SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.
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*Please remember too, that prices quoted were those ruling on the days I wrote the reports.


The ‘B’ segment heats up as motorists buy down and Kia introduces an upmarket new Rio. We investigate

This is a launch report. In other words, it's simply a new model announcement. The driving experience was limited to a short drive over a prepared course chosen to make the product look good. We can therefore not tell you what it will be like to live with over an extended period, how economical it is, or how reliable it will be. A very brief first impression is all we can give you until such time as we get an actual test unit for trial. Thank you for your patience.


Pics supplied

Published in The Witness Motoring on Wednesday November 23, 2011

Upmarket features for a broader audience

“Our focus is on quality, not quantity,” said Ray Levin, managing director of Kia Motors SA at the press launch of its new ‘B’ segment Rio range in Gauteng recently.

“We obviously want to grow the business,” he continued, “but our customers come first, so we will not pursue major fleet orders for example, if that could mean withholding stock from dealers.”
In line with the emphasis on quality goes a revamp of the brand image with major upgrades taking place at dealerships, a common “red cube” corporate face for buildings, an improved parts centre, a new training facility and additional outlets.

In 2009 ‘B’ segment models accounted for 31 percent of the new car market. Two years later that figure climbed to 38 percent and as fuel prices spiral, yet more buyers will choose smaller, more economical cars. Smaller does not necessarily mean cheap, however. Discerning motorists still demand certain standards of safety, refinement and levels of standard equipment, and Kia is ready to fulfil those demands.

Levin continued: “Today Kia has a relatively low profile in the B-segment.  Now with new Rio, we are set to attract a host of new customers to Kia showrooms and it will appeal to a much wider demographic than before. The new Rio offers feature levels only seen from the C-segment upwards”. Offered initially as a five-door hatchback, it will also be available in sedan form early in 2012.

This fourth generation Kia Rio is slightly bigger than its predecessor, giving more passenger space, but it is also stronger, quieter, more refined and better equipped, while weighing only slightly more despite added safety- and convenience kit.

For example, the 1,2-litre base model may have steel wheels, but it starts the ball rolling with a heated rear window with wash-and-wipe, electric power steering, a height- and reach adjustable steering wheel, electrically adjustable wing mirrors, powered windows front and rear, outside temperature display, a trip computer, air conditioner with heating and ventilation ducts to the back seat, and a shift indicator for the five-speed manual gearbox.

Its four-speaker radio and CD player is MP3-compatible and has USB and auxiliary inputs, Bluetooth connectivity and satellite controls on the steering wheel. Seats are covered in woven black cloth and the driver’s chair adjusts for height. A lighted vanity mirror on each sun visor, a digital clock and a good selection of storage boxes and bins are provided for convenience. We haven’t finished yet; two airbags, childproof rear door locks, keyless entry, central locking, an alarm and immobiliser, ABS with EBD and a full-sized spare complete the picture.

Fourteen hundreds gain 15” alloy wheels, front fog lamps, a six-speed gearbox, powered folding mirrors, automatic lights with ‘welcome’ and ‘follow me home’ functions, leather covering for steering wheel and gear knob, repeater lamps in the outside mirrors, two more speakers and an upgraded instrument cluster.

At the top of the range, 1,4 TEC models are given 17” alloy wheels, UV-protection Solar windscreen glass, LED tail lights and front running lights, projection-type headlamps, a cooling vent in the glove box, climate control, automatic wipers, rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, four more airbags and alloy pedals. Optional at this trim level only, is a powered sunroof and a four-speed automatic gearbox.

Power for the 1,2-litre car is provided by the familiar 1248 cc DOHC Kappa CVVT engine that develops 65 kW and 120 Nm of torque, while the 1396 cc Gamma motor in the larger-engined cars has been uprated to produce 79 kW and 135 Nm. Carbon dioxide ratings range from 129 gm/km for the 1,2 with manual ‘box to 165 gm/km for the 1400 automatic. Average fuel consumption figures are given as 5,4 l/100 to 7,0 l/100 km for the same combinations.

Familiarisation time was limited because it was a partners-invited launch and a lot of other stuff was going on, but we took some quality time in a 1400 TEC with four-speed automatic to do a leisurely hundred km or so. The new Rio is solid, well fitted and finished and provides a comfortable and reassuring ride. Almost R180 000 for a 1400 automatic might seem a little steep at first, but when you see what’s included, it’s probably priced about right.

The numbers

Prices:
1,2 manual          R136 995
1,4 manual          R154 995
1,4 auto              R164 995
1,4 TEC man        R168 995
1,4 TEC auto        R178 995

Engines:
1,2 – 1248 cc, four-cylinder, petrol
Power: 65 kW at 6000 rpm
Torque: 120 Nm at 4000 rpm
1,4 – 1396 cc, four-cylinder, petrol
Power: 79 kW at 6300 rpm
Torque: 135 Nm at 4200 rpm

Fuel economy and CO2 ratings: See text
Warranty: 5 years/100 000 km with 3 years’ roadside assistance
Service plan: 4 years/60 000 km

For a review of the 1.4 litre version, click here



What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.

What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

My articles appear every Wednesday in the motoring pages of The Witness, South Africa's oldest continuously running newspaper, and occasionally on Saturdays in Weekend Witness as well. I drive eight to ten vehicles most months of the year (press cars are withdrawn over the festive season - wonder why?) so not everything gets published in the paper. Those that are, get a tagline but the rest is virgin, unpublished and unedited by the political-correctness police. Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so I do actually exist.

I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the central hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and go to kick back and relax.
So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!

Comments?
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