Test drive Kia Rio 5 doors since 2011 hatchback

Another wrapper

We get acquainted with the new Kia Rio.

Being from the people is now fashionable. And profitably literally one after another, automobile concerns are brought to the market emphasized inexpensive, mass models: Volkswagen Polo Sedan, Hyundai Solaris and, finally, the new Kia Rio. If earlier companies threw the main forces at the development of the premium segment, now there is a kind of democratization of tastes: budget machines are needed in China, and in Russia, and even in Europe.

Before the trip to St. Petersburg, for the first riding presentation of the Russian Rio, I had only four questions: what happened to the rear suspension of the sedan, how the brother of Hyundai Solaris is going, how much it will cost and how two actually identical models from Hyundai will get along in the Russian market and kia?

The fact that from the point of view of the design and technique of Kia Rio, as two drops of water, it looks like Hyundai Solaris does not know perhaps the lazy: the same platform, general power units, the same layout of the passenger compartment and a similar ergonomics of the salon. The whole difference in design and in trim levels. Moreover, as in the case of Solaris, a modification of Rio with a hatchback body will appear on the Russian market this year, and the ratio of the manufactured cars will be approximately like this: 60-65 percent will have to be on a sedan, the rest for hatchbacks.

The Korean machine turned out to be pretty, except that with the size of the front headlights, the creators overdo it. In return for the smooth flowing lines of Hyundai Solaris, the new Rio received a more acute and angular design with a characteristic front part and a radiator grille in the form of a smile of a tiger. In full accordance with the branded style of Kia, invented by the current chief designer Peter Schreyer. To argue about whose salon looks more attractive than Solaris or Rio has an ungrateful occupation. However, the Kia sedan has normal, comfortable door handles, and the device combination looks more attractive and informative. The rest of the parity.

But what you go strangely around St. Petersburg, but no one notices the new Rio. Probably, the fact is that he became too similar to the older brother of Cerato in terms of dimensions, and in forms. And if Solaris replaced in Russia two Getz and I20 models at once, then Rio will most likely move from the market it is Cerato according to the company's forecasts, the sale of this model will gradually decrease.

We managed to ride on sedans with all the options of engines and gearboxes. Both engines were pleased with the smoothness of work at the idle speed of vibration on the governing bodies are practically not felt. The most driver’s option, of course, is a 123-horsepower 1.6-liter unit combined with a five-speed mechanical transmission. The machine cheerfully breaks off, the engine pulls well from the bottom, but the most optimal acceleration is achieved in the range from three to six thousand revolutions.

A set of gear rates in five -speed mechanics is selected optimally transmission as if flowing one into another. The car does not resist and the fifth gear in the city can be included from 60 kilometers per hour. If the clutch pedal was still smaller - yes, the beginner is probably easier to move and not stall, but an experienced driver will annoy the need to lift his left leg high up.

Interior


Ergonomics and layout of the cabin of Rio at the same high level as the counterpart of Hyundai Solaris. All differences are reduced only to a different interior design, which in Kia looks more solid and European than in Hyundai.


The drives of the driver’s seat are sufficient, but the profile of the chair is not the most optimal, the lumbar backdoing is weak, and the steering column cannot be configured by departure. But the visibility on the sides of the driver's seat is good.


At the back of the place close. An adult man with his knees props the back of the front chair. There is no armrest on the rear seats, and for three passengers there is only one cup holder in the central tunnel.

A four -speed machine in combination with the same motor no longer causes such bright emotions, but the tandem turned out to be good. Even when the speed exceeds a hundred, a certain supply of traction remains under the right pedal. Automatic transmission is logical if you do not burn a gas pedal much, then the car will accelerate in the same gear, but it is worth stomping the box right away that it takes off the transmission right away.

But the logic of the work of the same box in combination with a 107-horsepower 1.4-liter engine liked less. Apparently, in an effort to compensate for the lack of traction, the electronics too sensitively monitors the movement of the gas pedal did not have time to squeeze it and up to half, and the box is already throwing off the step. The ride is more twitching. KIA experts explained this with the adaptability of automatic transmission, she needs time to get used to the owner’s driving style. However, by the end of the trip a hundred kilometers long, the nature of the switching has not changed.

And the dynamics of Rio with such a power unit is gray: the engine buzzes like a vacuum cleaner, but acceleration is sluggish. If the car accelerates more or less confidently to 100-110 kilometers per hour, then the speed rate drops sharply. Therefore, it is better to take a 107-horsepower apparatus on the handle and it accelerates no worse than a 123-horsepower modification with an automatic box, and in terms of ease of control of traction is not much inferior to the version with the 1.6 motor and mechanical transmission.

Sometimes the second is better than the first, and the example with Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio proves this. Of course, Solaris collected all the cream of the Russian market due to the fact that he had appeared on it before. However, the reputation of this model was somewhat spoiled due to the unsuccessful settings of the rear suspension: even on a fairly flat road with speed growth, the car significantly expands its dynamic corridor, and on the waves and irregularities of asphalt of the feed, the sedan often begins to dance jig. On allowed 110 kilometers per hour, Solaris makes it seriously strain to keep the steering wheel tightly and constantly adjust the course. In addition, his suspension did not digest serious coating defects.

The same fate could be comprehended and Rio say that in the spring, when the car was rolled up at the Dmitrovsky auto policy, it also walked in the strip. The Koreans caught on and made corrections at once on Solaris and Rio: they put more rigid and elastic shock absorbers. Alas, KIA does not disclose information about the manufacturer of shock absorbers before and after modernization, but, as we know, in both cases we are talking about the Korean company Mando, which has long supplies the components to the conveyors of Hyundai and Kia. The plant in St. Petersburg began the production of cars with a modernized suspension on August 15, so all RIO commodity sedans will be equipped with the right shock absorbers.

Indeed, on the go, Kia makes a completely different impression than the Solaris that participated in our video test. We traveled on completely different roads and did not notice any serious crime in the chassis settings. Unless the standard Kumho Solus KH17 tires seemed noisy.

On the highway with a good asphalt coating, Rio rides stably, and on ordinary suburban tracks is kept well done. At a speed of up to 120-130 kilometers per hour, the car can be carried out completely relaxed. But if you are used to traveling faster, then the steering wheel is better to keep stronger. And the point is not even that the car is slightly swaying on the waves and barely noticeably shifts from the trajectory on irregularities, and in the lack of feedback on the steering wheel in the near -mowl position. Because of this, you often have to make unnecessary corrective movements of the steering wheel.

There are no complaints about the controllability of Rio. But there is no excitement, the sedan confidently stands on the arc and carefully prescribes turns with moderate rolls, nothing more. KIA gently responds to the discharge or adding of traction in the turn, and only on the broken asphalt Rio can shift in the turn from the intended course, and with active steering, there is not enough hydraulic power control with rapid manipulations with the steering wheel, a noticeable step in effort is felt.

The secondary routes of the Karelian Isthmus are replete with excellent graders. In the hope of grabbing a couple of kilometers, we turned onto one inconspicuous path, but not even a kilometer passed, as our rally suddenly turned into pollinated pollinates. Not having time to slow down in time, we flew into the first potholes a car slipped a hole without a blow, but immediately got into the next one, the amplitude of vertical vibrations increased, and the short suspension worked to the chipper. BAM! But it was worth reducing the move to 25-30 kilometers per hour, the Korean rolled along the lunar craters, of course, but the chassis no longer complains about such a coating. It’s just bad that from below the motor compartment is covered only with a plastic apron, and the steel protection of the crankcase is included in the list of complementary equipment that the dealer for the surcharge will offer.

In general, the buyer Kia Rio will have to spend a lot of time behind the calculator, calculating the benefits of buying this particular model, and not the contrast consulture solaris, for example. The fact is that Rio will not be empty and affordable modifications in Russia! According to the President of the Russian branch of KIA, Ima so, the share of such machines on the market usually does not exceed five percent, therefore, it is unprofitable to launch the modification of Low-Cost in production from the economic side. So the basic for RIO will be the average, the most popular Solaris equipment.

But if Solaris is a car focused on the older age group, on people who have families, then Rio is positioned as a machine for young and daring. According to KIA internal studies, the alleged buyer of Rio in Russia is a bachelor aged 25 to 35 years, who either does not have a car, or he drives a Russian car or an old used foreign car. For such a consumer, first of all, the price and design of the machine is important, and the technical characteristics, comfort and functionality of the cabin fade into the background.

As for the internal competition in the market, which is generated by such a badge engineering, the Koreans are not afraid of it. Hyundai and Kia adhere to strategies 1 + 1 \u003d 3, when the rivalry between two related brands helps not only to improve the products, but also allows the concern to sell more cars more efficiently.

If you look in more detail, then in tandem with Solaris Kia Rio will even more tightly score all the gaps in the price range from 400 to 650 thousand rubles. It is very reminiscent of the staircase where the first stage is occupied by Solaris, the second is already Rio, in a slightly more expensive configuration, the third is again Hyundai, but with an even greater list of equipment, and so on to the very upper price bar.

Moreover, dealers will also not remain in the lining, because in Russia the same company often sells the Hyundai cars and Kia cars under one roof. I did not like Solaris, you are mercy in the Kia Salon, where you buy the same car, but in a different wrapper and in a more suitable configuration. And most importantly, in the end, everything will remain in the winnings: the client, and the seller, and the manufacturer.

Alternative:
Renault Logan is a sedan that has opened our country with a segment of available cars from a world -famous automakers. Moreover, he has a modification with a body of hatchback, under his own name Sandero. The machine is offered with three gasoline engines with a capacity of 75, 84 and 102 horsepower, respectively. To choose from - a five -speed mechanics or a four -speed automatic. Logan prices start from 329 900 rubles.

Volkswagen Polo sedan made a small revolution, showing that a budget car from a solid brand does not have to look wretched at all. The car is offered with a time-tested gasoline with a 105-horsepower 1.6-liter engine, which is aggregated either with five-speed mechanics or with an automatic machine. The price of the most affordable version is 424,700 rubles.

Hyundai Solaris brother Kia Rio. Solaris is a logical continuation of the Hyundai Accent/Hyundai Verna. The Russified model received a new name and registered at the plant in St. Petersburg, where the sedan and hatchback with 1.4 liters (107 horsepower) or 1.6 liters (123 horsepower) are produced in bodies. Both engines are aggregated either with a five -speed manual gearbox, or with a four -speed automatic. Prices from 399 thousand rubles.
Peter Bakanov
Photo by Peter Bakanov and Kia

Source: Motor magazine [September 2011]