Kia Motors Corporation saw inception back in 1952, however, the company’s history goes all the way back to 1944 when it was manufacturing bicycle parts and steel pipes.
In 1951, the company, then called Kyungsung, decided to go into manufacturing motorcycles and soon changed its name to Kia. Down the timeline, it was manufacturing motorcycles up to 1962 when it ventured into commercial vehicles, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.
There’s just something special about Korea and the auto industry, even big car-makers, have seen it. A perfect example is that of Rolls-Royce Motors having recently set up a design studio in Korea.
Beyond the auto industry, it’s clear that these exploits are just a Korean thing – companies are such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motors and Posco Iron and Steel are taking global centre stage, so it’s only right for Kia to do so too.
Kia is now a subsidiary of Hyundai Motors and looking at what is happening in the group, we are confident to say Kia has repositioned itself for greater heights in the auto industry.
The Kia mantra states: “The power to surprise”, and it never fails to do so. We recently got to confirm this again with the 2019 Kia Rio in Windhoek.
The Rio is classified as a subcompact car and competes against the likes of the Volkswagen Polo, Honda Fit/Jazz, Ford Fiesta and Nissan Versa. Currently in its fourth generation, the Rio has been produced by Kia since 1999 and the current version was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show of 2016.
The Rio was designed at Kia’s California and Germany design centres. At first sight, you can see Kia’s message stating its far from being an underdog; it’s bold and beautiful, thanks to a gaping mouth and large wrapping lamps flanking the glossy black tiger nose grille. It also possesses the charisma of a German hatch, even its theme points there.
The Rio is an evolution of its predecessor and has a body shape which is now more of a conventional hatch than anything else – its predecessor had a very tapered coupe-like rear. Like a typical German hatch, it’s also characterised by simplicity.
On the interior, it’s the same story: Very VW like, some Opel in it as well, and living up to its mantra of surprise. I expected a good quality car, but not a solid premium quality German hatch. The Rio is generally spacious and has a big boot to match; the rear seating is also very good although it can feel a little cramped when the front seats are drawn all the way back, which should be a rare case.
Beyond any doubt, Kia has scaled up even as evidenced by its interior cabin – which is its highlight. Interior features include: Faux leather heated seats (in upper trims), folding side mirrors, intermittent windshield wipers, air conditioning, LED lighting, auto emergency brakes, cruise control and folding back seats, to name a few.
For infotainment, the Rio is packaged with a five-inch infotainment screen, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, audio streaming, USB and auxiliary input and four speakers. Higher in the range, the Rios come with a sat-nav with a larger screen, heated seats, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Under the bonnet, the Rio gets a choice of 1,25-litre with 83 hp and 1,4-litre with 98 hp or a one-litre three cylinder turbo petrol engine. A diesel engine is available too with either 76 or 89 hp.
The 1,4-litre 98 hp is the only engine with an auto transmission, four-speed to be precise. The one-litre turbo seems most appealing to the senses, however, tastes differ across the markets.
Safety is a high selling point and the Rio is loaded: It carries a five-star rating thanks to features such as electronic stability control, hill-start assist control, traction control and a host of airbags including driver, passenger, side and curtain. There is also a host of sensors that come into play for parking and assists.
Finally, it would be an injustice to not mention another perk to the Rio, which is a class-leading seven-year warranty. What could be better than that?
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
