Kia Rio 1.4 TEC

Hoping to build on the popularity of the previous model, the new Kia Rio has been almost completely redone. The engines and gearboxes are the same, but the chassis, the styling and interior are all new. More importantly, it now has an advantage over the cars it competes against.

Make & Model Kia Rio 1.4 TEC
Engine In-line four-cylinder, 1 396cc
Power 74 kW @ 6 300 rpm
Torque 135 Nm @ 4 200 rpm
Power to weight ratio 65,48 kW/ton
Gearbox Six-speed manual, FWD
Wheels/tyres 17-inch alloy, 205/45 R17 tyres

0-100 km/h 11,5 sec
Top speed 176 km/h
Fuel tank capacity 45 litres
Fuel consumption (claimed) 5,8 litres/100km
Operating range (claimed) 776 km
CO2 emissions 137 g/km

Pros
Sophisticated design, good spec and comfort.
Cons
Isn’t as much fun as its competition.

Retail price / as tested R274 995 / R293 495

Key rivals
Ford Fiesta 5-door 1.0 Titanium R264 900
Honda Jazz 1.5 Dynamic R285 600
Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI Highline R276 300