KIA Rio 2018

Body and cabin

The redesigned 2018 Kia Rio sports an array of popular techno features such as projector headlights, LED parking lights and outside mirrors with integrated turn signals. The LX, which is the model most buyers will purchase, doesn’t come with those features, but it still displays edgier styling than its predecessor.

True to current trends, the 2018 Rio is longer, larger and lower than the model it replaces. But since it’s only a question of a centimetre here and there, the Rio is essentially the same size, placing it mid-pack in the subcompact segment.

The same holds true for the cabin: the little Kia seems roomier than Ford Fiesta or Toyota Yaris but less so than Honda Fit or Nissan Verso Note. The manufacturer claims there is more room than before but the numbers indicate the only increase is in rear headroom and legroom. A 1.82-m (6-ft.) person’s head will still probably touch the ceiling in models equipped with a sunroof.

The cargo area is still distinctive for a load floor that is much lower than the bumper sill. That makes it harder to load heavy items and impossible to obtain a flat floor when the rear bench is folded down. On the other hand, there is a gain in usable volume.

Kia equipped the front seats with a new, high-strength steel structure that is lighter and thinner, allowing for better padding. The seats seemed comfortable for everyday driving, but we have yet been unable to evaluate support on a long trip. Seat-heater intensity diminishes automatically a few minutes after attaining their maximum, a feature typically found in much higher-end vehicles.

The dashboard includes just enough contrasting trim to look attractive. Soft-touch surfaces are limited, which isn’t surprising at these prices. Both versions of the floating display screen (12.7 cm/5 in. in LX trims; 17.8 cm/7 in. in EX models) are simple and logical to use. Kia had a great idea when it added two knobs and large “physical” buttons to facilitate basic functions.

Indeed, the positioning and ease of use of all the controls deserve praise. Finally, we noted that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay interfaces make their appearance—but once again, only on EX models and up.

Those are also the first Kia models to offer a telematics system with remote activation of certain functions via smartphone (for example, remote start and door unlocking). Called UVO Intelligence, it also can call for emergency assistance or transmit a mechanical diagnostic. A bit like GM’s OnStar system, it has its own modem independent of the user’s cell phone. For the time being, Kia provides free access to all functions for five years, transferable to the next owner.

One complaint is that LX and LX+ models do not have a telescoping steering column, which makes it difficult to find an ideal driving position. Is that the price to pay for the heated steering wheel?

Safety

For the first time in 2018, the Kia Rio offers the best of recent driver assistance systems: automatic emergency braking (AEB). According to Kia, Rio’s system is capable of bringing the vehicle to a complete stop from speeds of up to 80 km/h when a car brakes in front of it. That’s at least twice the usual speed maximum.

Unfortunately, you have to shell out more than $25,000 to get a Kia Rio with AEB, because it is restricted to the EX Tech model. Other automakers including Honda and Toyota now offer AEB on top-selling versions of their subcompacts; Kia should have followed suit.

Crash test results

To date, the U.S. government (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) hasn't tested the crash-worthiness of the redesigned Kia Rio. However, a 30-percent increase in high-strength structural steel, and a three-fold increase in structural adhesives helped to improve passive safety ratings:

Insurance Institute Highway Safety (IIHS)
Moderate overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Small overlap frontal impact:
- driver side: 4 / 4
- passenger side: 3 / 4
Side impact: 4 / 4
Rear impact: 4 / 4
Roof strength: 4 / 4

As an indication, the former model obtained a Marginal rating (2/4) in the IIHS’s front small overlap crash test, and an Acceptable rating (3/4) in its side impact test.

Mechanical overview

The 2018 Kia Rio arrives with a new, lighter and more rigid platform. Other than the obvious advantages in terms of safety (see the previous paragraph), a more solid structure usually allows the installation of a more supple suspension without negatively affecting handling. Less vibration, less noise and lower fuel consumption—helped by less weight—are other hoped-for benefits.

The good news is Kia seems to have reached most of those goals with the Rio. A first test drive of some 300 km in the Quebec City region—meaning a mix of acceptable and degraded roads—allowed us to appreciate its well-balanced road comportment. Secure and stable, the Rio powers confidently into curves, with no bounce on cracks, despite the simple torsion-beam rear suspension.

However, comfort takes a hit in high-end models equipped with the 17-inch wheels. The standard 15-inch wheels provide a more compliant and slightly quieter ride at highway speeds. The cost of winter tires is also more reasonable, another advantage worth considering.

The small, 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine of the former generation carries over to the 2018 edition with no major change. The engineers mostly revised its power bands (130 hp and 199 lb-ft) for better low-end performance, formerly not its strong suit.

The Kia Rio does, indeed, prove more energetic in the city, where it will no doubt be used most of the time. It obviously is necessary to plan ahead for passing and merging onto a busy highway, but that goes for nearly all subcompacts. It deserves an honorable mention for its quiet smoothness, a quality not always prioritized in the segment.

The excellent six-speed automatic transmission takes full advantage of engine power, with noteworthy smoothness and rapidity. For those interested, it is still possible to order LX and LX+ models with a six-speed manual gearbox. Its light clutch guarantees ease of driving, but the shifter’s long throws quickly put a damper on sporty enthusiasm. The same is true for the very light steering, which transmits practically no road sensation.

Even hoping for a level of dynamism more in line with Kia’s pretensions, there’s no denying the overall efficiency of the redesigned Rio. The only thing left is to evaluate its energy efficiency, as official ratings were not yet posted at the time of our test.