Topic: First Drive: 2012 Kia Rio sedan

[JohnnyMac]

I think for me I'd choose this over the Accent.  I actually prefer the look of the sedan verions of the Rio over the hatch, I think the front end looks a bit better.  The article says that there will be an eco model with start/stop technology and it was recently reported that Kia is scrapping that for the moment due to the roughness of the current system.  I know that some of these systems were already sold on the Soul but they are now shelving it until they can sort out the problems and put it back into production hopefully in 6-12 months time.  

I do like the idea of the Ex Luxury model but I wish they would have offered it with a manual.  That of course is wishful thinking.  

It will be interesting to see what Honda does with their next generation of the Fit.  Currently the Fit is still one of the best of the bunch.

[greengs]

Wow Kia, great job on the Rio.  First rate value, design and interior.  Add a sporty like ride and you have a winner!  Seriously, why would anyone even consider a Yaris over this? Maybe because , "its a car"  

Epic reliability is the better ad slogan. The four speed auto might be a dinosaur compared to the six speed in the Rio/Accent but you'll probably have to replace the transmission in the Rio/Accent twice before the Yaris' transmission fails.

Epic Reliability is a better ad slogan?  Nice try.  Sorry, but thats all Toyota has to go on. They lag every where else when compared to the Rio and others in the segment.  When people accept what Toyota has to offer (4 speed autos, hard plastic, basic designs), they will continue to sell the basics to the general public. 

Hard to accept when Toyota and even Honda try to sell consumers on 4 & 5 speed auto transmissions and tell them its good enough.  Seriously, they could be much better if they put money back into R&D.  This is something that Toyota and Honda have been slacking in.  For the last several years they coasted on their reliability while everyone else passed them. 

For the comment on the sporty Yaris SE.....really?  Until the Scion FRS comes out, Toyota has zero credibility in their lineup in regards to sporty much less a sports car.  Sticking an SE model on a Camry, Sienna and Yaris holds very little if any weight. However you can tell people that "I drive a sport version of the Yaris!"   

Well the sporty comment came from guys who test drive cars for a living.  So I'm sure they know what they are talking about.  But we all have our biases I guess. Just because liking Kias is the in thing to do now doesn't mean they are best at everything automatically

[dirtyjeffer]

You don't agree that a six speed transmission will be more complex than a four speed?

not necessarily...aside from the fact it simply has an extra two "gears" in it, that doesn't really mean it won't last as long...the new 6 speed Auto used by the Kia/Hyundai group is an in-house developed unit that has something like 15% fewer parts for improved reliability and lighter weight than the unit they used previously (sourced elsewhere).

[dirtyjeffer]

I leased a 2003 Rio for 4 years. By the end of it, I had 67,000kms and the car hadn't held up all that well. My next car was a 2nd hand 2005 Echo Hatchback. I traded that one in with 300,000kms for a 2011 Yaris Hatchback, manual shift. I decided to stick with Toyota because my Echo always held its own on the road, I drive a fair distance to work and the Rio really wasn't that surefooted at 120 km/h. I was tempted by the new Rio because of its looks but I am happy I got my Yaris.  

this is why i said up-thread that 5 years ago, you likely wouldn't consider a Kia...however, times have changed significantly, so i wouldn't judge a 2012 Kia Rio based on your experience from the 2003 model...during that time, they were just cheap cars made to provide an alternative to a used car (that's Kia's own words, by the way).

[hemusbull]

Fit is expensive and slowly getting older and without many options and Yaris is just a new dinosaur. Fiat 500, Mini and Smart are simply differents class. Sonic is behind and the only real competition for 2012 Rio is their own Accent! Besides, the new gen Hyundai/Kia products, represented by now two years old Sonata shows very high initial reliability.

[greengs]

Fit is expensive and slowly getting older and without many options and Yaris is just a new dinosaur. Fiat 500, Mini and Smart are simply differents class. Sonic is behind and the only real competition for 2012 Rio is their own Accent! Besides, the new gen Hyundai/Kia products, represented by now two years old Sonata shows very high initial reliability.

Here is one review that disagrees.  I haven't seen others yet.  I'm sure they will come.  The dinasour and Sonic beat both the Accent and Rio.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/best-small-cars-two-great-ones-two-good-ones-and-two-other-ones-comparison-test

This is why I say test drives in person are important as things may look great on paper but not in real life.

[dirtyjeffer]

just picked up a Kia Rio5 rental car while my ET gets fixed (car accident on Monday )...what a great little car...it is the LX+ Auto model ($16,895)...what a well equipped and nice car to drive for the money...i should have it for the next day or two at most, so i can post back about more stuff after i drive it a bit more.

[Ace]

 Good review,
 IMO Kia could be the best bang for the buck!! I really like their audisque styling. What are your opinions regarding reliability ?

[dirtyjeffer]

myself, i think reliability in all brands is pretty decent...sure, there might be the odd lemon out there (can happen with any brand), but i think you could likely buy any car on your shortlist and still get a great vehicle (regardless of whether it is a Ford, Kia, VW, Honda or Toyota)...i'll be returning my rental later today...averaged about 7.3L/100 kms with all city driving in it...comfortable seats, really good seat heaters, revs at about 2200 at 100km/hr, has a decent audio system (including satellite radio) and the ride seems to be among the best small cars i have ever driven...great steering feel, nimble handling (no, not GTI or sportscar, but for a "regular" car, i was very impressed), and i would imagine the higher trim models with alloy wheels and sport suspension are even better...the only thing i noticed (which doesn't really bother me, but i do notice it) is when you coast, you can feel the transmission hang on to that gear and downshift while you coast...in most cars with automatic transmissions, if you going at speed (for example, 80 km/hr), when you let off the throttle, the car slowly slows down (it feels like the transmission shifts to neutral or at least still provides minimal forward propulsion allowing you to coast for some time)...in this car, when you let go off the throttle, it would be somewhat similar to how it would happen in a manual transmission, where you essentially engine brake the car...not sure of why they do this, but it does do it...the first 3 or 4 gears are seem to be tall ratios for zippy acceleration, but it's not an issue with the automatic transmission as it shifts quickly and effortlessly...while no powerhouse, this little car seems to whisk itself quickly and smoothly through city traffic with ease...i never found myself lacking for power...i am sure if i was on the highway and did an 80-120 passing maneuver, things may have been different, but i find the powertrain very well suited for the vehicle...fuel economy for the couple of days is about 7.3L/100kms in strictly city driving, which is pretty respectable for a nice looking, well equipped affordable car.

[Jaeger]

The four speed auto might be a dinosaur compared to the six speed in the Rio/Accent but you'll probably have to replace the transmission in the Rio/Accent twice before the Yaris' transmission fails.

This "probability" is based on what, exactly?

Jaeger

[airbalancer]

myself, i think reliability in all brands is pretty decent...sure, there might be the odd lemon out there (can happen with any brand), but i think you could likely buy any car on your shortlist and still get a great vehicle (regardless of whether it is a Ford, Kia, VW, Honda or Toyota)...i'll be returning my rental later today...averaged about 7.3L/100 kms with all city driving in it...comfortable seats, really good seat heaters, revs at about 2200 at 100km/hr, has a decent audio system (including satellite radio) and the ride seems to be among the best small cars i have ever driven...great steering feel, nimble handling (no, not GTI or sportscar, but for a "regular" car, i was very impressed), and i would imagine the higher trim models with alloy wheels and sport suspension are even better...the only thing i noticed (which doesn't really bother me, but i do notice it) is when you coast, you can feel the transmission hang on to that gear and downshift while you coast...in most cars with automatic transmissions, if you going at speed (for example, 80 km/hr), when you let off the throttle, the car slowly slows down (it feels like the transmission shifts to neutral or at least still provides minimal forward propulsion allowing you to coast for some time)...in this car, when you let go off the throttle, it would be somewhat similar to how it would happen in a manual transmission, where you essentially engine brake the car...not sure of why they do this, but it does do it...the first 3 or 4 gears are seem to be tall ratios for zippy acceleration, but it's not an issue with the automatic transmission as it shifts quickly and effortlessly...while no powerhouse, this little car seems to whisk itself quickly and smoothly through city traffic with ease...i never found myself lacking for power...i am sure if i was on the highway and did an 80-120 passing maneuver, things may have been different, but i find the powertrain very well suited for the vehicle...fuel economy for the couple of days is about 7.3L/100kms in strictly city driving, which is pretty respectable for a nice looking, well equipped affordable car.

The wall 

[bmorton]

Great review of interesting car of exceptional value. The hill holder on the manual being an unexpected bonus at such bargain pricing! Good looking in either hatch or sedan as well.

A bit late here, but just for the record, it's actually the automatic Rio that gets the hill holder. I bought a 2012 Rio EX 5-door a month ago and expected to find this feature, but no joy. The owner's manual makes it clear that it's only for the automatics. An odd decision, but the rest of the car has impressed so far, so it's forgivable.

Also considered the Yaris and 2, but the Rio's equipment level is what sealed the deal. The looks and better warranty didn't hurt, either.

[stargazer68]

some shots I took at my dealer a few weeks ago - the LX+, he had just received his first two.

Wow!  The steering wheel controls are more complex than whole dashboards used to be!
I continue to be impressed by the improvement in the products from Korea. 

[stargazer68]

Man those interior pics will appeal to the BLUE MAN GROUPIES....and a brief issue...those it's "320mm longer" WDF I have to do 2 Maths classes in my head...to know it's wot an Inch an an 'arf LONGER,,,,,,do the math for us ALL.......there isn't a person who understands 320mm..unless it's a dash stroker cum nano techkie.............

  Nice bundle O' parts for the Price............

Um, 32 Cm (or 320 mm) is a bit more than a foot (12 inches).  In Canada, as well as almost everywhere else in the world, Metric is at least understood, if not fully utilised.  This includes scientific labs and product design studios, even in the U.S.
Why I even saw two-litre bottles of Coca-Cola the last time I was in Walgreens  in Kalispell (Montana).
BTW, I agree that, for the price, it's a good package.  Compared to the Pontiac Wave my neighbour drives (similar package, from the silhouette), it's a big step forward.

[kenm]

Wow!  The steering wheel controls are more complex than whole dashboards used to be!

You say that like it's a good thing.