SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Midranger: 2021 Kia Rio 1.4 LX automatic

Simple appointments

Pics by Motorpress
Posted: May 26, 2021

The numbers
Price: R323 995
Engine: 1396 cc, DOHC with CVVT, 16-valve, inline four-cylinder, naturally aspirated
Power: 73 kW at 6000 rpm
Torque: 135 Nm at 4200 rpm
Revs at 120 km/h in top gear: About 2800
0-100 km/h: 12.9 seconds (auto)
Top speed: 176 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 7.3 l/100 km
Airbags: Two
Tank: 45 litres
Luggage: 325-980 litres
Ground clearance: 140 mm
Turning circle: 10.2 metres
Standard tyre size: 185/65R15
Towing capacity, unbraked and braked: 450/800 kg (auto)
Warranty: 5 years, unlimited km with roadside assistance
Service plan: 4 years, 60 000 km (NB: 2 years, 30 000 km on 1.2 LS)

Mid-life refresh brings:
•    minor face changes,
•    new features,
•    two new budget models.

The December 2020 update gave the entry-level LS grade the options of a 1400 cc engine and choice between six-speed manual- and automatic transmissions. Also included are 15” alloy wheels, automatic light control and an eight-inch infotainment system with six speakers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It replaces the seven-inch outfit fitted to higher grades previously.  

Buyers now have nine choices; three LS, two LX, two EX and a pair of TEC halo models.

LXs gained folding ability and indicator repeaters for the side mirrors, electronic stability control, hill starting assistance, front fog lamps to pair with those at the back and its SuperVision cluster grew from 3.5 inches to 4.2 inches.

EX models now have projector headlamps, LED daytime running lights, 17” alloy wheels, rear parking assistance and a camera with guidelines.

But should you absolutely have to have automatic air conditioning, rain-sensing wipers, LED tail lights, cruise control, self-dipping interior mirror, alloy pedals and leather, you’ll need to spring for one of the TEC versions that also provide side- and curtain airbags.
Our test rig was an LX automatic, placing it in the middle of the menu of choices.

Doing without parking beepers and camera wasn’t quite the hardship one might expect. At a touch over four metres long, offering a compact turning circle and with decently sized windows, the car remained easy to manoeuvre.

Basically, smaller is sometimes better; manual aircon does the job just as well; cruise control isn’t really the “necessity” some make it out to be; it’s easy enough to flick the rearview mirror onto “dip” and leave it there for night driving; fancy pedals and tail lights are just gadgets and leather upholstery is, often, either cold or hot and sticky. That unspent 25-to-38 grand suddenly sounds good.

The autobox worked well provided I didn’t stress it too much. Sudden harsh inputs induced flare and excessive noise, but it's apparently a "clever" box that studies your driving style and adapts its responses accordingly. That's fine, provided you never have to shift personality from laid-back to urgent in a hurry.

Can you live with it? The loading lip is at about 72 cm and the boot is 21 cm deep, so placing and removing cargo shouldn’t be too difficult. Its depth is partly thanks to the spare being a Spacesaver, rather than the full-size mentioned in the brochure, so folding the 60:40-split seatback leaves a noticeable step. While you’re doing that, you might notice the top tether points for the ISOFix baby chair mountings.

Those using the back seat should find headroom quite adequate although tall riders could be short of knee space. There are three head restraints, two full belts and a lap strap, almost no “transmission” hump, one map pocket, very small door bins, a second courtesy light and a USB point on the back of the console.

Pilot space appointments are simple; a foldout key on the electronic fob, a generous armrest box, two cupholders, a bi-level stash tray for phones and such, a 12-volt socket, one USB point, medium sized cubby if you can find alternative storage for the car’s books and fair door bins. The old-fashioned hand brake is placed for RHD and has a firm and progressive action. Space and comfort are good. HVAC controls and seat adjusters are fully manual and both visors have mirrors with lights.

What did I think of it? Top-of-range luxury is always nice but you don’t really need it. This midrange LX proved that.

Test unit from Kia Motors SA press fleet

We drove a TEC automatic in 2019




What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

Comments or questions?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you completely disagree with what I say? If you want advice or have a genuine concern, I will be happy to hear from you. All I ask is that you write something in the subject line so I know which vehicle you're talking about.