Tracy IsemingerAs you may have figured out, I LOVE test driving cars. I used to actually go do test drives for fun when I was killing time when I was younger, lol! Well, recently I had the opportunity to drive the new 2013 Kia Rio SX recently when our other car lost it’s A/C when Spring temps sprung to 99 degrees. Uggg… figures right.
I honestly didn’t expect to like the car so much. Being the “affordable subcompact” in the Kia lineup made me think that I probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much as some of the more “luxury” cars I have driven. After all, it’s just a little 1.6L 4-Cylinder car, right?
Well, we gave the car a good test doing the “kiddie shuffle”… you know… one kid has practice at 5 at one location, the other a game at 5:15 at another location and somewhere between work, homework, making sure everyone has what they need and getting them where they are going, you try and squeeze in a decent dinner. Well, it seemed like every night that week was just that hectic – not getting home until 8 or 9 pm. We definitely tested it out good!
Like I said, Surprisingly, when you get in, it’s actually very roomy (I’m 5’10” so I need a bit of room). You almost sit down into the car so it feels like you are in a bubble of sorts…not cramped at all. There is also a huge trunk for such a small looking car. I found plenty of room for all my stuff… I could’ve even bought more!
It is a super cute car too. My kids actually really liked this one. Very stylish if you want to be a hip mama!
The interior is very nice also with the same monitor featuring satellite radio, navigation, and media ports (aux, ipad, mp3, etc….) as other Kia models. Very user friendly. The oversize sunroof also makes the space feel larger. The backseat is big enough for the kids or smaller adults. For taller folks like myself, the back seat is doable, but maybe not preferable.
Now- The driving experience. It’s not the most powerful car in the Kia lineup, so don’t expect to go from 0-60 in 2 seconds flat. As I said earlier, its’ a 1.6L 4 Cylinder. It has sufficient power and with the easy paddle shifters on the steering column, it’s super easy to downshift for a quick boost for hills and such.
It handles super on corners and has a great turning radius. ( I have to flip U-ies at the bus stop every day). It’s also great for tight parking spaces 😉
I think this car would be an awesome starter car for any teen or just for running around town with a 4-star safety rating and average of 36 mph highway and 28 city. Starting at $17,700 to 21,000 nicely equipted, it’s a budget friendly car as well.
For more info on the Kia Rio, visit the Kia Website for all the specs and options.
Happy Driving!
