Test drive Kia Rio Cinco 2001 - 2005

Two bodies, three cars

The premiere of the Kia Rio model, which replaced Avella, took place in November 1999. In February, she was shown at the Chicago Auto Show, and a month later in Geneva. Rio is produced in the Republic of Korea with bodies of sedan and hatchback, equipped with 1.3 or 1.5 liter gasoline motors, five -speed mechanical or four -speed automatic gearboxes.
What do you think the hatchback differs from the station wagon? That's right, the size of the luggage compartment. And if the trunk is somewhere between, then how to count? The creators of Kia Rio with a five -door body threw such a task to customers. Presumably, not without intent - which car you need, this is in the new product and you will see. And saving funds for the development and preparation of production is evident. However, formally, Rio was nevertheless attributed to the hatchbacks, and also not by chance - you must admit that the spacious hatchback sounds much better than a close station wagon.
The team of testers of our magazine did not come to a consensus about the type of body. Some pointed out a significant tilt of the rear window and miniature side windows, others - on a large overhang and massiveness of the stern. Nevertheless, we note that in terms of functionality it is still a shed rather: a large doorway, the length of the trunk along the floor is 900 mm, a soft horizontal curtain, a split (50:50) back of the rear seat.
If we started with trunk, we will immediately look into the second car, good, with the identification of his body, no problems - A nice such chubby sedan, looking a little toy, like most golf-class Asians. The luggage compartment here is average, but the opening of its so intricate shape as it is still wide - wide at the top (1300 mm!), With the cutouts entering the sidewalls, but low and clamped with massive lanterns.
However, the cargo qualities of KIA Rio limit not the size of the trunk, but the possibilities of a rigid short -flowing suspension, which with four riders in the cabin often works to the stop even on harmless irregularities. And the empty machine shudders very painfully on the coating defects, especially on transverse joints.
However, such a suspension does not at all indicate a sports character. On the contrary, Rio is quite soft, slightly slow and, as it were, smeared in his reactions. In general, not Driver's Car. Although the calm driver may just like it. The machine will not scare a sharp response to hasty actions, moreover, it will give time to change his mind and correct the case. The power plant also manifests itself ambiguously. On the one hand, a frisky sixteen-plastic of the Mi-Tech series with adjustable phases of gas distribution; It would seem that shoot - I don’t want, especially since the mass of the car is less than a ton. On the other hand, an automatic gearbox with modern electronic controls, but with some slurred algorithm of work, it will think, then suddenly, when you already decided to refuse a spurt, it begins to attend the gear. You can, of course, disconnect the overhead of the machine and hold the tachometer arrow at the mark of 6000 r/min, but this quickly tires, although the motor tries to cheer the driver with an almost sports roar. However, noise on the highway is not annoyed - acoustics worked for conscience.
But the adventures on the laundry are best avoided - despite the optimism of the factory characteristics, the clearance under the beam of the rear axle is even an empty car only 140 mm. And the catalytic neutralizer votes for well -maintained routes. So the role of Rio is calm, without twitching drove along well -groomed city streets. Here he is able to enjoy both the driver and passengers. It is quite spacious in the back seat, where three uncles of 90 kg are seated without tangible inconvenience - not to compare with the golf. Only in the sedan their tops almost touch the flowing ceiling. Ahead of restrictions does not occur even for more well -fed riders. The seats are slightly harsh, but comfortable and well fix the body. And the chubby bagel of the steering wheel, sheathed with leather, does not want to let it go out of my hands. The front stands of the body are quite wide - sometimes they close a gentle turn. In the sedan, inexpensive gray plastic with textile inserts in the upholstery of the doors looks modest, but you can’t refuse to practicality. But the black-cream interior of the hatchback creates even a certain feeling of luxury.
Kia Rio is very pretty: stylish body lines, large light blocks, alloy wheels. By the way, instead of standard here, large 14-inch. The car tries to be respectable with all his might: an automatic gearbox, air conditioning, a steering wheel with an amplifier, a reclining central armrest, a tape recorder with four speakers, electric mirrors and front glasses, a central locking lock, proprietary rugs in the cabin. This gentleman's set would be quite logically continuing the ABS, a pointer of the position of the box selector, adjustable steering column, airbags, but they, alas, are not. And not adjustable seat belts, the absence of headlight corrector and indication of the inclusion of overall light - like signs of a last era.
However, we dealt with cars for the domestic, Korean market. The appearance of Rio in European performance (namely, such will be officially delivered to Russia) are expected closer to the fall. Car prices in a similar configuration will be approximately the same - $ 12,700 and 12 800 that stood on the price tags of our couple. But the minimum price for the car in the basic configuration with a 1.3 liter engine and a manual gearbox is unlikely to exceed $ 10,000.

Kia Rio
General data: number of places - 5; Equipped mass - 955 kg; full weight - 1420 kg; maximum speed - 179 km/h; Acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - n. d.; approximate fuel consumption in conditional suburban and city cycles - 7; 11 l/100 km; fuel supply - 45 liters; Fuel - AI -92 non -autistic. Dimensions, mm: length - 4215; width - 1675; height - 1440; base - 2410; The track in front/back - 1430/1435; Road clearance - 152; The volume of the trunk is n. d.; The turning radius is 4.7 m. The engine: gasoline, four -cylinder, in order, with two camshafts and adjustable gas distribution phases, four valves per cylinder, distributed injection; working volume - 1493 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 75.5x78.4 mm; compression degree - 9.3; Power - 76 kW/103 liters. with. at 6000 rpm; The maximum torque is 143 N.M at 4500 rpm. Transmission: front wheel drive; gearbox - four -speed automatic; Transporting numbers: I - 2.80; II - 1.54; III - 1.00; IV - 0.70; h. X. - 2.33; The main program is 3.74. Suspension: in front - an independent type of McEferson, from behind - dependent on two longitudinal levers and traction of Panar. Brakes: hydraulic with a vacuum amplifier, in front - ventilated disk, back - drum. Steering: rheck with a hydraulic wrap. Tire size: 175/70R13.

+ Bright appearance, spacious salon, comfortable steering wheel, a large volume of the luggage compartment in the hatchback, a rather rich equipment.
- mediocre dynamics (with automatic transmission), small road clearance and suspension stroke, tangible transmission of shock from wheels to the body, separate disadvantages of the configuration.

Kia Rio is a slightly toy cute sedan and a very serious universal hatchback - a bright, stylish city car for a driver without sports ambitions. Perhaps for a woman.
 


Yuri Nechetov
Photo by Alexander Polunin

A source: The magazine "Driving"