Test Drive Kia Rio Cinco 2001 - 2005

Oh, Rio, Rio ...

Radious Korean cars please the eye. However, the new Kia Rio hatchback, the assembly of which recently mastered the Kaliningrad autotor, a pleasant exception.

When the Sofita of the last Geneva Motor Show went out, where the European Premiere of Kia Rio took place, the image of the Korean hatchback did not dissolve in the darkness of everyday life. Moreover, the direct heir to Kia Avella's small trampling over time began to look even more attractive.

Suppose in the appearance of RIO look at Ford Dashs. This does not diminish his charm and does not prevent the feeling of novelty. If Koreans make some more models like this, their authority in the field of automotive design will significantly increase.

The homeland of Kia Rio is produced in two versions of the sedan and hatchback. The brothers face like two drops of water. Other angles detect the shaped superiority of the hatchback. So, choosing for production primarily this modification, Kaliningraders, of course, did the right thing. By the way, classify the Korean-Russian Rio can not only like hatchback. The proportions of the body fully allow the car by a station wagon.

The salon of our Rio is no special shackle. However, there are several bright strokes in a simple interior: a pretty front panel, air conditioning, which is standard, as well as ubiquitous head restraints and a driver's airbag. The back of the rear seat folds in the ratio of two to three, increasing the volume of the trunk.

Sitting in Kia Rio in front of the opportunity to raise their own comfort. True, at the expense of the rear passengers: the driver's armchairs and the navigator, moved to the stop back, reduce the space separating both rows of seats to a minimum.

The car is not bad on the go. If you, sitting behind the wheel of Rio, will challenge the driver, say, Vazovskaya nine, you can not worry: by rebuilding 108 horses of a semi-liter engine, you can easily rod my opponent's nose. It is also possible to move with more serious opponents, although, of course, with Merz and the RIO security forces do not comprehend.

Korean hatchback allows you to confidently maneuver in the transport stream: Rio is well listening to the steering wheel and responds to the forcing revolutions with live acceleration. The five-speed manual box does not interfere with it, although the clarity of the transmission is not ideal.

However, Rio and does not break into athletes. It expresses its skeptical attitude towards temperamental ride. The accompaniment of the soling motor becomes the intra-alone hum of it, probably provokes a strong finishing plastic. It seems that the additional noise insulation of Rio would not prevent.

Hatchback brakes are quite reliable to do not adhere to them.

But the suspension is different. It reacts too nervously on the irregularities, especially the rear: the wheels of the empty car with the course of the penny literally shoot down. Though the ballast is throwing the car.

Wanting to relax on the country highway, the Rio driver will discover that the leisure platform of the left leg is located too close and, most likely, prefer to leave the leg on the pedal. These are deficiencies in the hatchback, perhaps are exhausted; Well, except that on the instrument panel, the scales of the fuelometer and the engine temperature sensor merge. In the rest of the other, the car, at least, will not disappoint.

By its essence, Kia Rio is an ordinary workday for every day. The price of the universal hatchback is $ 11,500, which seems to be quite a reasonable amount. Especially if you consider that the business partner is also externally irresistible.

Specifications KIA Rio 1.5

Body 5-door
Number of places, people. 5
Curb weight, kg 950
Dimensions (Length / Width / Height), mm 4215/1675/1440
Base, mm 2410
Maximum speed, km / h 182
Fuel control, l / 100 km (mixed cycle) 8.4
Fuel tank capacity, l 45
Engine:
- type 4-cylinder, row, gasoline., 16-valve
- Working volume, cm3 1493
- Power, hp at min-1 108/5800
- torque, nm at min-1 135/3000
- Power system direct injection
Transmission Mechan., 5-stupa., Per. Pri.
Tire size 175/70R13
Wheel suspension:
- Front-type McPherson, from Stub. transverse stability
- Rear on the Prod. levers, prude.
Brakes:
- Front disc, ventilated
- rear drum
Steering type gear-rail type
Price, $ 11500
 

A source: Magazine 5 Wheel [02/2001]