2010 Kia Rio Review
Price
from: RM79,970
to: RM100,597
Installment
from: RM763/mth
to: RM959/mth
2010 Kia Rio at a glance
The 2010 Kia Rio is a point A to point B car, one with distinctly average abilities. Whether or not the 2010 Kia Rio is a viable proposition depends largely on its price—which unsurprisingly undercuts all key rivals'.
2010 Kia Rio quick specs
| Body Style | Hatchback |
| Class | Small Family |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
2010 Kia Rio ratings (overall rating : 3/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
The 2010 Kia Rio wears a well-proportioned, neat styling that would not look out of place on more established brands. Not the most original styling out there, but a pleasing design nonetheless. The Kia Rio seems to aggregate a number of past or existing designs into one, which would then explain the sense of familiarity. Even assuming so, credit must still be given for a nice end-product that is the 2010 Kia Rio.
Handling
Not a car you will want to push too hard around bends. The 2010 Kia Rio is built for transportation, not for its dynamic appeal. This fact is apparent from the vague steering and modest grip levels. The body control is decent by class standards, which are not high, but lacks the agility that the class-leader Suzuki Swift exhibits. For most though, the 2010 Kia Rio should do its job fine.
Comfort
Tuned for comfort, the 2010 Kia Rio delivers a comfortable ride over most surfaces. Refinement scores well too, with little wind and road noise, but engine noise becomes a problem at high rev range. The driving position is fine, but some may find further adjustments restrictive. The steering adjusts only for height, while the seat height adjustments are limited. The control layout is impressively ergonomical, except for the fiddly, small stereo buttons. The reverse sensors will come in handy as the rear vision is hampered by the relatively thick rear pillars.
Quality + Reliability
Cabin plastics fall below what class-leaders are offering. Dash controls and switches are well-fitted together, but the finishing could be better. On the whole, the cabin construction feels solid enough to last for some time. The previous Kia Rio did not perform that well in past JD Power customer satisfaction surveys. However, if more recent Kia models are any indication, the 2010 Kia Rio should be reliable.
Performance
Mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, the 1.4-litre DOHC engine with 94 bhp and 125 Nm produces an adequate on-road performance. Overtaking at highway speeds will require some form of planning though. The maximum 94 bhp comes at 6000 rpm, but we reckon few will want to spend their time hovering at that rpm range, no thanks to the hoarse engine note.
Roominess
The 2010 Kia Rio sits up there with the best in terms of interior room, but still lags the Honda Jazz, which can almost compete with mid-size cars. Front and rear occupants enjoy good head- and leg-room. The same can be said for the boot space, which can be further increased through the 60:40 split-folding rear seats.
Running Costs
Fuel consumption is economical with the 1.4-litre engine. Servicing, road tax and insurance should all be reasonable. The key concern would be the potential depreciation. The Kia brand is no Toyota or Honda when it comes to second-hand values, and the brand reputation has not progressed the way Hyundai has thus far. Despite that, we still expect the Kia Rio's depreciation to be no more steeper than for a Proton.
Value for Money
The small car segment is a crowded one, brimming with talent in the form of the Honda City, Honda Jazz, Toyota Vios and Suzuki Swift. All except the Honda Jazz are competitively priced against the 2010 Kia Rio. With no more than average abilities, and without pricing advantage, the 2010 Kia Rio will find it hard to steal sales away from the established brands.
Equipment
The 2010 Kia Rio's standard equipment without the NOVUS package includes Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), manual air-conditioner, MP3-CD-Radio player, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, alarm, carpet mats, luggage net, reverse sensors and 14-inch sports rims.
Environment
The environment is not as high on Kia's list compared to Japanese or European automakers'. A carbon dioxide emission level of 171 grams/km for a 1.4-litre engine is not considered efficient. But at least the fuel consumption is respectable by class standards.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Neat styling
Good interior room
Solid cabin construction
Fiddly stereo buttons
Mediocre handling
Only adequate engine performance
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