Kia Rio diesel hits 88mpg

Stylish and frugal new-car-news continues to emanate from Korea with Kia taking the fight to the European manufacturers with increasingly attractive auto-designs and, more importantly, ultra-modern engines that puff out minimal amounts of the bad stuff.

Hot on the sports-styled heels of the new 3-door Picanto, with its maximum 67.3mpg, came the sleek and slippery silhouette of a yet-to-be-named 4-door, rear-driving V8-powered sports saloon that’s set to debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show; no doubt making some jaws drop and some palms sweat. 

Now it’s the turn of the all-new, 4th generation Rio to worry the competition, sporting fresh styling and ultra-low emissions; just 85g/km for the 1.1 CRDi, and a whopping 88mpg. Game on!

The new Rio will be offered with four engines – two petrol and two diesel – including a 1.1-litre three-cylinder turbo-diesel with lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than any other non-electric car on sale in the world. Cue ears pricking up.

Fitted with 15-inch wheels and low rolling resistance tyres, and equipped with Intelligent Stop & Go engine technology, a drag-reducing front grille and gearshift indicator, the 74bhp 1100cc oil-burner can hit those enticing economy figures of 88.3mpg and 85g/km of CO2. 

However, even without the Kia EcoDynamics tech, all 1.1-litre diesel versions of the Rio feature sub-100g/km and combined cycle fuel economy of at least 74.3mpg. The bigger, 1.4-litre diesel,
4-cylinder engine develops 89bhp but still pegs economy and emissions figures at 70.6mpg combined and 105g/km of CO2.

For those that like to power-party with petrol there’s a 1.25-litre choice and a 1.4-litre option.
The smaller engine makes 83bhp; the bigger 107bhp and features an optional automatic gearbox. 

Standard trim on the entry-level “1” includes daytime running lights, body-coloured bumpers, door handles and door mirrors, speed-variable front wipers, headlamp levelling, front electric windows, 15-inch steel wheels, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, two-way steering column adjustment on the petrol model (height-adjustable only on the entry-level diesel), a tacho and trip computer, split folding rear seats, a 12-volt power socket and an MP3-compatible RDS radio and CD player with USB and AUX ports. Bluetooth is also standard on the petrol entry model, and on all versions with other trim grades. 

Trim and prices climb from there; Rio 1 kicks off the range at £10,595 on the road, and you get more Rio for your money with a bigger all-round car than its predecessor. Boot space, for example, is seven per cent larger, with 288 litres of capacity with the rear seats in place.

Also relatively new to a Kia dealer near you is Kia’s Care-3 all inclusive servicing package which is now available on the new Rio. The package costs £259 including VAT and covers the first three services - either 36 months or 30,000 miles. There's also the Care-3 Plus package at £499 including VAT which covers the first five services - either 60 months or 50,000 miles. The usual seven-year warranty also applies to the new Rio when it goes on sale September 1st. 

The frugal figures certainly look to be stacking up nicely from Kia, but can the new Kias deliver on the smile factor? Only some wheel-time will tell…


The all-new Kia Rio seen here in 1.4-litre “2” trim








By Daniel Anslow

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