KIA RIO (2011-2016)

By Jonathan Crouch

Models Covered

3/5dr hatchback (1.1 & 1.4 CDi diesel, 1.4 petrol)

Introduction

With its fourth generation Rio model, Kia produced a smartly-styled supermini that challenged for class honours and suited sensibly-minded buyers. As a secondhand buy, it’s spacious, easy to drive and in entry-level diesel form, very affordable to run. It is, in short, a very competitive car indeed.

The History

In the modern era, some models in the supermini category are for the first time large enough to function as complete family cars. Take, for example, the one we’re looking at here, Kia’s fourth generation Rio, launched in 2011. It’s as big as a turn of the century Astra or Focus from the Family Hatchback segment, the next pricier class up. More importantly, it was the first top class supermini the Korean brand had ever bought us.

This was a progression that anyone familiar with Kia had been expecting. The first two generations of Rio were embarrassing but the MK3 model of 2005 was very nearly class-competitive. When the wraps came off the fourth generation version though, it was clear that it was going to be a bit more than that. Here was a car that targeted nothing less than the top of the supermini segment in terms of the things that really mattered to supermini buyers – styling, running costs and everyday practicality. It sold until early 2017, when a new fifth generation version was launched.

What To Look For

Overall, most of the Rio customers we surveyed were extremely happy with their cars. Inevitably though, there were a few issues we came across. We found an owner who complained of squealing brakes. And another with ignition coil problems. A few cars fitted with navigation have reported a problem where no sound comes out of the stereo speakers. A few issues have been reported of abnormalities with auto transmission models – apparently, this is heralded by a check light coming on on the dash and can be fixed by reprogramming the transmission control module. There was also a report on one car of noise and vibration when the air conditioning compressor was on; this is apparently down to a defective air conditioning compressor clutch assembly.

Customers have noted that some of the interior finishes can get scratched quite easily and the alloy wheels fitted to top models are quite easy to kerb. Other than that, it's a clean bill of health. Kia's brilliant seven-year warranty arrangement means that these vehicles very rarely fall into premature neglect.

On The Road

Accepted wisdom from supposed industry experts like ‘What Car’ appears to be that Ford’s Fiesta leads the supermini sector for models from this era. And since it’s not the best value, the best equipped, the most practical or the best packaged small hatch out there, this determination is presumably based on driving experience and handling, the least important small car attribute for most typical buyers. With the MK4 model Rio, Kia designed a supermini around the people who would actually buy it, so it’s fair to say that in the design phase, on the limit handling wasn’t exactly top of the priority list. Even so, this still manages to be one of the more interesting cars in the class to drive.

Which will be a revelation for customers graduating to this model from the previous MK3 Rio, but there won’t be that many of them. So what’ll you notice if you come to this car more familiar with a commoner supermini – a Vauxhall Corsa, a Peugeot 207, a Skoda Fabia, a VW Polo or, yes, even a Ford Fiesta? Well, drive a Rio for any length of time on our appalling British roads and you’ll probably conclude that it rides better than its rivals. Yet there’s no major penalty to pay for this when it comes to the twisty stuff. Yes it’s true that a Fiesta - but only the Fiesta - is more composed around the corners. The Ford feels sharper to drive too, though the difference between these two cars wouldn’t be that great in this respect if this Kia wasn’t saddled with a rather vague electric power steering set-up. You’ll appreciate this around town though, where it facilitates a tight 10.5m turning circle.

Out on the open road, there’s more good news. We’re pretty sure that there isn’t a more refined car than this in the class from this era, which makes this Rio an excellent motorway partner. Gone are the days when you couldn’t consider taking a supermini on a very long journey and this one will be a more relaxing companion than most. The 6-speed gearbox is also slick and the brakes are very good too. All of which will almost certainly be more important to potential segment buyers than outright speed – which is just as well for the Rio line-up doesn’t offer too much of that. The 107bhp petrol-powered 1.4 looks reasonably pokey on paper, rest to sixty in 11.1s on the way to 114mph being possible unless you saddle this unit with an optional 4-speed automatic gearbox. In practice though, you have to work it almost as hard as the 83bhp entry-level 1.25-litre petrol model, with plenty of gearshifts needed for rapid overtaking or sharp inclines.

Predictably better in this respect are the two CRDi diesels. The frugal 1.1-litre unit offers an interesting 3 cylinder arrangement, which gives it a distinctive and not unpleasant thrum. And though on paper, it seems as if it might be a bit gutless with only 74bhp, a rest to sixty time of 15s and a top speed of under 100mph, plus a useful 170Nm of torque, all mean that in practice, you can actually bowl along quite nicely most of the time without stirring the gearbox too much. If you really do find it a bit feeble, then there’s the alternative of an 89bhp 1.4-litre CRDi variant that’s 2.5s seconds quicker to sixty and better in the mid-range thanks to 220Nm of torque.

Overall

This was a car that came of age in this MK4 guise. If you’re thinking of buying a late low mileage used car in the supermini segment, then you probably won’t be considering this Rio as an option. But take it from us; you probably should be.