SLEEK, fashionable and shocking, the 2021 Kia Rio GT-Line is every thing you’ll need in a warmed up hatch, and extra. This fourth era of the highest of the road Rio rocks a rev-happy turbocharged 1.0-litre engine and a facelift besides too.
To maintain up with trendy occasions and to make sure conformity with the remainder of their present vary of fashions, the brand new Rio underwent some beauty adjustments. Sharper traces, extra aggressive styling, LED headlamps and quad ‘ice-cube’ fog lamps.
The nicely thought-out 17-inch alloy wheels come customary with the GT-Line, in addition to a rear diffuser, rear wing, gloss black mirrors, darkish chrome entrance grille and a twin exhaust.
Contained in the cabin, you’ll discover a darkish color scheme with some carbon fibre styling to the standard Kia format.
Fabric-trimmed seats are a tad disappointing contemplating the GT-Line is a variety topper, however they’re snug nonetheless and hold you on the steering wheel when cornering spiritedly.
Leisure is offered by an 8.0-inch LCD display screen with Bluetooth connectivity, in addition to wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay performance, together with a 6-speaker audio system.
Storage is plentiful throughout, with two cup holders up entrance, a bottle holder in every door, a centre console which is of first rate measurement, and extra cup holders within the second row’s center pulldown console.
The again seats fold down right into a 60:40 cut up if the boot house, which is kind of massive contemplating the diminutive measurement of the Rio, isn’t massive sufficient for you.
There are additionally two ISOFIX tethers and three prime tethers on the again row for individuals who wish to accommodate their miniature people.
The second row seats are surprisingly snug and spacious, and we put this to the take a look at by taxiing three grownup males, all of whom had been over 180cm tall, to spectate a track-day at Wakefield Park, two hours exterior of Sydney.
On the finish of it, nothing however reward and shock on the Rio’s consolation issue. However what you almost certainly got here right here for is what you’ll discover below the bonnet of the GT-Line.
That boosted three-cylinder petrol engine makes 74kW of energy, with 172Nm of torque, delivered to the entrance wheels. That is mated to a principally responsive 7-speed twin clutch computerized transmission.
We skilled some delays within the shifting of the twin clutch, nevertheless it usually labored nicely. Put your foot in it and churn via the gears, and earlier than you recognize it you’ll be at your vacation spot, wishing you might get again in and do it yet again.
The one factor lacking from the inside of this pocket rocket is paddle shifters.
On the highway, the GT-Line handles surprisingly nicely. Sudden braking plus a mix of larger wheels with smaller tyre profiles, together with some aggressive turning, can ship the again finish out if you happen to’re not cautious, particularly in moist climate.
Except for the brief wheelbase problems, the Rio GT-Line feels at dwelling on brief drives in city areas. Though we did have the automotive parked at a race-track, we couldn’t assist however surprise what it will have been like on the market, at full noise.
With the precise driver, the GT-Line might doubtlessly carry out fairly nicely and pull off some sneaky lap occasions.
This brings us to gas economic system, as a result of round city, we struggled to get the economic system beneath 8.0-litres/100km, however on our good little highway journey down south, we had been in a position to get it down to five.8-litres/100km.
Up towards Kia’s claimed 5.3-litres, that’s not dangerous in any respect for the zippy little hatch. You’re assured to avoid wasting a number of {dollars} on ever rising gas costs if you happen to drive one in all these sensibly.
The protection know-how within the GT-Line has additionally obtained an improve over the bottom mannequin Rio S.
The vary topper sports activities ahead collision warning, which could be a contact delicate at occasions, autonomous emergency braking, lane hold help and a driver consideration alert system.
The GT-Line, together with the remainder of the Rio vary, carries a 5-star ANCAP security score. Costs for the GT-Line begin at $25,525 excluding on highway prices.
It’s a small hike from the earlier era Rio, however unsurprising contemplating each different competitor of this measurement, such because the Mazda 2 vary, have additionally seen a small worth enhance over earlier generations.
Kia additionally provides a 7-year limitless kilometre guarantee, with capped worth servicing for the lifetime of the guarantee, with 12 month or 10,000km service intervals.
A incredible little hatch for every day driving functions, the 2021 Kia Rio GT-Line breathes new life into the small automotive class.
It’s a zippy little load of enjoyable, whether or not you’re in your approach to the every day grind of labor, or to choose up some groceries, and even if you wish to simply get some quiet time alongside some lengthy winding roads.
Our 2021 Kia Rio GT-Line was provided by Kia Australia. To seek out out extra, contact your native Kia supplier. Photos courtesy of J_Hui Design/Images.
