- sedan 133,412
- Porter, TX
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- autoshopper.com
- sedan 133,412 gasoline blue automatic
2001 kia rio review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The answer to an important question. introductionit has been a while since we've seen fractured english from japanese manufacturers, who've learned to hire native english speakers to prepare their english-language press materials. Yet when the 2001 kia rio was introduced to the world press in korea, they were provided with literature which said, 'when we state subcompact car, people ask, 'what's the real of it?' chuckles from this and other strained construction aside, we should remember that jangled translations never stopped americans from buying japanese cars, nor will it deter americans from buying kias from korea if the product is good. That, combined with the kia's confident five year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty, will make the rio a tempting alternative to a used car. lineupthe rio is the low price anchor of a rapidly growing kia lineup that includes the sephia compact sedan, the sportage mini-ute, the new spectra 5-door hatchback and a v6-powered sedan called the optima coming during 2001 plus a full-size minivan that will join the lineup during the 2002 model year. As such, the rio will be offered as one model only but with an upgrade package and several standalone options. The rio costs less than hyundai's subcompact, the accent, which for 2000 had a base price of $8,999. the rio's $380 upgrade package includes power steering, tilt wheel, full wheel covers, dual covered vanity mirrors and body-color side moldings. Options are limited, as kia wants to keep the rio as strictly an entry-level car and keep it priced that way. a uniquely styled hatchback, with a roofline that somewhat resembles a mini saab wagon, is available in other markets, but not immediately in the north america. The hood is smooth and wraps down to meet the front fenders and the large one-piece plastic bumper cover that sweeps back to the front wheel openings, sculpted to include a lower radiator opening and a pair of 'brake cooling scoops.' the sides are simple as well, curving out at the shoulder line and adorned only by a beltline molding that connects the front and rear bumper lines. The roofline is arched from a-pillar to c-pillar, the highest point at the b-pillar, accentuated by the black-out trim around the side windows. The door handles are bodycolor, but the black outside rear-view mirrors are a jarring note. The rear has a one-piece bumper cap that, like the front, reaches to the wheel opening. The trunklid is high, but is cut down to the rear bumper for an easy liftover into the trunk. Standard equipment is a 13-inch steel rim that is a half-inch narrower and fitted with 70-series tire. We recommend the optional alloys and for more than the aesthetic appeal of fancy wheels. With less than 2300 lbs of rio to haul about, that promises lively performance. interiorthe kia's interior is straightforward, with no surprises or fancy features. Instrumentation is limited to a speedometer, fuel and temperature gauge set into a panel that elbows down into a center console with the audio and ventilation controls. The audio controls are large and easy to use, and the ventilation controls are the don't-read-the-manual-type rotary dials with a fresh air-recirc lever. It's all very japanese looking, actually. but forget power windows, locks and mirrors. In keeping with its low-price mission, the rio doesn't even get these as options. The mirrors don't even have remote adjustment. The seats, however, are full cloth and there are matching cloth inserts in the door panels. The handbrake is located on the console between the seats. Three-point belts are provided for outboard passengers only, however, with a lap belt in the center. There are dual depowered airbags up front and the front shoulder belts are height adjustable. driving impressionwe thought, with the generous power-to-weight ratio of the rio, that it should be a performer and at least by economy car standards it is. Even at that speed engine and wind noise didn't prevent conversation and the rio felt stable and secure, despite its shortish wheelbase. The engine only gets loud when pushed to higher revs and even then it's more earnest than strained. The manual was somewhat notchy but sufficiently precise in operation, the clutch light. The automatic’s shifts were smooth enough and it doesn’t seem to sap much power. There is a slight fuel economy penalty for the automatic. The epa rates the rio at 27/32 mpg with the manual transmission, 25/31 with the automatic. as light and tall as it is, the rio might seem susceptible to side winds. Unfortunately, it was calm when we drove the rio, so we weren't able to test that hypothesis. Response to steering input was quick, but lane change maneuvers didn't upset the rio and cornering, as one would expect for this class of car, was a safe and predictable understeer. The rio listed to the outside but not severely. It's not a miata or even a hyundai tiburon and isn't trying to be. The power assisted rack-and-pinion steering wasn't overboosted, however, providing plenty of feedback so the driver knows how hard the front tires are working. the rio's turning circle is a mere 30. 8 feet and that's tight, folks, making the rio, with its spunky engine and short overall length, it will squirt in and out of places bigger cars can only wistfully gaze upon. As an urban warrior, where agility ranks higher than overall might, the rio should reign supreme. summarythe kia rio is neither sports car nor luxury ride, but then it isn't intended to be. It's supposed to be an efficient and reliable car for not a lot of money. Which brings up another issue: kia was rated lowest of all makes in the most recent j. Power initial quality survey. That's no secret from kia, and no less than president of kia motors, soo joong kim, has established improved quality as kia's number one priority. Then there's the five-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. It's a great first car, great transportation to the station and a great fuel economy car. And that, folks, is the real of it. model lineuprio 8,595). options as testedair conditioning 750); upgrade package 380) includes power steering, full wheel covers, body-color side molding, tilt wheel, dual visor. Anti-lock Brakes✔ Power Windows✔ AM/FM✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
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