Bakelite, the plastic made from formaldehyde, came to mind as I hurried through a long S-bend in the Kia Rio. Not because the dashboard is tacky. The dashboard is attractive, thoroughly modern, made from pleasant-to-touch materials and everything is easy to find and reach.
Bakelite wasn’t on my mind because the suspension seemed brittle. Far from it, the suspension cushioned me from bumps of inner city roads and country lanes, delivering an assured ride. Nor did the formerly popular brittle plastic seem relevant when assessing the merits of the engine. The Kia engines, like Vauxhalls and Volkswagens, offer a slightly throaty sound track at low revs and oodles of torque. So you can pull away as dramatically as you like around town and be up to speed a lot quicker than you might expect. The Rio is also very quiet at high motorway speeds . The 1.5 CRDi engine is much, much quieter than Ford’s 1.6 TDCI equivalent that you will find in a Focus. And the Rio is cheaper too.
Bakelite’s slippery finish wasn’t on my mind because I kept sliding off the seats either. The seats, unlike those found in smaller small cars were comfortable and big enough for adults (including the over weight or freakishly long). They had a soft and springy quality which is nice in straight lines but usually leads to a lack of support through the corners. However, these seats offered enough lateral support too.
No bakelite was on my mind, because having been lulled into a false sense of security by the gutsy engine, the quiet cruising ability and the quality interior, I entered the aforementioned S-bend a little too quickly and the result was quite a bit of perspiration across my forehead. It felt like I was driving on bicycle wheels, made - you guess it - from bakelite. The car’s dynamic qualities are its Achilles heel – the steering is light and uncommunicative at the time when you most want to know what’s happening.
Now I appreciate that I was not driving like most Rio drivers at this point; I was driving more like their son or Grandson who had borrowed the car and promised to be careful. The trouble is, it was quite good fun and I must admit to trying it again a bit later in the test. Which is exactly what the metaphorical Grandson will do, only he may not have enough experience to realise the risks.
At the end of the Rio test, I was surprised to find that I am fan. It genuinely delivers on the promise of good value that brands like Kia and Hyundai often fall short on because they are slightly too expensive. I am just not sure if I would trust myself to remember that the promise of the engine won’t be delivered by the running gear when I arrive at B-road bends.
Who is buying them?
The Kia Rio is often found in the hands of the elderly. But it is a terrific package for the young family. It offers value for money, space, quality and reliability.
What’s the market like?
There are never that many Kias on the open market and many have long warranties. That means depreciation stays small and controlled for the first few years. The Rio is no different. Looking at our fair prices, on the nearly new market, you can find nearly new Rios with the 1.5 diesel engine for £8,500. A 2008 car drops by under £1,000 to £7,600, which at less than £100 a month is pretty good depreciation. It’s the same story the year after too, with slightly less than £1,000 coming off the price again, leaving it at £6,800. Then, despite still being under warranty, it has to have an M.O.T. and prices take a hit. Down to £5,200, but with around 26,000 miles on average, this car becomes more and more attractive as a used car, the older it gets. Especially when I tell you that depreciation drops right back again and a year later the £5,200 car is still worth £4,600.
What else can this budget buy?
Looking at 2008 year cars, and a budget of £7,500 you can buy a lot of cars that are a bit smaller, like a Fiesta, Clio or Corsa, but few that are as roomy. What you really have here is a Vauxhall Astra rival at Vauxhall Corsa money.
Summary
A well made, reliable, frugal, small family car that’s not cramped. Spacious and comfortable, it cruises quietly on the main roads. Plus, with the right engine, it will really shift too. Just slow down in plenty of time for the corners.
By: Matthew Tumbridge