Kia Rio wins Carsguide Car of the Year Award 2011

csv8 · 17-12-2011, 10:23 AM

Kia Rio wins Carsguide Car of the Year Award 2011
by: Paul Gover From: The Courier-Mail December 16, 2011 12:00am 5
THE budget-beating Kia Rio is the Carsguide car of the year for 2011.

The little South Korean hatch beat a quality field of finalists for this year's most coveted motoring award to become only the second South Korean to claim the crown.

It follows the Hyundai i30, the winner in 2007. Last year's winner was Volkswagen's Polo TSI.

The Rio edged out the Volvo S60 T4 in the closest vote in Carsguide's COTY history, with the Ford Focus finishing third.

Priced from $16,290, the Rio has an official fuel consumption of only 5.6 litres/100km, a five-star ANCAP crash safety rating and sits at the bottom of a Kia range that improves each year, helped by classy design and local engineering input.

"It's a great little car and one we're proud to endorse as the pick of a hugely competitive 2011 field," Carsguide managing editor Ged Bulmer said.

The award is in its 15th year and the judging process involved 10 News Limited experts with more than 200 years of combined experience in reporting and analysing the Australian motor industry.

The first COTY was the Holden Commodore VT in 1987 and Holden is the most successful manufacturer with four wins.

Anastasia Tjombanakis embodies Australia's ever-growing rush from big to small cars. She has just traded the first COTY winner for the new one and the former VT Commodore owner is impressed by her Kia Rio.

"It was a bit different, (in) design and styling. I wanted something a bit snazzy," she said. "It's totally different to the Commodore but I miss the torque of the V6 a bit.

"Apart from that it's a good little car. I've done some country trips in it already and it was good on the open road."

Ms Tjombanakis said her little red manual hatch had an impressive amount of interior space for a small car as well.

"It's really good, very comfortable - my friends comment on how much space it has," she said.

My poor XF · 17-12-2011, 10:52 AM

VT has been around since 1987?? Crickey! No wonder they look tired.

Whiskeyonesix · 17-12-2011, 10:58 AM

The koreans have really upped their game. We're thinking about getting one of these Rio's for the wifes next car.

Wretched · 17-12-2011, 12:21 PM

I read the final reviews and thought it was quite fair.
The Kia is a better car than the Hyundai equivalent.
The Volvo S60 is quite good and in wagon form (v60) could be my next car.
Focus did well in my opinion and Ford really need to get behind this car. ST is going to be a ball tearer.

Ringo · 17-12-2011, 12:36 PM

The Korean are producing cars that are on par with the Japanese in many ways these days and their market share is growing year on year.

I get annoyed that resale value doesn't make up a large part of some of these 'COTY' and "Best Car Under $x' assessments.

I read RACV car of the year and was having a great laugh at the cars that didn't make the short list as some of them would be worth thousands more in 3 years time than the cars they short listed - ie Renault Laguna up against a Honda Accord or Subaru Liberty.

aussie muscle · 19-12-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo

I get annoyed that resale value doesn't make up a large part of some of these 'COTY' and "Best Car Under $x' assessments. .

probably because you won't know the exact resale value until the car is sold, probably in minimum of 3 years.

Werd. · 19-12-2011, 11:51 AM

How many bloody "Car of the year" things are there these days, not even worth posting because the Commodores won some, the Falcons won some, every car has.

csv8 · 19-12-2011, 12:41 PM

Its the WHEELS one that really counts..and thats in February next year not January.

rancidpunx · 19-12-2011, 12:54 PM

Looks like them buying up Audi personal is paying off for Kia. I Hate to say it but their new generation vehicles are quite handsome.

Gman_86_xr6 · 19-12-2011, 08:22 PM

It's hardly a surprise, the new Kias are pretty bloody good. Not to mention that Carsguide seem to value cost of ownership over pretty much everything else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Werd.

How many bloody "Car of the year" things are there these days, not even worth posting because the Commodores won some, the Falcons won some, every car has.

Not true, The Camry never wins these awards, Corolla too, In fact Toyota have still never won a Wheels COTY.

2011G6E · 19-12-2011, 08:36 PM

Got to admit I found myself getting out of the G6E in a car park the other day in Emerald, and sitting beside us was a pleasantly styled little coupe, looked really good in bright red. I said to my son "hey, that's nice, what is it?", and he walked around the back of it and said "It's a Kia...a Cerato Koup"...
Gave me a surprise, I can tell you. I looked it up, $23,990 drive away? Makes a pleasant change from the boring little econobox of a 2000 model Kia Rio my mother-in-law drives, I can tell you...

JC · 19-12-2011, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Got to admit I found myself getting out of the G6E in a car park the other day in Emerald, and sitting beside us was a pleasantly styled little coupe, looked really good in bright red. I said to my son "hey, that's nice, what is it?", and he walked around the back of it and said "It's a Kia...a Cerato Koup"...
Gave me a surprise, I can tell you. I looked it up, $23,990 drive away? Makes a pleasant change from the boring little econobox of a 2000 model Kia Rio my mother-in-law drives, I can tell you...

The koreans have come a long way since the days of Excels falling apart. I saw one of those ceratos the other day too, and thought it was a new renaoult, merc or audi (until I got close). I still wouldn't buy a Kia - bloody mobile road blocks, but I did look at an I30 when I got me lease car - eventually went for the 380 though (dropping from a V8, I had to have some power......), but in (quite) a few years time when the kids have their own cars, I'll be looking at a Cherry, JMC etc as no doubt the chinese quality will go up by then.

1TUFFUTE · 19-12-2011, 09:01 PM

yeah there r sooo many coty awards these days all you can do is check them all out and pay atention to the ones that keep poping there heads up or there abouts. Like the new focus.....and the ranger. And this is the first of the recent awards ive even seen the kia mentioned

WILDB · 19-12-2011, 09:56 PM

The new Rio is a damn impressive vehicle compared to the old JB Rio, roomy and pretty decent to drive.....

Nikked · 19-12-2011, 10:00 PM

Hyundai, Kia...and yes, even the Korean built holdens are quite good cars.

Those i45 wagons are porn...

Bossxr8 · 20-12-2011, 08:22 PM

Its funny that Kia is supposed to be Hyundais budget brand, yet they have much better steering, ride and handling than the Hyundais, and are considered better vehicles than their Hyundai twins.

Hyundai must get mad.

BFZ Wagon · 20-12-2011, 10:11 PM

The new model must have a different engine that is excellent on fuel as I know a few people with the previous (outgoing) model Rio 1.4L 4 speed auto and it is thirsty as. They average 9-10 on the HWY (yes highway) and getting @ 8's around town. Weird how small cars are still getting bad economy.

Big difference compared to the new model that claims 5.6L/100kms. They must have made a few changes.

At least Kia hasn't hit all of their models with the ugly stick just yet.
It's funny how Kia used to be the cheap brand people bought when they couldn't afford the Hyundai alternative. Now look at them. They've gone upmarket.

imugli · 20-12-2011, 10:33 PM

The Korean built Holdens are probably the WORST Korean cars on the market. Barina doesn't hold a candle to equivalent Hyundai / Kia, Spark is rubbish according to all reports, Cruze isn't up to scratch dynamically... Why anyone would buy a Korean engineered or built Holden over one of the equivalent Kia / Hyundai models is absolutely beyond me... It really is astonishing at how aspirational that Lion on the bonnet is to bogans everywhere, regardless of where it's built...

2011G6E · 21-12-2011, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imugli

The Korean built Holdens are probably the WORST Korean cars on the market. Barina doesn't hold a candle to equivalent Hyundai / Kia, Spark is rubbish according to all reports, Cruze isn't up to scratch dynamically... Why anyone would buy a Korean engineered or built Holden over one of the equivalent Kia / Hyundai models is absolutely beyond me... It really is astonishing at how aspirational that Lion on the bonnet is to bogans everywhere, regardless of where it's built...

I've seen plenty of bogans in old Falcons as well...must be brand blindness that we don't notice the idiots in Falcons, but notice every single one driving a Commodore...

1TUFFUTE · 21-12-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

I've seen plenty of bogans in old Falcons as well...must be brand blindness that we don't notice the idiots in Falcons, but notice every single one driving a Commodore...

haha i think you missed his very valid point....if there in old falcons then there not the ones who have gone and brought a new holden over the far superiour competitors. if the ford guys were to be brand bogans...good on them...they would end up in the class leading cars ......ford builds some of the best small cars in the world

Bossxr8 · 21-12-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Its the WHEELS one that really counts..and thats in February next year not January.

And the Kia Rio didn't even make the final 6 for that.

Winner is announced Jan 18.

Nikked · 21-12-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imugli

The Korean built Holdens are probably the WORST Korean cars on the market. Barina doesn't hold a candle to equivalent Hyundai / Kia, Spark is rubbish according to all reports, Cruze isn't up to scratch dynamically... Why anyone would buy a Korean engineered or built Holden over one of the equivalent Kia / Hyundai models is absolutely beyond me... It really is astonishing at how aspirational that Lion on the bonnet is to bogans everywhere, regardless of where it's built...

Cruze and captiva are both very good cars, fit and finish is remarkable...

imugli · 21-12-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Cruze and captiva are both very good cars, fit and finish is remarkable...

And yet both are line ball with their Hyundai / Kia competitors in most reviews / comparisons you read, though none of them are considered class leaders.

From all reports so far, even the new Malibu has missed the class leadership boat. If it's not as good as the current Fusion, what hope does it have against the next Mondeo / Fusion?

Don't get me wrong, if Holden sold a class leading Korean built car, all power to them. But saying they're Korean built cars are very good doesn't really stack up to scrutiny when they're line ball at best against their Korean counterparts and nowhere near class-leading against the rest of the competition.

Rodge · 22-12-2011, 07:04 AM

The Hyundai group are really going places and growing market share.
Cheap and cheerful is the "new cool" in a global financial crisis world.

Few years ago I read the Hyundai group invest an incredible 7% of gross sales back into R&D. Very smart business practice if you ask me.

Bossxr8 · 22-12-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Cruze and captiva are both very good cars, fit and finish is remarkable...

They are both average cars, middle of their segments at best.

Cruze couldn't even make it past the first round of eliminations in Wheels COTY. Interiors were cheap and plastics were hard and nasty they said.

There are many better cars in their segments than both of them.

Stefan · 22-12-2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Those i45 wagons are porn...

Yeah they look great, this is what the subbie outback should look like.... but subaru styling is now led by stevie wonder

Nikked · 22-12-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

They are both average cars, middle of their segments at best.
.

Pulled one apart?

Bossxr8 · 22-12-2011, 05:08 PM

Its how they drive that count, I thought cars were built for that purpose.

Why would I pull one apart unless it has a problem?

Nikked · 22-12-2011, 05:16 PM

You get to see how solid they are...things like the bumper bar brackets that are the same as euros best, trim panel gaps...The latest captiva's dash even is very similer to an Astra, and has an imbuilt keypad for phone use :-)

I think korea are to be watched...

Franco Cozzo · 22-12-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Pulled one apart?

I've pulled apart Mercedes Sprinters, VE Commodores and Previous model Territory.

Commodore is horrible build quality, the clips are actually stronger than the plastic trim, so you go to pull them off and they snap. The previous model Territory, there is that much sealant around the body its not funny, the plastic trims are also low quality, cheap plastics and a lot of sharp edges on the insides around where the seatbelt pretensioners are which you can easily cut up your hands on.