Kia Rio 2 1.25 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The suspension is generally quite soft, and will be comfortable over all but the largest bumps and potholes. The grip and stability when driving are certainly welcome and help the driver to know what is happening, but the heavy steering is a little unresponsive and does mean it isn't as fun to drive as some other competitors. The cabin is very quiet even when revving the engine, and on the whole the Rio is a pleasant car to drive.

In terms of the performance of the 1.25 litre engine, this has been designed to deliver fuel economy over outright speed and acceleration, and this is especially visible in the sluggish acceleration from 0-62mph which takes 12.6 seconds. The top speed of 107mph will be fine for most people likely to use the Rio, with urban and suburban driving being much better than the performance on the motorway.

The design of the Rio will not be to everyone's taste, and it is a lot rounder than some smaller vehicles. The odd shape to the grille and the protruding foglights do give an unusual aspect to the front end. Towards the rear, the back end of the Rio is very tidy, and the flat boot door is reminiscent of the Seat Leon. The interior is largely what would be expected from a budget car of this size, but the dials on the dashboard are nice and colourful.

It is good to see that the alloy wheels are included as standard with this version of the Rio, as it does improve the overall appearance of the car significantly. This Rio is also supplied with power folding mirrors, adjustable steering wheel and air conditioning as standard. There is also Bluetooth connectivity for those who want to connect their mobile phone.

When the Rio is compared with a supermini such as the Picanto, the space in the rear of the car does mean that the Rio is much closer to being a practical family car, although the limited headroom is still a problem. The centre armrest for the driver does go back a fair way, so carrying five people in the car could be quite uncomfortable. The saloon style boot also means that luggage space is not fantastic.

In terms of the safety of the Rio, it has been awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP safety test, and was given a high score of 92% for adult safety. The usual range of six airbags are to be found in the Rio, and it also benefits from driving aids such as ESP, ABS and traction control that will help to keep the car on the road. As with all cars in the Kia range, their confidence in the reliability sees the Rio supplied with an extensive warranty.

The list price for this version of the Kia Rio is £12,495, and although there are concessions that can be made to reduce the price, it is still quite competitive. There are cheaper vehicles available, but the Rio does deliver an attractive package for any driver looking for a small new car.

The 1.25 litre engine is quite fuel efficient, and is able to deliver an average 55.4mpg which is quite good for a petrol engine. The insurance group is particularly low, and the good resale values add to the attractiveness of the Rio. The icing on the cake is the impressive seven year 100,000 mile warranty, and it is also supplied with a year's roadside breakdown cover.