2002 Kia Rio Review (continued)
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Walkaround

The Rio is a conventional subcompact in most regards, though it has a tall roofline for adequate headroom for front and rear seat passengers.

The Rio sedan is cute enough to be a Pokemon character. Perhaps it's the large headlights paired with the diminutive grille that triggers a subconscious psychological response and, like a kitten or a puppy, makes you want to hug this little car.

That said, it's a very clean design. 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. Taillights are large and wrap around to match the contour of the rear decklid. The trunklid is high, but is cut down to the rear bumper for an easy liftover into the trunk. All in all, it's an admirably restrained design that fits the 94.9-inch wheelbase very well.

If the Rio sedan is cute, the Rio Cinco wagon is cuter. Its compact dimensions, identical to those of the sedan, allow it to slip easily into parking spaces.

Interior Features

The seats in the Rio and Cinco are comfortable and supportive, better than some of the other seats in this class. There are a lot of adjustments on the driver's seat, but the knobs are hard to turn.

Interior fit and finish appears to be of good quality. The seats are full cloth and there are matching cloth inserts in the door panels. The glove box door is nicer than on some much more expensive SUVs.

The Kia's interior is straightforward, with no surprises or fancy features. The Cinco gets a tachometer. Otherwise, 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. Audio controls are large and easy to use. Ventilation controls are straightforward rotary dials with a fresh air recirculation lever. It's similar in design to Japanese compacts.

Forget power windows and mirrors. In keeping with its low-price mission, the Rio doesn't even get these as options. So you're looking at wind-up windows. The mirrors don't even have remote adjustment. The right-hand mirror wouldn't adjust as wide as we'd like. The handbrake is located on the console between the seats. Power door locks ($95) are an option, however.

There are dual airbags and the Rio's body was designed for-and passed-the demanding European offset crash standards as well as, of course, all U.S. frontal and side-impact tests.

Although there are five seatbelts, no more than four standard size adults will fit reasonably in the Rio, and knee room will be at a premium for grownups in the back as well (though headroom is sufficient for anyone whose legs will fit). Young families, however, will be able to fit three young 'uns, booster seats and all, in the back. 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.

The back seat in the Rio Cinco wagon is surprisingly comfortable with plenty of headroom and shoulder room. There's adequate foot and leg space, particularly when there's a little cooperation from the front-seat occupants.

The Cinco's rear hatch opens easily, lifting high and out of the way. The cargo area is small by SUV standards at 24.8 cubic feet with the seats up, but that's a lot more space than the sedan's 9.2 cubic feet. The rear seats in the Cinco fold down to increase cargo capacity to 44.3 cubic feet. That's a lot of laundry or a bunch of groceries. The seats don't fold flat, however, and the headrests must be removed before folding the seats down. A nice cargo cover is provided to shield valuables. Like the sedan, the Cinco comes standard with a rear window defroster.