Test drive Kia Rio 5 doors since 2011 hatchback

Test drive New Kia Rio: 1.4 mt vs 1.4 at

The portal Kolesa.ru collected together all the impressions received from the test drive of the pre-production samples of Kia Rio 1.4, learned about the fears of potential buyers, without opening the cost of the future bestseller of the brand.

The exciting interest that caused the new generation of Kia Rio forced to more attentively to the test drive of pre-production samples. Without leaving potential buyers aside, we decided to conduct a unique operation: to notify about our feelings from the new Rio, as they say, with the heat of the heat, moreover, on several Internet resources at once. Fortunately, the technical opportunity allowed us, albeit with regular failures.

Now, when there is an opportunity to calmly analyze the impressions and feelings that we received by switching on two Kia Rio cars, as well as, having collected the most popular issues of our readers and members of the forum, we will try to unite them in the same material.

Is the design of Peter Schreyer so interesting? Is Kia Rio really focused on a younger public?

At a press conference before the start, journalists, as if trying to hypnotize them, were repeated through the proposal how the appearance of the new Rio became swift and sports. Indeed, Kia Rio looks, to some extent, aggressive. But, only if you look at the beginner strictly in front. Otherwise, both Rio and his cousin Solaris are similar both chubby barrels, and general proportions and features of the body. Rio is more interesting in details: boomerangs of foglights are better fit into the design of the front, on the front wings there are stylish air intakes a la BMW, a front of the front air intake can be either chrome and glossy-black. The only thing that confuses the specific design of cast wheels.

Conclusion: in comparison with Solaris, the new Kia Rio looks not so much more sporty as fresh, emphasizing its individuality with individual elements.

How convenient and interesting is the interior of the new Kia Rio?
Being in the cabin of the Korean sedan is nice, largely, thanks to aesthetics. First of all, an informative and truly sports panel of instruments is striking in the eye, with three wells of dials and optronic backlight. The visor of the front panel is sheathed with leather, and a convenient steering wheel, formed for the correct grip, complements the picture. But there is no sportion in fairly convenient seats: the rollers of lateral support are almost imperceptible.

Frankly speaking, small flaws in the ergonomics of Kia Rio are enough: the steering wheel is not adjusted by departure, from the central armrest is slightly shifted back, the on -board computer button is in the blind zone, it has to be sought to the touch, being distracted from the road; door armrests, front and back, narrow hand falls off them; It is hard to read the information from the screen of the radio, especially on a sunny day: a godlessly gleam display lacks contrast.

The back row of seats, folding in a proportion of 60:40, is as spacious as possible in a car with a wheelbase of 2570 mm. Free space for both legs and human head 1.80 cm tall. But the sofa did not seem very convenient to us: a rather vertically set back, it does not allow us to completely relax. The rear passengers will especially strain this on a long trip. But the trunk for envy everyone. 500 liters are enough for any family-free needs.

Conclusion: to characterize the interior of the new Kia Rio, in principle, in a word solid. It is moderately spacious, moderately convenient and pleases the eye with the presence of interesting stylistic solutions. And most importantly, there is no feeling that you are in a budget car.

Why did they equip it like that?
The Korean manufacturers decided to dilute Rio and Solaris in basic performances in different corners in one simple way to the basic equipment of Kia Rio Air conditioner. Why did such a thing needed the most inexpensive performance of the sedan? The answer of the representatives was immediate. Kia by all means is trying to lead a new Rio from the segment of budget logo -like cars. Having chosen the basic configuration, the future owner must feel comfortable, even on a hot summer day.

They also decided to get rid of the list of package options in Rio, scattering all additional equipment on four equipment: Comfort, Luxe, Prestige and Premium. And here Korean manufacturers decided to take care of their interests: to produce fixed configurations easier and cheaper.

Conclusion: given the presence of Russian adaptation, all versions of the new Kia Rio look self -sufficient, even without the possibility of choosing certain options. It remains to wait for delighting prices.

What is good in a 107-horsepower motor?
The first of the two proposed engines, we chose consciously. Firstly, the 1.6 engine has already been tested by our colleagues from other publications. Secondly, it was interesting to feel like the owner of the base engine.

The very first meters on Kia Rio 1.4 MT, literally passed (it was impossible to call it) along the check central streets of St. Petersburg, revealed a pleasant feature: the Korean sedan, as if it were specially made for congestion. A clear gear shift and the smooth sensitivity of the pedals (especially the gas pedal) allowed to crawl along the scored streets without unnecessary nervousness. But having escaped to freedom, an amorphous accelerator, barely reacting to the touch of the right leg, has already strained. Especially when it was necessary to quickly jump into a neighboring row. There is no engine 1.4 in the characteristics of the 1.4 motor: 135 Nm and 107 horses evenly fled along all five transmission programs.

But the combination of a low -volume engine with a machine gun liked more. Formally, losing 2 seconds in acceleration, Rio with an automatic transmission obeyed gas much better. Managing acceleration, both in the city and on the highway, was more convenient than by car with mechanics. By the way, the declared acceleration of 13.5 seconds to 100 km/h on Rio 1.4 AT turned out to be close to the truth.

The average indicator for three measurements was 13.7-13.8 seconds to the same hundreds. But the fuel consumption seemed large: with an active track drive, the average 10.3 liters for the 1.4 engine with an automatic machine we write off only for the unexplored engine.

Conclusion: even if you are an apologist for pens, choosing Rio 1.4, in tandem we would advise him to take an automatic machine. Not much inferior in dynamic sensations, the machine gun wins in comfort, especially if most of the time is supposed to be spent in the city. Again, the main thing is that the surcharge for a convenient transmission is sane.

The question of the rear suspension that tormented potential buyers was resolved with the first kilometers of the highway of St. Petersburg Vyborg. The car is stable. Even at a speed of 140-150 km/h, KIA Rio does no frightening body movements. The reason for this was the replacement of the rear shock absorbers and springs with more rigid, and this change did not affect the good energy intensity of the suspension. Kia very worthy withstanding the tests of various road coverage. Noise insulation is also at a good level, but it can not be called excellent because of the loud Kumho tires, which clearly voted at speeds by a hundred. I liked the brakes: disk on all wheels, they perfectly besieged the car. And the correct work of ABS did not annoy the vibration on the brake pedals.

Conclusion: despite all the imposed sports, Kia Rio is an ordinary car with a well -prepared suspension. From the sedan there is no need to expect miracles of controllability, but you will not have to be disappointed, being behind his wheel.

Bottom line: New Kia Rio is a worthy car. With a sluggish engine and a bouquet of ergonomic disabilities, the sedan has the main advantage of a good car with an excellent balance of consumer qualities. And although, Rio is unlikely to get rid of the budget image, the creators really tried so that the future owner of this budgetary did not feel!

We thank for help in the preparation of material Clubs of Kia Lovers: kiarioclub.ru, club-kia.com and kiaclub.ru

Author: Ilya Ogorodnikov
Photo: Ilya Ogorodnikov


 

Source: Wheel magazine [August 2011]