Kia Rio Sport 2019 review: snapshot

The Rio Sport is the middle-tier of a three-variant line-up, sitting above the entry-level S and below the top-spec GT-Line.

The Sport starts from $17,790 for a six-speed manual or $20,090 for the six-speed automatic.

One of the Sport’s main features over the S which sits below it is the new six-speed torque converter auto. The S is still burdened with an antiquated four-speed 'box. The Sport also gains cruise control.

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Explore the 2019 Kia Rio Range

Kia Rio 2022 review: S manual Kia Rio 2021 review: S auto Kia Rio Sport 2019 review: snapshot Kia Rio 2019 review: S Kia Rio 2019 review: GT-Line

Standard fitment on the Sport is a 7.0-inch multimedia touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, a leather-bound steering wheel and gear shift, and heated and folding wing-mirrors.

The Sport is powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder non-turbo engine producing 74kW/133Nm. It runs on base-grade 91RON unleaded petrol consuming a claimed/combined fuel figure of 5.6 for the manual or 6.0 for the auto.

The Sport does not have any active safety, even as an option, and so is limited to the standard suite of stability controls, six airbags and three top-tether (or two ISOFIX) child-seat mounting points. It maintains a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating as of 2017.

All Rios have a decent 325-litre boot with the rear seats up or 980L with them down. All Rios are also covered by a seven year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.