Topic: 2012 Kia Rio SX with NAV

[dirtyjeffer]

Hey DJ,

Congrats on the new purchase, looks great in white!!

I see that you also own a Elantra Touring and would be curious to hear what your thoughts are on both.  Roominess, handling, fit/finish, acceleration etc…

I’m currently looking at an ET as a replacement for an 04 Corolla but would also consider going even smaller with a subcompact.

Thanks

the ET is also a great car...it has quite a bit more space in it than the Rio (more than most compact CUVs), and drives quite well with decent handling, easy to drive demeanor and good on gas...it is also well priced and has decent incentives (maybe not a bit deal if you pay cash, but if you finance, that could save you a couple thousand dollars in interest)...the ET doesn't have all toys my Rio5 has, but it trades off features for space...we use that car as our utility vehicle now...acceleration for the ET is what i would consider as "adequate" for the class...it isn't a sports car, but it has no problem keeping up with other vehicles in every day driving...it has fairly tall gearing (it is a manual transmission) so even on the highway, if you are in 5th gear, you don't really need to downshift to pass...i think the revs are around 3000ish at 100km/hr...it seemed a little high to me at first, but a lot of smaller engine cars from Asian are geared that way, and it still gets decent fuel economy (better than the Rio currently, although i am not driving it "normally" and it is brand new with only 300 kms on it so far)...fit and finish is excellent (in both models)...the 2012 Elantra Touring (ET) has seen some changes to the trim levels, and perhaps a minor change to the IP stack (radio, etc)...our radio looks a little on the "cheesy" side, but it works well and the 6 speaker stereo system sounds decent (not sure of its specs, but it sounds ok)...the cup holders in the center console are better (larger and deeper) than the ones in the Rio5.

it really comes down to needs...the ET is about $20k and has a lot of space, is good quality and you would likely be very pleased with it...it offers a lot more space than all of its competitors, yet is comparably priced (and you might even get an extra few features) plus you will likely get better finance rates...currently, a top trim GLS is $20,149 ($500 off) and you get 0% interest for 84 months...it's a great deal for a decent vehicle, which is why we bought ours.

[Guy]

  Great looking car! Congrats!

[dirtyjeffer]

got the windows tinted yesterday and today i got the undercoating and paint sealer stuff put on...i know some people say that stuff is a waste, but i want the car to look good until i'm 50...by then, it will be time to buy my mid-life crisis Mercedes roadster or something completely impractical.

[dirtyjeffer]

snapped a quick pic, but it is cloudy and yucky outside.

[Jaeger]

Looks sharp with the tint.  White cars always do.

Jaeger

[Hammy]

Kia owners will soon rule the world!


www.nlcarblog.blogspot.com

[CanuckS2K]

Dj, that looks extremely sharp with the tint on.   

[Shnak]

Kia owners will soon rule the world!


www.nlcarblog.blogspot.com

Hear hear! I feel like a grandparent to you kids... I had to be one of the first here with a Kia. 

[dirtyjeffer]

took it out of town today for a bit of a drive...a few back roads around 90 km/hr and the 401 at about 115km/hr...fuel economy averaged 6.2 for the trip (about 250 kms)...3000 RPM would map out to about 140 km/hr in this car (i didn't take it that far, but i think that's about where it would end up had i pressed it a little further)...2500 RPM is bang on 70 MPH (112 km/hr)...no cross wind issues, steering was firm and easy to keep on center and it felt quite planted...i didn't do any "passing moves", but i would imagine you would likely want to "time it", as this isn't a sports car...likely comparable to everything else in its class...road and wind noise was there a little, but no more than i noticed in other cars...i would say "average"...the NAV system worked great and i really like its simplicity and functionality...it's my first car with NAV, so i'm not sure how it compares to others, but i can say it does work very well...much better than a portable unit we borrow from my wife's parents last summer...the car has a 43L gas tank, so just be sure to spot the gas stations accordingly...it doesn't gulp down the fuel by any means, but the tank isn't very big either, so you might be surprised to see that your day trip used half a tank of gas...of course, it isn't as bad when you realize it was only $28 to fill it back up, even at today's prices ($1.339/L).

[Ex-airbalancer]

I would not worry about looking for gas stations, in the Prius on the highway , I can get up 900km in a 40 litre tank, so you will need to stop for a WC before you run empty

[dirtyjeffer]

i don't think i could make it 900 kms, but 750 is likely realistic...perhaps a bit more depending on conditions (speed, temps, etc).

[dirtyjeffer]

did a trip to Toronto and back on Sunday...used the Nav system and it worked quite well (as did the satellite radio)...round trip going about 115km/hr returned 6.5L/100kms...my last tank of city driving ended up about 7.6L/100kms, so it is starting to go down a bit...i engaged the "ActiveECO" on my current tank to see if it will make much of a difference...i can definitely tell the difference in how it "operates" as it shifts early (gets into top gear around 70km/hr) and is hesitant to downshift unless you really put your foot into it...not sure if i will leave it on, as it does "tame" the ride quite a bit, but we'll see.

[Seafoam]

did a trip to Toronto and back on Sunday...used the Nav system and it worked quite well (as did the satellite radio)...round trip going about 115km/hr returned 6.5L/100kms...my last tank of city driving ended up about 7.6L/100kms, so it is starting to go down a bit...i engaged the "ActiveECO" on my current tank to see if it will make much of a difference...i can definitely tell the difference in how it "operates" as it shifts early (gets into top gear around 70km/hr) and is hesitant to downshift unless you really put your foot into it...not sure if i will leave it on, as it does "tame" the ride quite a bit, but we'll see.

Yes that eco button works the same way in my new civic. It's probably more suited for slower speed driving in city traffic.

[Hammy]

Same for the Optima, might save a bit on gas but it saves a LOT on driving fun.

[Jaeger]

Same for the Optima, might save a bit on gas but it saves a LOT on driving fun.

Damn straight. 

Jaeger

[rrocket]

Same for the Optima, might save a bit on gas but it saves a LOT on driving fun.

Damn straight. 

Jaeger

Is there a button you can push to turn it from FWD to RWD??   

[dirtyjeffer]

Yes that eco button works the same way in my new civic. It's probably more suited for slower speed driving in city traffic.

yea, my current tank is strictly city driving...most of my driving is city only...i don't go out of town often.

[rrocket]

Yes that eco button works the same way in my new civic. It's probably more suited for slower speed driving in city traffic.

yea, my current tank is strictly city driving...most of my driving is city only...i don't go out of town often.

C'mon!!  Live a little!  Take that sucker on a road trip!!

[Angry Chicken]

I saw a white one today.  Had a good look at it too. I don't think that there's a bad angle to view it from.  Great proportions.  Definitely the kind of car you look back at over your shoulder as you walk away after parking it

[dirtyjeffer]

I saw a white one today.  Had a good look at it too. I don't think that there's a bad angle to view it from.  Great proportions.  Definitely the kind of car you look back at over your shoulder as you walk away after parking it

agreed...i wonder if Snowman will do a straight up trade in 5 years when he decides to move on from his current delicious treat.