly good. It has bags of pulling power, delivered from way down the rev-range in a smooth and progressive manner. It handled well and the manual five-speed gearbox, the only option currently available with the diesel engine models, was easy, if not exactly precise, to use.

Suddenly it began to dawn on me that the car I was driving had more about it than I had initially expected. One of the key problems of the old car was that from a styling perspective, it didnt seem to know quite what it wanted to be. It seemed to hover somewhere between a hatch and an estate, but the latest car sharpens up the styling quite significantly. In fact, its almost what you could call good looking, with a smart new family face.

Everything about this car has been redesigned. That styling, for example, should go down well, featuring as it does a bolder nose, a more dynamic profile and a neater interior. Comfort-wise, theres more headroom, legroom and shoulder room, especially in the rear. The Kia Rio 1.

5 CRDi features much stronger refinement than Kia have been able to offer in the past, courtesy of sleeker aerodynamics, a stronger structure and greatly enhanced NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) measures. The 1.5-litre turbocharged common-rail diesel is a difficult choice to ignore. This Rio will sprint from rest to 62mph in a very sprightly 11.

5 seconds and charge on to a top speed of 110mph where the traffic conditions allow. Despite this impressive performance, the Rio diesel still beats Euro-IV emissions criteria, producing just 121g/m of CO2, and with a combined economy figure of 60.1mpg, it is certainly a hard one to resist. Performance of the 110PS 1.

5-litre diesel unit is highly competitive and class-leading in an area of the market where most rivals have 75 PS or less. The 16-valve engine delivers 235 Nm of torque at just 2,000 rpm, so it makes for very relaxed driving with minimal use of the gearbox.

"Kia are starting to put together a range of cars that can compete on equal terms with the established players"

Some things never change though. The Rio 5-door hatch still revels in its shameless affordability, with prices starting at £9,045 for the GS model, which includes central locking, air-conditioning, electric front windows, power-assisted steering, ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution and twin front airbags as part of its standard specification. This impressive list is only spoilt by, what appears to be, an after market radio/CD player. The only other trim level - LS, adds 15-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, front fog lights, rear electric windows, side and curtain airbags, active head restraints and remote central locking with perimeter alarm.

Theres also an optional Dynamic pack that includes a rear spoiler, sunroof and an Electronic Stability Program for additional safety. The 3,990 mm long new Rio hatchback is taller (+50 mm), wider (+15 mm) but shorter (-250 mm) than the model it replaces. The car also has a much longer wheelbase (+90 mm) which, combined with careful packaging of the mechanical components, enables it to claim best-in-class interior space for maximum occupant comfort. The Rios wheelbase is between 9 mm and 40 mm longer than rivals like Volkswagens Polo, and Fords Fiesta, while its overall width is from 12 mm to 49 mm wider.

The overall length is between 30 mm and 168 mm longer than those potential supermini rivals. This Rio is a surprisingly tight-feeling package on the road, with a reasonably taut suspension set up that keeps body roll well in check. Whereas the old car was pretty entertaining but somewhat crashy, the latest models revised suspension geometry offers a little more refinement over ruts and potholes without sacrificing the fun factor. Indeed, the Rio diesel is a good sport to hustle about, the rack and pinion steering is light and accurate; something that has defeated the best efforts of many more prestigious manufacturers.

Kia have taken the industry by surprise by charging the same money for this Rio 1.5 CRDi diesel as an equivalent 1.4-litre petrol model with the same trim level. They argue that it made no sense to charge cost-conscious buyers a premium for buying a diesel-powered car.

It will be interesting to see if this enterprising view is subsequently shared by other manufacturers in their pricing structures. So, by the end of my drive I was quite taken by this little car. The engine is superb and certainly up there with the class leading diesels in its sector. Kia are starting to put together a range of cars that can compete on equal terms with the established players.

This is by far the best car they have produced and with prices set to ruffle a few corporate feathers, the Kia Rio CRDi could be one to watch.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Kia Rio 1.5 CRDi range
PRICES: £9,045-£10,045 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 4-5
CO2 EMISSIONS:121g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 11.5s / Max Speed 110mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 60.1mpg (combined)
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 3990/1695/1470