16 Sep 2009

Kia Rio - Our Lifestyle Editor Would Rather Walk...

Posted by:  Middleclassmotoring

 

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by Nicholas Hsu

I would disagree with Harvey and argue that actually, there’s nothing worse than a Kia Rio.   It’s the kind of car that – if you owned it –might make you want to give up driving altogether.

Harvey’s main complaints about the Yaris were:

  • It’s pitifully underpowered
  • It has a crappy transmission
  • Unsupportive seats
  • Engine makes thrashing noises

The Rio has all that and more, including such perks as:

  • Mesh / synthetic upholstery that looks (and feels) cheaper than your college laundry bag.
  • Soft springing, tuned specially for waftiness.  It’s like all the waftiness of a Kia Optima or a GM family-sedan from a few years ago, but packed into a platform that’s smaller than a Corolla’s. This might work on a large car positioned in the near-luxury market, but on a subcompact it’s ludicrous.
  • Instruments so cheap it’s cynical.  The gauges don’t even use instrument needles – instead they use equilateral (or virtually equlateral) plastic triangles, with white lines painted on them.  The plastic is even transparent to hide how chunky it is, but fools nobody.
  • Carpet that could have come from a vacuum cleaner bag.
  • And the list goes on…

Additionally, on the image food chain, it’s farther south than the Yaris…  just because, it’s a Kia after all.  And anyone who buys a Rio (with 100,000 mile warranty and all) over say, a used Corolla or Focus, must really not care about cars.  Or driving.  Or ever had a pleasurable driving experience at any time in their life.  So you have to wonder when you see one on the road.

Back to the Yaris, it does have a following in Europe, and I imagine the 5-speed hatchback might not be so bad. Unless they detuned the suspension for the U.S. market (like Ford did for the last generation Focus), which would be a pity.

photo courtesy of wikipedia