ACCORDING to Kia, the new Rio boasts a higher quality interior and bolder exterior styling allied to sharper dynamics and improved refinement.

Fuel consumption has also been improved by between five and eight per cent.

These revisions have been achieved without a price increase, making the New Kia Rio even better value for money, with the range starting at £5,995.

Revisions include new front lights, a bolder grille and higher bonnet line giving the car a distinct family look, alongside the new Carens and the latest Sedona MPV.

The new Rio also benefits from 14-inch wheels across the range.Interior changes include revised fascia, switches, dashboard and centre console. Higher quality materials are used throughout including new seat fabric and trim.

Changes to the front and rear suspension have given the car greater poise through corners, while uprated brakes achieve a 13 per cent improvement in stopping distances.

Both the 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre Rio now achieve in excess of 40mpg in the combined Government fuel consumption rating. Meanwhile, the low CO2 of the 1.3-litre ensures that it sits in the lowest company car tax band, with the 1.5-litre just one band above it.

Front suspension changes include fitting three-point front MacPherson struts instead of two-point struts, with strut length increased by 10mm. At the same time the stabiliser bar has been increased in diameter. The rear suspension benefits from a straightened lower torsion beam, a stabiliser bar that has increased diameter and a larger trailing arm brush.

The Rio 1.3 LX gains rear electric windows, remote central door locking, two front tweeter speakers, pollen filter, tilt adjustable driver’s seat, variable intermittent wash wipe, auto down driver’s window and time lag windows. The Rio 1.5 SE makes the same gains as the 1.3 LX, and gets front fog lamps and RDS stereo audio with CD player.