2006 Kia Rio5 Review (continued)
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Walkaround

There is nothing wimpy about either of the Kia Rio models. In terms of styling, they're a far cry from the old Rio models.

The sedan has a solid looking front end with a strong nose and big headlights that give it a purposeful appearance. The crease along the side of the car below the big windows ends up wrapping around the trunk, giving the sedan more the look of a European sports sedan than that of a Korean econobox.

All models come with hefty body-color side moldings that do not detract too badly as they align nicely with the wrap around edges of the front and rear bumpers. The fender flares actually look a shade too big on the base and LX models, which have skinnier tires. The fender flares fill out much better on the Rio5 SX with its lower-profile tires and 15-inch wheels.

The Rio5 looks taller than the sedan but it is actually the same overall height. It's a couple of inches shorter in height than the Chevrolet Aveo and Scion xA, its closest rivals. The rear of the Rio5 is distinctive with backup lights that wrap around the taillights and almost look like part of the body. The C-pillar curves down to the taillights and the tailgate has full width gals making the back more attractive than on many hatchbacks.

Interior Features

The interior of the 2007 Kia Rio represents a big improvement over the old Rio. It has a nicely contoured dashboard with a generous binnacle over the instrument panel, which includes a tachometer, even on the base model. The radio is well positioned in the center stack with large buttons and knobs for changing stations or volume. Three big knobs for the climate control are mounted on a bulge in the center that brings them closer to the driver's hands.

The seats are on the soft side and don't offer the lateral support we'd expect on a sports sedan. Those of us with larger frames, however, will not fault the seats for that.

Rear seat legroom is better than the numbers suggest because passengers can place their feet under the front seats thanks to the generous open space below them.

Big storage pockets in all four doors along with a reasonable size glovebox provide places to stash stuff. The rear seatback folds down in a 60/40 split for added versatility in all but the base model. According to Kia, the total interior volume of the Rio is greater than that of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla even though they are officially in the next size up segment. In practical terms, they are all pretty close. The Rio5 has a cargo carrying a capacity of almost 50 cubic feet with the seats folded down which is substantially more than in other hatchbacks of this size.

Minor touches such as the metal pedals, leather wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob on the Rio5 SX will appeal to sporty drivers. Most drivers will probably not consciously notice these things but they will certainly help instill a better feeling about the car for them.