Many, probably with the same sinking heart, as I waited for the new Kia Rio to arrive in Kirov. The fact that the car was expected and desired, says at least the fact that 2-3 days after its official presentation at dealerships, the new "Kia Rio" sold out. Even a couple of snow-white sedans appeared in the yard of my house, which annoyed my eyes every morning. Well, I think we should take it. For the test, of course.

The appearance of the new sedan was not appreciated only by the lazy, so I will not focus on the shell. I'll just say that the rear optics are class. Here, as with the radiator grill, which is not even a grill at all, there is continuity to the family generation. Yes, yes, I will also point out about it, because Kia for the first time on it worked this story with a red stripe through the trunk lid, borrowing this idea from Japanese designers of the 90s. As for the grille, there is already a uniform resemblance to the entire Kia family. Rio, in my opinion, is the last one who knocked out of the pack with its chrome angular drawbar.

Everything inside is now also new: dashboard, multimedia, air conditioning, materials - all this is already different, incomparable with the previous generation. Like? Very. Much more than . In the new Rio, the multimedia installation is inscribed in the dashboard decor as its component, and not something isolated. The climate control also has no bright boundaries, which is very annoying in Solaris. Silver plastic is also not used here, moreover, the central tunnel, the climate control unit are rubberized soft plastic. Very pleasant to the touch.

True, it was not without gloss. In general, if you look at the interior of the new Rio, you can see that the designers have played with materials well: the top of the dashboard is matte plastic, the bottom is cheap Zhiguli, in the door cards it is, plus soft plastic and gloss around the multimedia installation. There are also plastic, a la lacquered stained wood, inserts on the doors and on the dashboard - decor.

The steering column has received adjustments in height and reach, and the seat can be pushed back so far that your feet cannot reach the pedals. In general, in terms of adapting the driver's seat for drivers, it turned out to be universal, for any driver.

True, with the back row, everything is not so rosy. The space is objectively insufficient. I tried to sit behind me and rested against the back of the front seat. And he rested thoroughly. There are no amenities on the couch. What can I say if there is no armrest, no sockets, no air ducts. In general, the same story as on Solaris: power windows and heated 2 seats. But it seemed to me less space than in the last one.

In general, if you look at Solaris and Rio, then two branches of development and imitation are actively seen. Hyundai is more committed to Japanese design and concepts on the inside, while Kia is more committed to European, as indicated by the button illumination and interior architecture.

Despite the fact that the engine and transmission of the Korean twins are the same, the cars ride in a peculiar way. Kia is more reserved, calm and sluggish. The gas pedal here is less sensitive to pressing and has a much greater free travel. This feature should be taken into account when accelerating or overtaking.

The brakes in the sedan are sharp, as, indeed, on all Kia. Unaccustomed to at low speed, you can touch the steering wheel with your face, so you need to dose the effort consciously.

During the test drive, I had to drive not only on asphalt, but also on a gravel road. What's the point in driving on flat roads? Although the car was shaking on the gravel, it was felt that the suspension was trying to reduce body vibrations. It is impossible to completely avoid them, as, for example, on massive crossovers, on the Rio, and the reason here is not so much in the budget of the car, but in its mass and suspension settings. If you make it even softer, then in turns at speed the car will roll strongly, and on the road, when passing the same "sun beds", the racks will trigger a breakdown. Therefore, the designers tried to find a middle ground. At Solaris, by the way, the suspension works harder on small irregularities, and all the vibration is given to the body, since it processes them together with the trolley.

It seems to me that any person who buys a car, when choosing, relies not only on direct sensations (how he drives, how much space, and so on). It is important, being in the car, to understand that this is your car, that you are comfortable in it. So, I can't say that while driving a Kia I got any sensations that would tell me “I need to take”.

Despite the excellent interior solutions in terms of the combination of materials, the sophisticated exterior, the abundance of electronic options (heated steering wheel, rear view camera, heated windshield and tire pressure sensor), Rio personally seemed to me like a car that will be bought by a person who just needs a car, like a means of transportation, not as a source of pleasure.

Today, few people in Russia remember the first generation Kia Rio (factory code DC), which was launched in 2000. As a matter of fact, if this sedan stood out in some way among its classmates, then perhaps at a low price.

The rise in popularity of the model on the Russian market began in 2005, when the second generation of the model with the factory code JB appeared. In 2009, the car slightly updated its appearance, receiving the "tiger nose" invented by Peter Schreier, new steering wheel, front and rear bumpers and a spoiler in a luxury configuration. But, perhaps, the main reason for the rush of demand for this car was the five-year warranty offered for the first time.

In 2011, the third generation was born, the Rio QB. This car was originally conceived as a global vehicle, with special versions targeting the American and European markets as well as China. Here, based on the Chinese version, a modification for Russia was developed, the assembly of which was launched at a plant in St. Petersburg on August 15, 2011. Two body options (sedan and hatchback), two engines (107 and 123 hp), a whole range of convenient configurations and the same five-year warranty - these are the components of success that allowed Rio to immediately become one of the most popular and mass models, and then and become the absolute leader in the number of cars sold. Nevertheless, in modern conditions, six years is a considerable age, so the need for replacement was in the air.

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A piece for four boomerangs

And here it is, the next generation with the FB code. It is built on a new modular platform that potentially allows a significant expansion of the range of engines. The platform is universal, modular, the new Picanto and the European crossover Kia Stonic are built on it. As usual, with the change of generations, the car has added in size, very close in size to the next segment. The length has grown by 23, the width by 40, and the wheelbase by 30 mm. Naturally, this means that the interior has become noticeably more spacious.

Externally, Rio has definitely become more interesting. I would not call the appearance of the novelty aggressive, but rather energetic. Of the striking exterior details, I would note the narrow radiator grille, visually forming a single horizontal line with the headlights, and the LED running lights, fog lights and brake cooling air intakes, combined into a single unit in the form of a boomerang.

These boomerangs are echoed by reflectors of the same shape and located on the rear bumper. I liked the aggressive ribs on the edges of the hood, which are visible from the driver's seat and from which you can evaluate how the trajectory of the wheels will go, and the wedge-shaped stamping on the sidewalls.

The only thing that gives rise to criticism is the large, slightly convex and completely empty surface of the rear of the trunk lid. When you follow the new Rio along the road, at first it seems to you that its driver has lost his number ...

The magic of the horizontal

In the cabin, the main dominant feature was the horizontal metal molding running from side to side and clearly dividing the front panel into the upper part, with ventilation system deflectors and a combination of devices, and the lower one, with a media system and a climate control unit.

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At the presentation of the car, representatives of the company proudly declared "the best salon in the class". Best or not best is hard to say. In fact, it seems to me that the cabin still lacks some sporty and youthful notes, although if we compare it with the interior design of the main relative and competitor, Hyundai Solaris, the interior really looks somewhat more interesting.

Firstly, because of this very horizontal dominant, the salon seems wider than it really is. Secondly, a special charm is given by the round protruding steering wheel hub (by the way, it was also invented by Peter Schreier at one time) and the "yacht" design of the automatic transmission selector lever. Thirdly, there is a regular box-armrest, and its longitudinal position can be adjusted.

Finally, for the top versions, a leather interior is offered (although such a proposal works more for solidity than for a youth image), but for the younger trim levels, in my opinion, it would be possible to "add a carnival" - well, at least due to bright color inserts into fabric upholstery.

Ready for the Russian winter!

It is the brand Kia was the first to equip low-end cars with an option such as a heated steering wheel. Naturally,she is present and in the new Rio. But the heated steering wheel and front row seats did not stop there. The rear sofa is also equipped with electric"Heating pads", and, perhaps, this offer can be called unique for the B + segment.

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Besides, the side mirrors, windshield and washer nozzles are equipped with heating elements. And the volume of the washer reservoir has been increased from 4 to 4.6 liters. Indeed, these 600 "cubes" may not be enough to get home on a slushy winter road without stopping at the side of the road to add fluid to the tank. On the other hand, there is such a moment: an expensive "non-freeze" is sold in 4-liter bottles, but a budget one - 5. Which one will be chosen by the owners of such a relatively inexpensive car like Rio is not even worth discussing, and 5 liters in the tank still does not fit. You will have to put a practically empty can in the trunk, and the trunk has its own oddities.

Sim sim open up!

Average fuel consumption

6.0 (6.6) liters per 100 km

The fact is that the trunk of the new Rio is equipped with an electronic lock. You can open it either by pressing a button on the key fob, or using a lever located on the floor near the driver's door. The top versions sport an intelligent boot release system. It works like this: you approach a locked car with a key in your pocket (of course, from behind) and stand with a mute reproach for three seconds.

The car recognizes the key, realizes that the owner has come, and without any "magic pendel" from his side opens the trunk, and powerful springs immediately raise the lid to a sufficient height. The system really works (we checked) and is really convenient if you leave the supermarket with a bunch of bags in your hands.

But, as I said, not all configurations are equipped with such a system - this time. And if you needed to take something from the luggage compartment, and you left the already open car, leaving the key-fob in the cabin, forgetting to pull the same lever at the threshold, the trunk will not open, and you will have to return to the driver's door - that's two. Because the trunk simply does not have any external button ... It's a pity.

What's under the hood?

So far, the range of power units includes two engines already familiar from the new Hyundai Solaris.This is the new Kappa 1.4 MPI engine with a Dual-CVVT system, a volume of 1,368 cc. cm and a power of 100 hp, and a seriously modified Gamma 1.6 MPI engine with a volume of 1591 cc. see It develops 123 hp. and is capable of delivering 156 Nm of torque, reaching a peak at 6,300 rpm.

Of course, such traction can not be called "locomotive", but Kia engineers seriously tinkered with the settings, increasing the torque in the range from 1,500 to 2,500 rpm by 7-10%. All cars presented on the test were equipped with just such an engine with two transmission options, a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic, so all my comments regarding the dynamics and general behavior of the car on the road refer only to this engine.

Integration problems

The Rio has two options for the media system. The first, with a monochrome display, is equipped with the "junior" configurations Classic, Comfort, Luxe and Prestige, and only the Prestige is equipped with a Bluetooth module for connecting a phone in hands-free mode. Well, since only automatic transmission is provided for Prestige, it turns out that numerous owners of cars on the "handle" will have to either buy a separate speakerphone, or break the law, and at the same time risk the safety of their own and other road users.

But at the service of buyers of the top-end Premium version is a new AVN 5.0 media system with a 7-inch monitor, a rear-view camera, navigation with the ability to receive information about traffic jams and integrate with smartphones via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems. Alas, I still cannot call such integration complete. The system provides access to certain smartphone resources - in particular, to music tracks and incoming text messages. But you won't be able to use the many installed applications.

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For example, turned on Android Auto - please use the navigation capabilities Google Maps, and this package, in principle, is not capable of working offline.No other navigation services, for example, the popular Yandex Navigator, are available to you. That is, they are available, but only directly on the smartphone screen. In this regard, the approach offered by the company seems to me much more universal and promising.

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Just add sound

The entire first day of the test drive, which started on Krestovsky Island in St. Petersburg and passed along the roads of the Leningrad Region, I spent behind the wheel of a Lux cmechanical box. First of all, I note that I easily found a comfortable position for myself, although I have quite specific preferences: I like to sit as high as possible and with a fairly vertical back. But even with the maximum rise of the seat, I did not have to move it all the way back, and the steering column, adjustable not only in angle, but also in reach, made it possible to find a position in which it was comfortable for both hands, and the dashboard did not cover anything.

The fact that the car turned out to be really very energetic, I realized right away when, when trying to quickly start from a traffic light, the engine roared and turned the wheels on dry asphalt. Well, on the track, I fully appreciated the efforts of the engineers to increase the torque at relatively low and medium revs: the Rio confidently accelerated in fifth and even sixth gear from a speed of 50-60 km / h.

Naturally, for overtaking, it was necessary to switch down, but this did not cause any difficulties: the lever strokes were small, the selectivity was high, there was no need to reach for higher gears, and the shifts themselves could be carried out with short wrist movements. The engine is very responsive and spins willingly up to 5-6 thousand rpm, but even in the "economical" zone it does not turn into a full plant. At the same time, at idle, the engine is not audible at all, but in the “slipper to the floor” mode, the sound fills the interior, adding adrenaline to the blood.

In general, subjectively, Rio with both "mechanics" and "automatic" is perceived as a very dynamic car. Of course, this is not a sports car, and it should be borne in mind that 10.3 (for the version with a manual transmission) or 11.2 (for an automatic transmission) seconds to "hundred" is far from the same as 5-6 seconds, which demonstrate powerful "hot hatchbacks". But this figure in itself for the B + segment is very good: in any case, both the Skoda Rapid and the VW Polo sedan with a 1.6-liter engine accelerate a little slower.

The attempt is valid!

Luggage compartment volume

In the past, the suspension and steering of the Kia Rio have given rise to a lot of criticism, especially from active drivers. Naturally, the developers of the next generation Riocould not leave these aspects without your attention. They never left. Firstly, an electric amplifier was registered on the steering rack, replacing the hydraulics-based unit. The EUR, of course, is a more flexible device, and, in principle, it can provide higher control accuracy, but only if the settings are correct.

So, the developers coped with this task exactly: the sensitivity in the near-zero zone is quite high, the force transmitted to the steering wheel allows you to very accurately dose the steering angle. It also affects the fact that the geometry of the front suspension has been completely redesigned, and the castor (the angle of the caster of the car's wheel axis) has been increased from 4.1 to 4.6 degrees. The force that tends to return the wheel to its initial position when the wheel deviates from straight motion depends on this indicator.

The stability and stability of the car's behavior both on a straight line and in corners is determined by the whole complex, which includes steering and suspension, both front and rear. Here we also see very big changes. If the Rio QBthe struts of the rear shock absorbers were located at an angle of 25 degrees to the vertical, then in the new generation they stood almost vertically, with an angle of only 8.4 degrees, and this immediately had an effect. Both the Rio and the previous generation Solaris suffered from rear axle rearrangement on bumps.

I cannot say that the car has completely got rid of this ailment, but the scale of its manifestation has decreased radically. On a straight line, the car is generally stable, like a flying crowbar, and even on a very uneven road does not require active steering. If the unevenness turns out to be on the trajectory of an energetic turn, then the rear axle still rearranges, but the change in trajectory is easily parried due to the accuracy of the steering.

It is worth noting that the suspension of the closest relative and main competitor of Rio, Hyundai Solaris, was modified in about the same way, but it seemed to me that the Kia engineers coped with the task of fine tuning a little better, and I would like to note the successfully found balance between stiffness, which makes it possible active taxiing, and comfort, including on bad asphalt with bumps and pits.

And I immediately remembered how noisy the new Solaris seemed to me. Maybe it's all about the tires (we tested the car in the winter, and it was shod in winter tires, which naturally makes much more noise), or maybe the Hyundai designers decided to save money on noise insulation ... One way or another, the fact remains: noise in the Rio cabin, of course, it is present, but in general it does not bother.

Submachine gunners, attack!

Statistics, as you know, knows everything, and recent studies irrefutably show that the popularity of automatic transmissions in Russia is steadily growing. This growth in popularity has also affected the budget segments, where until recently the "mechanics" single-handedly ruled the ball.

The policy of different brands on the issue of "automation" is very different: some rely on robotic gearboxes with dual clutch, others on continuously variable transmissions. But Kia

In a quiet driving mode (namely, it is still the main one for the cars of the segment), switching is practically not felt, and delays during kickdown do not go beyond acceptable limits. Well, if you have some critical overtaking (say, you see that after a few hundred meters you will enter the zone of action of a prohibiting sign), then it is enough to pull the selector to the left, and then towards yourself, putting the gearbox into manual mode and shifting down a couple of gears ... As soon as the car "fires", you can return the lever to its original position and finish the maneuver already in the "automatic" mode.

Summing up, I can say that I liked the car, and I liked the whole range of parameters, from the length of the seat cushions and the ease of landing to the control features. As for individual shortcomings, such as the lack of hands-free with a phone connection via the Harald Blue Tooth protocol in lower trim levels or an external trunk lock - who doesn't have such shortcomings? Moreover, they are perceived as trifles that cannot spoil the overall impression.

Who said that the use of common platforms when creating cars of different brands is "evil": the cars, they say, become similar to each other? Going to the test Kia Rio new generation, I also did not expect any surprises from this Korean sedan: they say, the same "Solaris", only with a different body. In fact, it turned out that to be and to seem are, as they say in Odessa, two big differences ...

But looking at the dry figures of the technical characteristics of the new Rio, you cannot say that.

In terms of the dimensions and length of the wheelbase, engines and gearboxes, as well as the design of the chassis, they are twin brothers with the new Solaris. It seems that only outwardly, cars tend to hide their relationship.

However, on the inside, the new Kia Rio demonstrates not just identity, but rather a different, more European, approach to both design and organization of interior space.

Stylistically, the front panel would do honor to another car in a class or even two higher. The plastic on the dashboard, although hard, is quite pleasant both in appearance and in the touch. The interior is noticeably ennobled by inserts with a piano lacquer finish in the top-end configuration.

It is difficult to make any serious complaints about the new Rio when it comes to ergonomics. The adjustment ranges for the seat and steering wheel are such that both a tall driver and those who do not differ in grenadier growth will find a comfortable fit for themselves.

Neither the location of the keys and rotating handles that “manage” the main functions, nor the build quality of these parts raise any questions either: well-adjusted efforts, no backlash whatsoever. Rio's equipment has gotten richer over the generations. According to Kia representatives, the approach to the formation of trim levels (especially top-end ones) was as follows: if some equipment is in demand among customers, it should be available for the new Rio.

New options include a 7-inch screen multimedia system, which is now compatible withiOS andAndroid, displaying traffic jams in online navigation mode, leather seat upholstery (!), sliding armrest box and cornering light function with a special lamp.

The rear seats of the new Rio do not deprive their occupants of space, but they do not amaze the imagination either. "By myself" with a height of 193 cm, I squeezed in with difficulty, although behind the driver of average height I felt quite at ease. Is that the roof "pressed" on the top of the head. The trunk of the new Rio is exactly like that of Solaris: both in terms of the nominal volume (480 liters) and geometry. Visually, the cargo compartment of the car gives the impression of being "clamped" in height, but it should be noted that a full-size spare wheel is hidden underground, and this is a definite plus in our conditions.

With an engine of 1.6 liters, 123 hp. from. (there were no cars with a 1.4-liter engine on the test), in motion the new Rio behaves exactly like the Solaris: it starts confidently from a place, but for dynamic overtaking on the track it must be actively turned. Moreover, the relationship with the car “on the pedal” is nonlinear: first you turn the engine - then you will get the desired return. The long-travel clutch pedal takes habit: it grabs the clutch quite high, and the moment itself is not easy to feel. But the gear lever is almost perfectly tuned: it moves gently, the steps are switched on clearly. Only in the transverse direction, the lever strokes, for my taste, are too small.

The sixth gear in the Rio manual gearbox is not "economical", but accelerating: at 110 km / h on the tachometer - 2800 rpm. In this case, the car does not require a "fifth" if it is necessary to smoothly accelerate. This, as it turned out, does not greatly affect the economy: in the combined cycle, our Rio 1.6 MT with three adult riders on board consumed an average of 8.4 liters of gasoline per 100 km of run, while a significant part of the test route of the first day fell on the city traffic ...

The design of the chassis on the Rio New is the same as on the new Solaris: McPherson struts are installed in front, a transverse beam is used at the rear. But the specialists from Hyundai and Kia were engaged in adjusting the suspensions on their cars independently of each other. In addition, the engineers applied other front shocks to the Rio. The result was curious.

While Solaris reacts with equal indifference to both minor defects in the pavement and pits half a wheel deep, Rio collects road trifles in too much detail and reacts a little nervously to technological joints on overpasses. But the energy intensity of the suspension with the change of generations has turned from a weak side to a strong side of the Rio: the new car filters large irregularities so confidently that it literally provokes driving in the style of "more speed - fewer holes". And also - it allows you to keep a very decent cruising speed on a dirt road.

The sixth stage does not add acoustic comfort: on a long journey, you want the engine to be quieter. In general, the insulation of the new Rio not bad. At the same time, the front passengers hear the engine more, and the rear passengers hear the noise from the tires.

The handling of the new Rio is also commendable: the car confidently walks in a straight line on highways, does not rest on the entrance to the turn and tenaciously keeps the trajectory on an arc. A well-tuned electric power steering wheel is not too "clamped", and at the same time does not deprive the driver of a sense of control over the car and information about what is happening with the steered wheels.

The top version Premium with "automatic", in addition to the richest equipment, flaunts regular 16-inch rims, which are not available even as an option on the "younger" versions. Representatives of Kia Motors Rus assured us that such a car is perceived on the move more rigid than a sedan with standard 15-inch wheels. However, in practice it turned out that the Rio rides on "16" disks just as comfortably! Moreover: the car has become less susceptible to minor irregularities, but in general it seemed to us more solid and collected.

On a grader with a "washboard" type coating, the Rio Premium flew at 80, 90 and even 100 km / h without any problems and discomfort for riders, without showing any "discontent". And nothing squeaked in the cabin. Well, on the winding "twisted" paths, with which the Vyborgsky district of the Leningrad region abounds, the top Rio finally breathed deeply. It became clear what exactly the specialists from the Russian dealership of Kia meant when they said that they tuned the Rio New with an eye to those who seek to enjoy driving. An unexpectedly confirmed conclusion.

What's the bottom line?

The new Kia Rio is a clear proof that automakers can build two completely distinctive cars on a common platform if they wish. “The Rio audience is, on average, about five years younger than the Solaris audience. And we tried to focus on these people as well, ”says Valery Tarakanov, Marketing Director of Kia Motors Rus, about the new product. How to choose between these two models?

In short, the Koreans will position the Solaris primarily as a family car, while the Rio is addressed to those who value not only practicality, but also driving properties. In general, we must admit that the new Rio has set a very high bar for competitors: we, in general, are accustomed to the fact that budget models of the B + class have both bright advantages and obvious disadvantages. However, there are no visible failures in the main consumer properties of the Rio, all of them are at a consistently high level for the class.

Last time Hyundai Solaris also appeared first - and collected all the bumps: a puncture with a suspension, a victory in the nominations "Most Asian design" and "Blueest illumination" ... Six months later we were offered a pro-European Kia Rio - with a discreet design and tolerably working suspension , and as a result, it was Rio that became the bestseller of the last one and a half years. But I don't think the next-generation sedan will repeat its fate.

What a strange look? Not otherwise, the chief designer of the Hyundai-Kia concern Peter Schreier was so carried away by the Stinger liftback that he lost sight of the mass-market Rio sedan. Although the employees of the plant in St. Petersburg are enthusiastically talking about trips to the Korean Namyang: they say, it was at their request that our Rio was made more aggressive, "younger" than the original Chinese sedan K2.

Headlights in half of the front end, a parody of BMW M-bumpers - and naked, like a Chinese donor, a trunk lid without a number plate. There is no previous completeness in this guise.

Even the Rio for a million does not cling to the top of the range Premium - with 16-inch wheels, lenticular headlights, additional daytime running lights, leatherette on the seats, a multimedia system and piano varnish around the seven-inch screen. Such cars are not found in the natural environment - and this is good news, because you quickly stick to leatherette, and it smells strongly in the sun. In total, the new sedan has nine trim levels versus four for Hyundai, but numerous option packages for Solaris reduce this difference to nuances. By the way, for the Rio with the 1.4 engine it is also impossible to order the heated windshield, steering wheel and rear seat.

The interior looks solid, but plastic is hard everywhere, including at the bottom of a convenient tray for a mobile phone. The CTP policy fits into the glovebox only when folded, there is no backlight. Outside mirrors are medium-sized, automatic mode only in the driver's window, the small armrest cover is extended

There is no fundamental difference between the interiors. The chairs are the same - and I also lack the relief in the lumbar region. A beautiful steering wheel with a round hub, excellent instruments, a pleasant orange illumination of the buttons, and the main decoration of the interior is a climate unit with an influx of heating and blowing glass keys. But the screen of the multimedia system is located lower than in Hyundai, and it is not so convenient to look at it. However, nine Rio out of ten will instead have a monochrome audio display.

The multimedia system is just as good as that of Solaris: the matte seven-inch screen does not glare, the processor quickly changes tabs, the TomTom navigation system warns of speed-lock cameras, there are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto services. Rear view camera broadcast - with trajectory tips

Passengers will not notice the difference at all, because there is no difference: the power structure of the body and the wheelbase are the same. True, the total share of high-strength steels at Rio is slightly lower, 50 percent versus 52 (previously there were only 13). The key elements are the same: a double B-pillar, a powerful crossbar at the front legs, reinforced side members. Unsurprisingly, Solaris scored a maximum of 16 in our crash test - and we see no reason for the new Rio to perform worse.

The opening is wide, but the roof is low, and there is more legroom than before, although Polo and Vesta are one step ahead. Amenities include a separate lighting shade. It's a pity there are no normal handrails on the doors

It is clear that the "bogies" are also identical: the steering rack is moved forward, the castor is increased to 4.6 °, the rear beam is from the Elantra. But the Kia rides harder than the Solaris, at least on 16-inch Nexen tires. Rough handling at city junctions is surprising, but the large potholes of the Rio does not shake, but resiliently. And the energy capacity reserve allows you to move on a bumpy road faster than many crossovers - watch the video at the end of the article.

The trunk lid is opened with a lever from the passenger compartment or with a button on the key, and in an expensive configuration it is enough to stand next to the compartment for three seconds with the key fob in your pocket. The trunk opening is wider and higher than that of the Solaris, the declared volume is 20 liters more. The hinges are uncovered, there are no hooks, and the folded backrest creates a high step. Under the thin floor - 15 '' spare

It is a pity that the handling did not compensate for the loss in ride comfort. I liked the electric power steering with a reduced level of reaction force less than on the Hyundai. And with sudden changes of lanes or a detour of a brick that has fallen out of a truck, the Rio begins to slide the rear axle earlier. Sportiness? It's good that the stabilization system wakes up early - and effectively dampens speed, even if the ESP shutdown button is pressed. But why such a setup for a compact sedan, which is destined for the fate of a family car or taxi? A sort of unmotivated aggression.

That's what I expected from the Rio, it's better noise isolation than Solaris: for me, this is its key drawback. But Kia is buzzing with tires as well. Plus (or rather, minus) the Rio has smaller exterior mirrors.

For the rest, there is no difference. The updated 1.6 engine (123 hp) with two phase shifters and a variable-length intake receiver runs at the declared power, the six-speed “automatic” does not create problems in the city. The basic version of Rio costs 669,900 rubles, which is 45 thousand rubles more expensive than the most affordable Solaris. The popular version with a 1.6 engine and an automatic machine will cost 794,900 rubles in the Comfort package. Hyundai Solaris in a similar design costs 774,900 rubles.

Now let's look at the sales results of the new Solaris: a fall by a third! True, Hyundai also has the Creta crossover (produced here, in St. Petersburg) - this model is gaining popularity and at the same time convinces us that small sedans for 800 thousand rubles are not dreamed of in Russia today as much as compact ones. crossovers for a million. True, we haven't heard of such a car from Kia yet. And as for the new Rio, which has risen in price, by inertia it will probably win a market victory over its sister Solaris, but the status of a leader, I'm afraid, no longer shines for either one or the other.

Specifications