2008 Kia Rio SX Road Test

More for less. That might not be Kia's official slogan, but they really should

As a little runabout, you could do much worse than to try out Kia's Rio. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

consider it, because it's what all of its cars deliver on. The Rio might not be new, but as with any Kia it's a compelling buy in its respective segment. Well-priced, well-equipped and complete with a solid warranty, this is one of the cars that's driven Kia forward, and because of its affordable starting price I wouldn't be surprised if it's the Rio that's been changing the bulk of people's opinions about the brand.

Neither the Rio nor the Accent, its mechanical twin from parent company Hyundai, break any ground in the subcompact category, other than value for money and feature content. They are, however, a bit bigger than the equivalent Yaris, Fit or Aveo, and with a surprisingly long wheelbase, the Rio offers roomy accommodations front and back. Kia's smallest North American offering also gets standard 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks, and each occupant has their own three-point seatbelt and headrest (except the center occupant on the rear bench).

Providing that you discount the larger Nissan Versa and VW Rabbit/Jetta,

Rio has come a long way since its first generation. It's vastly more refined and a much better driving car. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

the Rio is actually the most powerful car in the subcompact class. Its 1.6-liter inline-four has variable valve timing, which allows it to produce 110 horsepower. Its power champ status shouldn't much of a persuader, mind you, given that most of its rivals are within five horsepower, and that the differences between weight and gearing make them all feel just about even in town and out on the highway. Buyers get a choice between a five-speed manual, with a weightless clutch pedal and a reasonably good shifter, or a simple, straightforward four-speed automatic. The auto strolls through the gears at an unhurried pace, making its shifts smooth enough for most people buying into the subcompact class.

The Rio's suspension setup is tuned to be quite soft, for a nice, comfortable ride, which works most of the time, although its spring and damper rates seem to be tuned to cope better with smooth road surfaces. A pass over a poorly paved road caused Kia's littlest sedan to become unsettled, bouncing a bit more than I like. But when the road's reasonably good the Rio makes for a nice comfortable cruiser. In town, the Rio's light steering makes it easy to place and thread through traffic. It isn't particularly concerned with entertaining you while driving, as grip from its 175-width

175-width Kumho tires are a bit on the narrow side, though you can step up to 185- or 205-width and alloys for not much more. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

tires doesn't promote high-speed handling. It's fine if you keep your speed within the posted limits, however. Stepping up to the 185- or 205-width tires that wrap 14- or 16-inch wheels, respectively, should improve handling, and these can be chosen from Kia's options list.

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