2017 Kia Rio SLi Review | Less Is More For Kia’s Serious Light Hatch
Kia’s newest Rio light hatch represents a big change of direction for the South Korean small car. It's more serious, more upmarket and has more equipment while taking a big step backwards mechanically.
The last Rio, all curvaceous and cute, showed that Kia wasn’t playing a budget game any more with high levels of fit, finish, and equipment. Not only that, but high-grade examples featured one of the most powerful engines in a mainstream light hatch and an advanced (for the time) six-speed automatic.
Fast forward to 2017 and the mechanical package has moved drastically backwards with a smaller engine, pedestrian power outputs, and a stuck-in-the-90s four-speed auto. But on the inside you’ll find new smartphone connectivity and in-built satellite navigation - two absolute must-haves for any aspiring new car in 2017.
Vehicle Style: Light hatch
Price: $22,990 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 74kW/133Nm 1.4-litre 4cyl | 4sp automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 6.2 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Kia has simplified the Rio range, ditching the previous three-door models and sticking to a five-door formula with three trim levels including S, Si and the top-spec SLi tested here.
Pricing holds firm compared to the previous model starting at $16,990 (plus on-road costs) for a Rio S manual up to $22,990 (plus on-road costs) for the automatic-only SLi.