Kia’s Rio fits between the Korean brand’s tiny Picanto and strong-selling Cerato, rivalling the Hyundai Accent, Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris.
Headlining the Rio range is the new GT-Line, eschewing its stablemates’ tepid 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine for a punchier 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo. It is aimed at younger buyers seeking some flair.
Our testers sample this $22,990 drive-away five-door hatch in far-from-subtle Mighty Yellow paintwork.
Iain: Ready to relive your teenage revhead days?
Jules: A bright yellow mini hot hatch! Are we going to Macca’s carpark for some rolling burnouts?
Iain: Don’t get your hopes up. This Kia Rio GT-Line won’t trouble Nissan Skyline GT-Rs at the traffic lights. It may look hot but it struggles to crack 100km/h in 10 seconds.
Jules: Well, this canary looks brilliantly sporty. Body kit, LED lights, gloss front grille, twin exhausts and very cool 17-inch alloys. If you like being noticed, the yellow paint is a standout.
Iain: It’s as if Kia’s modified a Rio for you. At $22,990 drive away, with excellent seven-year warranty, turbo engine and “look at me” styling, it’s a pretty compelling first car. Read More
