Like outside

After the release of the Hyundai Creta in Russia, many were waiting to see how Kia would respond when they too had a compact SUV. And then the Rio X-Line appeared. Why not a crossover?

The Hyundai-Kia plant in St. Petersburg does not have enough capacity to make another model that will be produced in tens of thousands. The bet is on Creta - and it is justified if you look at the sales statistics. But Kia had to abandon the all-terrain vehicle for now in favor of a raised hatchback.

The X-Line differs from the regular Rio primarily in its off-road body kit made of unpainted plastic, roof rails and increased ground clearance - 170 mm versus 160 mm for the sedan. There are not many changes at the front, but at the rear you can recognize the X-Line by the strip between the LED taillights and the dual exhaust pipes.

Nothing special? But visually, I think the raised Rio looks nicer than its sedan brother.

In addition, the hatchback is 10 millimeters wider and 50 millimeters taller than the four-door. The roof is raised by 14 mm in the area of ​​the second row - so tall passengers do not have to support the ceiling with their heads.

Like inside

The interior is completely carried over from the regular Kia. And there is nothing wrong with that, as it is one of the best in the segment. Almost perfect ergonomics, a cozy interior, easy-to-read instruments and multimedia with a simple and logical interface.

The only things I can complain about are the hard plastic (although it’s still worth making a discount for a “state employee”) and the lack of lumbar adjustment in the driver’s seat. The latter will be especially noticeable for those who have back problems.

There are two 12-volt sockets in front, USB and AUX. In my opinion, it would be better to install two USB connectors; in the age of gadgets, one is no longer enough, and when the car is full of passengers, everyone wants to recharge their device. Bribing adapters is not an option.

The legroom on the rear seat is the same as in the Rio, but, as already mentioned, there is a little more headroom here: the roof is higher than that of the regular version.

The trunk is smaller than the sedan's - 390 liters versus 480 liters. However, this volume is 29 liters more than that of the Lada Xray and 70 liters than that of the Renault Sandero. In addition, by folding the rear seat backs in parts, it is more convenient to transport large cargo in the X-line.

The only pity is that there are no hooks; you will have to be content with only niches on the sides. In this regard, of course, Koreans should take a closer look at what AvtoVAZ is doing now. The car, which many call for some reason a competitor to the X-Line, has so many nice and convenient “chips” in the trunk that even Skoda would be jealous.

But let's return to X-Line. I liked the hatchback with a large number of useful and pleasant options, which will come in very handy right now. Our car had heated front seats, windshield and rear windows, steering wheel and rear seat. The only thing missing was heating the windshield washer nozzles and remote start. However, even without this, Kia's winter package is truly impressive. In the morning before work, you won't have to waste precious minutes clearing ice from your windows.

Like the sedan, the hatchback is sold in Russia with two engines. These are 1.4 liter and 1.6 liter engines with a power of 100 and 123 hp, with a 6-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed automatic transmission. We, as is usually the case, had the option with AT and the most powerful unit.

You shouldn't expect hurricane acceleration from the X-Line - in terms of numbers (and in terms of sensations) it is slightly slower than a sedan. It's all about the increased curb weight, depending on the configuration, by 5-15 kg. The result of 11.6 seconds to “hundreds” will not seem like much of an achievement. But for driving around the city this is quite enough.

But overtaking on the highway can be a problem. You won't be able to accelerate quickly, either from a standstill or while driving. If you sharply press the gas pedal, the car pauses, the engine revs up, and then the car comes to life. Another thing is that the roar of the engine is such that every time you think whether it’s worth mocking the car in this way.

It is much more pleasant to travel on the X-Line in a calm and measured mode. Thanks to new springs and shock absorbers, the Koreans managed to achieve an optimal balance between comfort and handling. The hatchback steers excellently, quickly responding to all your actions, and there is no roll in corners.

The suspension allows you not to slow down on large bumps; it’s just a pity that it doesn’t handle medium bumps so confidently. For example, during the test, bridge joints were one of the biggest challenges. It didn’t come to the point of “breaking through”, although it wasn’t very pleasant.

Soundproofing? Many colleagues complained that at high speed they could not hear each other in the cabin. But it didn't seem that way to me. If you don't torture the engine, there won't be any problems. It is quite possible that all this is thanks to the tires. Our hatchback had studless Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2, which, by the way, performed well not only on dry asphalt, but also during winter snowstorms, when Moscow was covered in snow.

What's the result?

Rio X-Line is sold in Russia from 686,410 rubles, our test car costs 964,900 rubles, the top version will cost 1,024,900 rubles.

A raised hatchback is most suitable for residents of big cities who are tired of sedans. The new Korean can offer a nice design, excellent driving performance and a rich set of options.

But a priori it cannot be an alternative to a crossover with a ground clearance of 170 mm, this must be understood. Moreover, the front bumper at the bottom is painted gray, so you need to approach curbs with caution.

Kia's real competitors are the Lada Xray (from 614,900 rubles) and Renault Sandero Stepway (from 649,900 rubles). But they don’t have such a clear and distinct “machine gun”. In this regard, the Korean has the advantage. However, Xray and Sandero Stepway also have their advantages. For example, the ground clearance of both the first and second is an impressive 195 mm. By the way, the Xray performed well in our moderate off-road test.

But the most important thing is that in this class the choice has become even greater, and there is no doubt that the Kia Rio X-Line will also have its buyers.

The new car from the Korean company is a unique combination of the agility of a city crossover, the comfort of a hatchback and the cross-country ability of a crossover.

After the update, it received new features. How does the car behave in action? Test drive Kia Rio x Line will help you get to know the car better.

Improved version of Kia Rio

Considering the state of our roads, off-road vehicles will be in demand for a long time. In city traffic, the updated model with the Line prefix will not go unnoticed.

Kia X Line attracts with its original, comfortable and spacious interior space, and a modern security system. The interior is simple, but it cannot be called boring. All this makes the vehicle a good companion for city and country trips.

Not long ago, the Kia Rio x Line literally became overpriced. Now it is 190 mm along with 170 mm in inexpensive trim levels.

Comparison of ground clearance with competitors

Depending on the version, it is equipped with tires of a certain size: for premium ones - 195/60 R16, for others - 185/65 R15.

Increasing the clearance is a response to the request of potential consumers on the Russian market. To implement this solution, we had to revise the entire suspension geometry and use new components.

The X Line body seems more complete; the manufacturer has introduced unpainted moldings and plastic body kits. With them, the car received additional protection for its appearance. The updated one is not simple, but with a crossover appearance and increased ground clearance. It looks stylish, modern, dynamic.

The updated version of x-line turned out to be pleasant and functional. The car is perfect for daily use. At the same time, it is quite economical, which is very important in the context of constantly rising fuel prices. According to the manufacturer, fuel consumption is 6-8 liters.

An important thing about the characteristics of the Kia Rio x-Line

The car firmly holds a leading position among consumers. Considering the model comprehensively, it cannot be called budget. Rather, she belongs to the European middle class.

The car has a lot of useful options. Among them:

• pressure sensors in;
• keyless entry;
• modern multimedia with a large screen and rear view camera;
• warming up the steering wheel and front seats.

The car is quite well prepared for use in winter. Warming up the steering wheel and front seats is already available in the basic version. The more expensive version adds heating for the windshield, rear seats, and washer nozzles.

The ergonomics of the cabin are quite comfortable. A wide range of adjustments for the seats and steering wheel allows you to choose the best option for yourself. Any driver can sit comfortably behind the wheel, and it is also quite comfortable for passengers to sit in it.

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The luggage compartment cannot boast of strong spaciousness, but everything is quite arranged in it. Below, under the mat, a full-size wheel with a set of tools was discreetly placed. The rear seats can be folded down, creating a small step.

Behavior on the road

A car with a 1.6 liter power unit and a power of 123 hp. With. and a classic 6-speed automatic transmission has proven itself as an efficient and reliable vehicle in previous generations. A significant advantage both for our conditions and in terms of economy is the ability to use 92-grade gasoline.

Suspension The models are moderately rigid, there is a strong smell of energy consumption, and there is practically no roll in corners. There is enough traction in any mode, the vehicle is driven quite enthusiastically.

The car allows you to taxi out of a snowy parking lot without any problems, and also easily covers several kilometers of the village road. The updated car is well adapted to the conditions of the metropolis, as well as for trips outside the city.

New springs and shock absorbers not only provided additional space under the hood, but also made it possible to achieve an optimal balance between handling and comfort. The car is softer than a sedan and steers quite well. On the highway, the model pleases with its handling and comfort; the dynamics are quite sufficient considering the power.

It seems that the car has no significant drawbacks, given its cost. The sound insulation of the wheel arches is not encouraging, but if desired, this problem can be effectively solved.

Test drive video on off-road

Summing up

The updated model is a good alternative for those who want a car with off-road capabilities without overpaying. This is a universal solution for trips around the city and outings.

Photo Kia x Line 2019

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Asians love to show off. So the Kia Rio X-Line shows with its entire appearance that it is almost a crossover. Well, then why did the ground clearance increase by only a centimeter? And where, if not all-wheel drive, then at least the off-road assistance button? I received answers to these questions even before I got behind the wheel of the new hatchback, and after driving it I understood why such a “sub-SUV” would be in demand

Kia Rio X-Line. Price: from 774,900 rub. On sale: November 2017

“We are not positioning the X-Line as an off-road model,” the head of Kia Motor Rus, Alexander Moinov, immediately dumbfounded me.

Here you go! Why then bother with this whole garden with body kits, roof rails and suspension modifications, wasting a lot of time on this (only when running in the chassis and searching for optimal settings, the testers had to drive about a million kilometers). Wouldn't it have been easier to launch a regular Rio hatchback on the market, as was the case with the previous generation model?

But Mr. Moinov has an answer to this question: “Russia is a country of sedans. The Rio hatchback accounted for only 20% of our sales. We decided to think about how to increase this share, and the idea with X-Line was born.”

Excuse me, but didn’t this same model, only under the name K2 Cross, debut in China back in the spring?

“It was not we who borrowed the model from the Chinese, but they, having learned about our project, wanted to bring the same hatchback to their market,” product head Nikolai Merenkov stood up for his brainchild. “It’s just that the Chinese market is more important, and the local plant is a “donor” of many components for the Russian plant where Rio is made, so they had the K2 Cross earlier.”

One of the most successful angles of the new product. LED taillights are only available in the maximum configuration

I have often heard and read in press releases about cars “designed specifically for Russia”, which, before their launch on our market, had already traveled on the roads of Latin America, India or China. And the fact that the idea of ​​Rio X-line was born in our country makes this model unique in its own way. At least, I haven’t come across such examples among foreign cars.

Rio X-Line has original bumpers with plastic imitation of steel protection. Compared to the sedan, the front bumper of the hatchback has LED DRLs and fog lights located differently.

“Before starting work on this model, we conducted a survey among Russian clients, and it turned out that they want mutually exclusive things,” Nikolay continues. “They need the car to be powerful, with huge ground clearance, all-wheel drive, and at the same time be inexpensive. But that doesn’t happen! Therefore, we did what Steve Jobs did - we offered the market not the product that customers demand, but one that they will definitely like.”

The double bell is not a handicraft chrome-plated nozzle that can be bought at any dealership. Here it is made of stainless steel and tightly welded to the muffler can

You'll like it, no choice! This confirms better than the results of focus group surveys the interest that the car aroused on the roads. As soon as we stopped in a busy place, people immediately came up and asked about the price. I don’t know who the marketers see as buyers of the Rio X-line, but the first people who became interested in the car were guys over fifty who came out with purses at the ready from an old Sportage with regional license plates. The starting price of 775 thousand confused them at first, but when it turned out that for the “off-road” package, which, in addition to linings and roof rails, includes an openwork glossy false radiator grille and a “double-barrel” muffler attachment, you need to pay only 30 thousand extra compared to the price of a regular Rio, they Their eyes lit up with genuine interest.

Glossy false radiator grille with a chrome border around the circle is higher than that of the sedan

If only they knew how great the Rio X-Line behaves on the road, the interest would be even higher! New springs and shock absorbers not only gave an extra centimeter under the bottom (although this is of little use off-road), but also made it possible to achieve an optimal balance between comfort and handling. The Hatch rides softer than the sedan, but it steers perfectly! I even became obsessed with the 2nd generation Focus, which for a long time remained for me the standard for comfort and handling among inexpensive cars. I am sure that after testing the hatchback, owners of Rio sedans will want to install the same suspension for themselves. This is not difficult to do, since all attachment points and mounting dimensions are identical for both models. You just have to do this at your own peril and risk, since, according to engineers, it is not clear how such a machine will subsequently behave in emergency situations. After all, the sedan not only has a slightly different weight distribution, but also different power steering settings.

On the highway the car pleases with its handling and comfort. The dynamics, considering the engine power, are also quite decent

It’s easier to trade in the old Rio and take the X-Line. And if I took the car for myself, I would take the “base”. Because against the backdrop of the wide black linings on the arches, even the maximum possible 16-inch wheels, which are only available in the top-end trim costing more than a million, seem small. Not to mention the 15-inch ones - on these hatchbacks they generally look as if a strong man decided to fit into a ballerina’s pointe shoes. So it’s better to take a simpler package and buy the “casting” yourself, and no less than 17 inches. With such wheels and correctly selected tires, you can get about another centimeter of air under the “belly” - the amount of space in the wheel arches allows you to squeeze in even the not-so-low-profile R17 tires. And the appearance of the car will immediately change - for example, on the Infiniti QX30, which is not much larger in size than the Kia, 18-inch wheels look harmonious, but try putting it on 16-inch wheels?

Due to the wide overlays, the wheel arches appear much larger than they actually are. Because of this, even the maximum possible 16-inch wheels for the Rio X-Line (the picture, by the way, is original: you can’t put these on a sedan) look small

We tested cars only in the “top” and “pre-top” trim levels, so I can’t say what the Rio X-line looks like with 15 “caps”. The choice of engines was also limited - only a 123-horsepower 1.6 and only a 6-speed automatic, but I really liked the way this combination drove. The car accelerates briskly, while the engine noise, which is clearly audible during acceleration, is barely perceptible during measured driving. Even at high speed in the cabin you can talk without raising your voice! For a public sector employee, this is so surprising that I even wondered if the test cars had been given additional sound insulation? By the way, the interior here is exactly the same as that of the sedan. It was possible to designate the X-line version with a nameplate on the steering wheel or dashboard, or change the color of the upholstery, but the creators of the new product decided not to do this - the buyer is primarily interested in how the car looks from the outside, and additional modifications inside would increase the price.

There is absolutely no difference in the interior of the hatchback from the sedan

However, this does not mean that the Rio X-line will remain so. Kia listens carefully to the market, and if it turns out that there is such a need, we will see a new interior and other improvements. It is also possible that more affordable versions will appear: for now, the starting level for the hatchback is the Comfort package. You can take the sedan in the Classic version and save 60 thousand by abandoning the audio system, heated front seats and steering wheel, steering wheel reach adjustment and central locking with remote control. But is it worth saving on your comfort? Considering that many representatives of the fairer sex are expected among X-line buyers, the demand for “empty” configurations will be small.

Only the most expensive trim levels have climate control, but even the simplest ones have air conditioning

Engine start button - a privilege of the top version for 1,024,900 rubles

The new AV media center is 60,000 rubles cheaper than a similar system with a navigator. And the navigation application here can be launched from a smartphone connected via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

The trunk is noticeably smaller than that of a sedan, but the possibilities for loading it are wider.

The Rio X-Line should only be used off-road if absolutely necessary.

Driving The car is easy and pleasant to drive, it is not afraid of bad roads, but it has nothing to do off-road Salon Everything is like a sedan, except for the trunk: it is smaller, but it is easier to stuff “oversized” items into it. Comfort There's plenty of rear legroom, more headroom than the sedan, but also narrow shoulder room. Safety The “base” has two airbags and ESP with a tire pressure sensor Price Only 30,000 rubles more expensive than a sedan with a similar configuration Average score

• Increased ground clearance, excellent suspension, quiet and playful 1.6 engine, relatively small surcharge for a package of “off-road” options
• Massive linings on the arches “conceal” the size of the wheels, the inside is no different from a sedan, poor off-road capabilities

Kia Rio X-Line 1.6 AT technical specifications
Dimensions	4240x1750x1510 mm
Base	2600 mm
Curb weight	1203 kg
Full mass	1620 kg
Clearance	170 mm
Trunk volume	390/1075 l
Fuel tank volume	50 l
Engine	petrol, 4-cylinder, 1591 cm 3, 123/6800 hp/min -1, 151/4850 Nm/min -1
Transmission	6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Tire size	185/65R16
Dynamics	183 km/h; 11.6 s to 100 km/h
Fuel consumption (city/highway/mixed)	8.9/5.6/6.8 l per 100 km
Operating costs*
Transport tax, rub.	3075
TO-1/TO-2, r.	7630

New Kia Rio X Line price which was announced in the fall of 2017 turned out to be a very attractive offer and may well compete with the domestic new Vesta SV Cross, which we have already written about. We won’t go into comparisons; soon the buyers themselves will determine the winner in this battle.

The Kia Rio X-Line is essentially an ordinary Rio hatch with an abundance of off-road plastic protection and minimal changes to the suspension, which made it possible to increase the ground clearance by 10 centimeters. A convenient and practical 5-door body, original appearance is unlikely to attract lovers of real off-road driving. However, modern and stylish summer residents may well be interested in the model.

Exterior of Kia Rio X Line is a copy of the Chinese model Kia K2 Cross. The Russian division of the Korean concern did not reinvent the wheel, but took a ready-made car from the neighboring market, especially since the X-Line and the Rio sedan have a common unit base. The regular hatchback (which is sold in China, but has left our market) received a plastic body kit, bumpers with silver inserts, a new radiator grille, and decorative roof rails. The rear part has its own original lights and a successful design with a large opening making the car as practical as possible.

Photo Kia Rio X Line

Salon of the “off-road” Rio practically no different from the interior of a regular sedan. True, a different body shape made its own adjustments to the rear. Now, if desired, you can completely fold the rear seats and turn the car into a minivan. The quality of materials and their fit are, as always, at a very high level; in this regard, the models of this manufacturer can be given the highest score. A fairly decent wheelbase of 2600 mm will allow rear passengers to accommodate with reasonable comfort.

Photos of the Kia Rio X Line salon

The luggage compartment holds only 390 liters. Despite the deceptive appearance of the station wagon, this is a regular hatchback, which is 16 centimeters shorter than the sedan. These centimeters were cut off just from the back. If you completely fold the back of the rear sofa, you won’t get a flat platform, but the loading volume increases significantly.

Photo of the Rio X Line trunk

Technical characteristics of Kia Rio X-Line

Ground clearance of 17 centimeters may not be sufficient for traveling to our countryside destinations. However, this is all that Korean designers could squeeze out of the 16-centimeter ground clearance of a regular sedan. If you make the clearance larger, this means a significant rework of the suspension, a complete reconfiguration of the steering and the use of a lot of original parts that also need to be developed. In general, no one was going to invest serious resources in Rio X-Line.

Therefore, there are no surprises in the technical part, complete unification with the sedan. Front-wheel drive with independent MacPherson strut suspension, rear semi-independent suspension with a deformable beam. Electric power assisted rack and pinion steering.

The base engine is a 1.4 liter petrol unit developing 100 hp. and capable of digesting AI-92 gasoline. The engine with an aluminum cylinder block and timing chain drive has a double variable valve timing system and meets the most stringent environmental standards. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.

The more powerful 1.6 liter 16-valve petrol engine develops 123 horsepower and has a similar design. The motor is combined with a 6-speed. manual and automatic transmission. For a more powerful engine, a transmission is installed with different gear ratios, which significantly affects the dynamics.

By the way, if all trim levels of the previous generation Kia Rio had only disc brakes at the rear, today cheap versions have drums. This applies not only to the new generation sedan, but also to the Rio X-Line. Below are the mass and dimensional characteristics of the model.

Dimensions, weight, volumes, ground clearance Rio X-Line

• Body length – 4240 mm
• Width – 1750 mm
• Height – 1510 mm
• Curb weight – from 1155 kg
• Gross weight – 1620 kg
• Wheelbase – 2600 mm
• Front/rear wheel track – 1507/1513 mm
• Front overhang – 845 mm
• Rear overhang – 795 mm
• Trunk volume – 390 liters
• Trunk volume with seats folded – 1075 liters
• Fuel tank volume – 50 liters
• Tire size – 185/65 R15, 195/55 R16
• Ground clearance – 170 mm

Test drive video Kia Rio X-Line

Detailed video review and test drive of the Kia Rio X Line.

Another review.

Prices and configurations of Kia Rio X Line

As standard, buyers are offered a fairly decent set of options. The base already has air conditioning, power windows on all doors, front airbags, hill start assist control (HAC), exchange rate stability control (ESC) and much more. There's even a 4-speaker audio system. True, the wheels are 15-inch wheels with steel discs, and the rear brakes are drums. See the full list of prices and options here.

• X-Line Comfort 1.4 l., 6 manual transmission – 794,900 rubles
• X-Line Comfort 1.4 l., 6 automatic transmission – 834,900 rubles
• X-Line Comfort 1.6 l., 6 manual transmission – 819,900 rubles
• X-Line Comfort 1.6 l., 6 automatic transmission – 859,900 rubles
• X-Line Luxe 1.6 l., 6 manual transmission – 854,900 rubles
• X-Line Luxe 1.6 l., 6 automatic transmission – 884,900 rubles
• X-Line Prestige AV 1.6 l., 6 automatic transmission – 984,900 rubles
• X-Line Premium 1.6 l., 6 automatic transmission – 1,044,900 rubles

Prices are indicated without taking into account all kinds of discounts and promotions. For example, models produced in the past year can be bought cheaper.