Kia Rio 1 1.25 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The main flaw with the Kia Rio 1 1.25 5dr is the steering - it is numb, vague and overly light. When compared with rival offerings from European manufacturers, the Rio really doesn't cut the mustard.

However, grip is good and body roll in corners is minimal. There will be jolts on bumpy roads, but overall the ride is very good. The 1.25-litre, 83bhp engine responds well and does not need to be worked hard to deliver the goods. A top speed of 107mph is also more than enough to keep up with motorway traffic.

Refinement is superb and the engine is near silent. Road and wind noise are also well insulated.

Forward visibility is good but rear visibility is hindered by a small rear screen and chunky C-pillars.

The Kia Rio 1 1.25 5dr is a beauty, especially when viewed from the rear. Stylish rear lights and a curvy tailgate add a unique touch to its hatchback outline. The front-end is well styled as well with Kia's distinctive grille design.

The interior has yet to match European standards, but it is well-designed, and a good cabin layout makes up for the interior's lack of quality.

Power steering, stability control, central locking, electric front windows, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, alarm, immobiliser, CD player, MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth are all available as standard. You can add metallic paint for £415 but air conditioning is not available, even as a cost option.

Kia has raised its manufacturing standards in a bid to compete with European brands. Contemporary models from Kia have so far remained reliable. The Rio 1 1.25 5dr should follow suit.

It is fitted with plenty of safety kit and ranks among the best in safety and security in the class. A top score of 5/5 in the Euro NCAP crash test confirms its high safety credentials.

The Rio 1 1.25 is one of the roomier small cars. Four adults can sit comfortably, and five can squeeze in. The seats are not very supportive but there is plenty of head and legroom. There is enough storage in the cabin, from a sizeable glove compartment to bottle holders and a neat central console.

Boot space is average for the class. You get 288 litres with the seats up, which is enough to handle the weekly shopping. With the rear seats down, the boot space is increased to 923-litres.

The driver's seat and steering wheel offer plenty of adjustment and the dashboard is clear and easy to use.

Kia packs a lot of value into the Rio 1 1.25 5dr, all for £10,595. Top rivals in the class do not cost much more but the real difference comes in maintenance and fuel economy. Kia offers a 7-year warranty up to 100,000 miles. Servicing is affordable and should be done every 10,000 miles.

Fuel economy is excellent; with good driving, you should enjoy around 56.5mpg. Carbon emissions are low at 114g/km and will attract £30 in VED. The car falls under insurance group 5 and should therefore be cheap to insure.

Older Kia models suffered from poor resale values but newer models, including the Rio, are much better cars and residual values ought to be above average.