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2003 Kia Rio Cinco Road Test

Wagons are Cool Again

I never thought I would be station wagon fan. As a kid I remember sitting in the back seat of my moms car and seeing these shopping mall appliances with wood-paneling down their sides - what we called road wood. Yuck. I never wanted to be caught dead in one of those or any wagon for that matter. But luckily, since my childhood, things have changed. Station wagons have transitioned from wood, to would be cool cars.

It was only after the family wagon, which was passed down from my mom, to my brother and then to me (just like a family heirloom), that I became a fan. And it was in my teenage years that I experienced the functionality of a five-door. During

Wagons have transfromerd from road wood to would-be cool cars, thanks to their functionality and fun. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

exam time I would open the trunk, sit in the school parking lot, hang out and study in it. I wanted to think I was cool, but I thought wrong. I mean, who gets popular in high school by driving around a station wagon, no matter how much trunk space it has? All the hip kids in school were in sports cars and SUVs, but not me. Nevertheless, wheels are wheels and I loved

A delight to drive, even with only a 104-hp 1.6L DOHC engine. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

mine.

I parked my old wagon last week to spend time in Kias updated 2003 Rio Cinco. Its definitely a delight to drive. The feisty five-door struts its stuff on the streets, sporting a fabulous Rally Blue exterior finish that catches the eyes of passers by. Although it doesnt have as much power as I normally would like, only 104 horsepower at 5,800 and 104 lb-ft of torque at 4,700, the 1.6L DOHC engine is still adequate enough for its cause.

That cause, of course, is basic transportation,

Although Im not a big fan of air conditioning, this week it was a necessity in the 86?F+ heat. (Photo: Kia)

but while it might be one of the least expensive new cars available, I enjoyed driving it. Its P175/65R14 tires and sporty 14" alloy rims, give the car a secure, planted feeling even at slightly above posted highway limits while it performed fairly well through corners. Overall I felt fairly in tune with the road.

I think my experience would have been further enhanced if the Rio in question was equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, instead of the optional 4-speed automatic that I test drove. The auto gearbox didnt meet my power needs. I know that it only has 104 hard working horses

The open and airy interior of the Cinco is accommodating for taller people, and provides ample storage. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

in its compact engine, but they would no doubt be harnessed a lot better with a stick shift model. OK, Ill admit it. I like to be the one in control of the power, not the drivetrain.

Speaking of confessions I never thought I would bring myself to say this, but I actually used the optional air conditioning a lot this past week. If you have read my reviews you might know that I am not a fan of the fan, but last week it saved me. Can I say HEAT WAVE? The northwest coast was seared with some pretty sunny days with soaring temperatures that reached well above 86ºF. Yipes, it was a scorcher. It just so happened that I was traveling down a coastal highway when a local marina caught fire

A big plus is the Cincos sound system, which exceeded expectations and garnered comments of approval from passengers. (Photo: Kia)

and traffic came to a standstill. Luckily it was later on during the day, but the sun was still blazing. If it wasnt for the A/C and standard tinted glass I probably would have had heat stroke.

Other saving graces of the week were the Rio Cincos standard power windows and remote keyless entry - that incidentally incorporates the buttons into the key itself. I didnt really use the roof rack or fixed intermittent rear wiper and defroster, or even the fog lamps, but they all come standard on Kias little wagon. Other standard features include a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and tilt-steering column. Options are the previously mentioned air conditioning system, plus alloy wheels and upgraded stereo systems - the standard audio system features an AM/FM tuner with cassette and no CD changer.

While the Cinco

The Cinco is fun to drive and sounds great, but lacks the styling to capture the youth market. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

seems little on the outside there is generous room inside. Here comes the 64" boyfriend test again. Yes, for my tall readers, there is adequate head clearance. The compact Kia feels open and airy too, giving the driver and passenger great visibility. The cargo area is well proportioned, and comes with a standard trunk net to keep bags of stuff from rolling around plus a standard sliding cover to block out the sun or prying eyes from seeing valuables.

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