Kia Rio rental and test drive
March 6, 2006 Reviews No CommentsSo this past week I had both of my cars in the shop for various necessary and unnecessary work, meaning I was left in the unenviable position of having to rent a car for a day. Since the place I work has a deal with
Here’s what I noticed first: the car weighs around 2,300 lbs., and you can tell. Press down on the accelerator, and you’re doing 50 before you know it. It also turns on a dime–I was able to make 360s to turn around in driveways that require a 3-point turn in any other car. It’s not the quietest out on the highway, as I think the small, lightweight body isn’t quite strong enough to dampen road and engine noise entirely. It’s not all that loud (quieter than my 2003
According to a friend that runs one of the more popular Kia tuning sites on the Web, Kia also offers an aftermarket turbocharger kit for the Rio that boosts the top horsepower from around 100 HP to well over 200 HP at the wheels. Since the kit is Kia-approved and installed by professionals at the dealership, it doesn’t even void the manufacturer’s warranty (although it makes you that much more likely to break the car). Judging by the way the Rio performs even with the stock engine, this car would be an absolute demon with the turbo kit installed.
The suspension is nice and tight, leaving the car hugging the road without forcing the passengers to feel every small bump in their posteriors. Kia-FX Performance offers upgraded suspensions as well, along with carbon drive shafts and other parts that might be advisable for anyone upgrading with the turbocharger. All in all, this was a seriously fun car to drive, and one that I’m definitely considering for my next new vehicle purchase. Kias have really come quite a ways in the past few years, going from something of a joke in the automotive industry to a serious competitor to both