Kia Rio or Ford Fiesta

[gucci88]

hello fellow tsikoteers just wanted to seek your opinion on these 2 hatchbacks on which is better to buy. i need small cars for everyday driving since we live in the south where we use villages as passing throughs. the variants that i like is the top of the line models of the fiesta and the rio they are priced around 830-840k. pls give me your thoughts on which vehicle is better for everyday diving

[renzo_d10]

Ford Fiesta, ayoko mag gamble dun sa Rio kasi baka biglang kumatok like the Accent and some Rio owners.

[dashgarcia]

Kia Rio na.

[jaymd]

may brothers fiesta had tranny problems since day 1. naayos naman. sa computer ata problem and malakas sa gas. binenta din nya. for the rio may possibility na may knock din engine.

[gucci88]

Right now I am currently leaning on getting the fiesta because first the rio is expensive for a 1.4 engine that is fitted also on the accent where the accent costs 700k second is i like the feeling of the interior of the fiesta it feels like a european car. I currently have 1.8 focus now and I am satisfied with fords after sales service, specially when they replaced my fuel pump that was under warranty.

[niky]

You could go for the Rio 1.2 and hope that the smaller engine still gives you good economy in a heavier car (than the i10).

The Rio has the interior size of the Accent and the ride refinement of the Fiesta. Unfortunately, the 1.4 AT doesn't give you the power of the 1.6AT Accent or Fiesta, and fuel economy is similar because it weighs about the same.

None of these top of the line variants are very fuel efficient, actually. Don't expect better than 8 kml in traffic....

[jut703]

Niky how would you compare the 1.2 engine of the Rio to the 1.3 found in the Vios? I ask because the 2NZ-FE gets really good economy when paired with the Vios, and the Kia/Hyundai 1.2 engine is supposed to be even more powerful, so it should theoretically be as capable of hauling a Rio chassis.

[niky]

No idea yet. We've just finished the 1.4. May get to do the 1.2 in a month or two pa.

Note that the Vios is a relatively light car... The 1.3 City/Jazz isn't quite as economical as before... New, heavier body and standard transmission... Whereas the Vios, (Mazda2!), and old City/Jazz are very light compared to the likes of the Fiesta and Rio.

[jut703]

True, I've noticed that Toyota sedans are generally lighter than the competition, I wonder why. NCAP ratings aren't any worse, size and space aren't lacking, but something somewhere's gotta give.

Back to topic though, I'd recommend the Fiesta, just because it looks and feels more upscale to me, and because I find the Rio's specs too tacky - lotsa features, little engine. I'd rather have a 1.6 Rio hatch without the fancy but ultimately useless features such as the engine start-stop button. The Fiesta drives pretty well too, and the transmission's good enough for city driving. Haven't pushed it hard yet, but the lack of a sport mode (though apparently HLA should suffice, yes?) and manual override kinda spoil the fun of a DCT.

[number001]

A review of the Rio 1.2 LX

2012 Kia Rio 1.2 LX - Honest Car Reviews by AutoIndustriya.com

This reminds me of "barebones" units of past like the old Corolla AE90 2E (12 valve) w/ 4spd manual. Even the Corolla AE100 had a big body mated to the 1.3 2E.

The Kia Rio 1.2 is using the 1.2 "Kappa" from the Hyundai i20. OTOH, the Rio 1.4li is using the same 1.4 "gamma" engine from the 2011-12 Accent 1.4.

If its bet. the two (and disregarding the issue of engine power adequacy or inadequacy), I'd still pick the Rio 1.2 LX. I'm a sucker for barebones units.

[jut703]

^ That 1.2LX is actually really good value if you ask me. I'd pick it over more "loaded" city cars such as the i10 or the Picanto, even if it's a tad more expensive. Personally I find a really big jump from minicars (is this what the i10/Celerio/Picanto crowd is called?) to sub-compacts.

Perfect for taxi fleets too. Even if it's not as efficient as an i10 1.2, the review states that over 10 km/L is still achievable in city driving. Perhaps still not as good as the venerable Vios 1.3J, but hey, it's cheaper anyway. Hopefully we get more reviews and owner input on the Rio, since it looks to be a very promising car.

[niky]

Personally... think it's a good value, too. Who cares about toys? The extra toys you get in top of the line micro-cars like the 1.2 Spark and i10, and the top-end Picanto are things you can buy outside, yourself. You still don't get leather with those small cars, so why bother? Just get a 1.2 Rio, enjoy the huge advantage in space, and buy yourself a 2-DIN touchscreen outside for not much more money.

True, I've noticed that Toyota sedans are generally lighter than the competition, I wonder why. NCAP ratings aren't any worse, size and space aren't lacking, but something somewhere's gotta give.

Back to topic though, I'd recommend the Fiesta, just because it looks and feels more upscale to me, and because I find the Rio's specs too tacky - lotsa features, little engine. I'd rather have a 1.6 Rio hatch without the fancy but ultimately useless features such as the engine start-stop button. The Fiesta drives pretty well too, and the transmission's good enough for city driving. Haven't pushed it hard yet, but the lack of a sport mode (though apparently HLA should suffice, yes?) and manual override kinda spoil the fun of a DCT.

The current Vios has the smallest trunk in the entire segment. Only other cars with trunks that small were the OLD Rio and Accent.

It is now in a three-way tie for the smallest back seat (Fiesta/Mazda2). The Fiesta, at least, has more sound insulation. Both Fiesta and Mazda2 have bigger trunks. The Mazda2 is just as light as the Vios, with more space overall (though the back seat feels smaller due to the chunkier front seats on the 2.

The City, Rio and Accent are bigger cars in every way than the Vios. That's why they're heavier.

[jut703]

Pretty odd though, the Vios feels really spacious, to the point that sometimes I wonder if our Altis is any bigger in terms of legroom.

With regards to the trunk, the Altis has one of the biggest trunks in its class, being both deep and long. Though I guess in terms of overall size, it's not large. Definitely smaller than a Lancer EX or Cruze, and shorter than an Elantra. But width is generally as large as the other compacts, though the wheelbase may not be as long.

I do agree that the City and Accent are larger. The Accent feels as large as the Altis on the inside, and I'm sure it's not just my occluded perception. City is narrower, but legroom seems similar (oddly, I feel that the Vios is as spacious, as I've said above. Maybe my mind playing tricks on me).

No idea on the Rio yet, haven't been in one, but it's as spacious as the Accent, yes? I'm starting to like the Rio more and more, though the Accent still looks better, if not for the disproportionately small 14" rims on such a fat body. The 16's of the 1.6 are perfect though.

[kotiko]

I'd pick the Rio judging by looks alone!

[number001]

Based on my own observations, the Vios and Altis have similar back passenger legrooms. The Altis has slightly bettter width space. Notice how the Altis' door panel curves out (concave shape), giving more impression of space.

In person, the Rio sedan looks bigger and longer, almost the same size as an Altis or 8th Gen Civic.