JULY 26 - AUGUST 1 | 2019
Ŷ STYLE TWEAKS: Kia Rio GT-Line is a neat little semiperformance machine.
2019 Kia Rio GT-Line By ALISTAIR KENNEDY The new GT-Line was the big news from the upgrade and is our review model here. STYLING All Rio models get a wider and narrower version of the Kia ‘tiger-nose’ grille that to our eyes further enhances the little hatch’s already attractive appearance. Rio comes with a choice of six colours. Our test GT-Line came in Mighty Yellow with black mirror caps and black details in the sills and around the rear lights. It sits on 17-inch alloy wheels. The name seemed to work because it certainly attracted a mighty number of admir-
ing looks, especially in the carpark of our local soccer field with its perfect match to the club’s yellow and black colours. The GT-Line comes with a body kit that includes an enhanced radiator grille, rear diffuser, twin exhaust, rear spoiler, solar glass on the windscreen and front windows, and privacy glass on the rear doors and tailgate. The S and Sport models get 15- and 16inch alloys. All three have a space-saver spare wheel/tyre. INTERIOR Kia interiors are invariably neat and functional with most things in the right place. Rio’s cabin is stylish and quite sophisticated for such a small car, with an instrument cluster
and colour LCD screen that blend in nicely. The GT-Line adds leather trim on the steering wheel and gear shifter; a carbon-fibre look dash fascia; enhanced instrument cluster; flat-bottomed sports steering wheel; alloy sports pedals. Taller drivers will be pleased to hear that there’s no sunroof option and this together with low-set seats means there’s plenty of head room. Rear legroom is reasonable providing the front occupants don’t demand maximum space. There are drink holders in every door with the front ones able to accommodate 1.5-litre bottles.
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KIA Rio is a small five-door hatch that’s been around since the start of the millennium and has been slugging it out with some of the big hitters in what is one of the most hard-fought sales segments in Australia, sub$25,000 small cars. The latest, fourth-generation, version of the Rio first arrived here in January 2017 and received a major upgrade in November 2018 with styling tweaks and updated drivetrains including an all-new turbo-petrol engine. Three models are offered, Rio S and Sport come with a 1.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine mated to either manual or automatic transmission and the all-new 1.0-litre threecylinder turbo-petrol GT-Line with a sevenspeed dual-clutch auto.
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