Kia Rio hatchback

The Kia Rio has matured rather impressively since the first, rather mundane and budget-focused version arrived over a decade ago. While still good value, the Rio is now more sensible than penny-pinching, and a worthy competitor in the hard-fought supermini class.

While it may not be as stylish as some, its strengths are practicality, fuel efficiency and generous standard equipment, not to mention the seven-year warranty that makes any Kia a trouble-free ownership proposition. It's a competent all-rounder and deserves to be weighed up against European rivals such as the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa, SEAT Ibiza, Hyundai i10 and Skoda Fabia, as well as the Nissan Micra and Toyota Yaris.

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Compared to the Ford and SEAT, the Kia is a little underwhelming behind the wheel. Its steering responses are dull and it doesn't feel as poised or agile as its rivals, yet it doesn't have the weighty, substantial feel of the Volkswagen Polo, either.

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There are three engines to choose from, our favourite of which is a 1.0-litre petrol with either 99 or 108bhp. This is a relatively modern three-cylinder and it's quite peppy – which suits its position near the top of the price list. The two versions can reach 62mph from rest in 10.3 and 9.8 seconds respectively, but aren't quite as quiet or smooth as the equivalent rival engines.

There's also the less expensive 83bhp 1.25-litre engine, capable of returning up to 46mpg. Meanwhile, for those who still want fuel-efficiency but whose driving is mainly urban, the 99bhp petrol engine still returns up to 48.7mpg.

Further adding to the Rio's common-sense credentials is its spacious interior. It's now available as a five-door only, so access to the front and rear seats is easy and nobody on board is likely to feel claustrophobic. Nor is your luggage likely to complain of being cooped up – there's 325 litres of boot capacity, which is about 10% more than a Fiesta.

Even the Rio's trim levels are sensibly named, dubbed simply 1, 2, and 3, although the range-topping models are known as GT-Line and GT-Line S. Even the entry-level 1 trim includes air-conditioning, which hasn’t always been standard on the most basic cars in this class. It should be noted that you can only choose the most powerful petrol engine in the flagship model. We recommend the mid-range 2 in 99bhp 1.0-litre form as a good all-rounder.

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It's clear, then, that the Rio has plenty going for it, but it's no class leader. While many will appreciate its no-nonsense character, it doesn’t really excel in any one area and its rather bland looks and driving experience mean it won’t be a car you buy with your heart. However, if you're more interested in emotion-free transportation, there's no ignoring that long warranty, nor the fact that the Kia Rio finished in 23rd place out of the top 75 cars in our 2020 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey.