Kia Rio 1,4 Tec vs. Toyota Yaris 1,3 Xs

We have to come clean: when the new Toyota Yaris arrived for its road test, we looked at the price and specification level, then set about finding a suitable rival for a comparative test. As usual, we settled on a mainstream/big-name competitor. As we were in the process of arranging the delivery of this rival, the new Kia Rio strolled into our garage, fresh from its launch, took one look at the Yaris and said: “I’ll have some of that.” Once we had compared the data of each vehicle, we realised that it was a no-brainer for a comparative test.

DESIGN AND PACKAGING

The all-new Yaris expounds design language created by the iQ city car (sadly, not available here). The new familial face has been adopted to fit this B-segment offering and has already been seen on, as an example, the new Verso. Toyota is usually keen on maintaining a strong family resemblance and it is mission accomplished with the Yaris. Compared with its predecessor, the new car is far more grown up, more angular and rakish, as opposed to ovoid and bulbous. At a quick glance, you could easily mistake it for a Corolla, which isn’t ideal for a car aimed at young buyers. The appearance is even more anonymous when viewed from behind, while the stretched wheelbase and wider tracks make it appear less compact and well proportioned than its popular predecessor.

By contrast, the Rio is far more stylish. Ex-Audi designer Peter Schreyer was definitely a good recruit to the cause and his signature tiger-nose grille has found a place on all recently launched Kias. Flanking this distinctive treatment are oversized upswept headlamps that create a bold facade. In this topspec 1,4 Tec, LEDs help the stylistic cause.

Viewed in profile, you cannot help but notice how the waistline rises steeply from the front fender to the taillamps, creating a strong wedge shape. At the rear is a pair of large, angular lamps that look of particularly high quality because they utilise tubular bulbs, similar to that employed on most modern BMWs.

The Rio’s looks are further enhanced by bright 17-inch alloys – another drawcard for prospective young buyers – whereas the Yaris makes do with 15-inch items.

Sliding into the Yaris, you are met with an interior treatment that left all our testers scratching their heads. What was Toyota thinking? The quality of the materials is the first point of concern, as they are rough to the touch and feel flimsy in some areas, such as the top of the facia. A strange streaky motif – almost as if the plastic was raked before it cooled – is adopted on most surfaces.

The instrument cluster is standard white-on-black fare and is now placed in front of the driver instead of in the centre of the facia. Oldschool LCD displays are used within the cluster and for the audio system. Speaking of the latter, for some unknown reason, Toyota has chosen to hide the USB port in the glove compartment.

Wide, grey, horizontal inserts ahead of the front passenger and on the door tops are meant to lift the dour interior and create the impression of a wide cabin; we think it fails on both counts. One of our testers went as far as calling the facia treatment and plastic quality a disaster, and said the cabin belongs in a car from the mid-‘90s.

Again, the Rio has the Yaris trumped. The look and feel inside are much more grown up and well executed. The design is more coherent and the perceived quality is years ahead of the Toyota. The Kia simply appears more mature, yet also fresher. We especially like the toggle-style switches on the lower facia.

Look closely and you will see a lot more features than in the Yaris, including climate control, leather upholstery and Bluetooth handsfree, equipment that even much more expensive luxury cars do not offer as standard.

The instruments, too, look far more modern. Back-lit, white numbers are complemented by red displays for the comprehensive onboard computer and audio read-out. While the Rio’s computer can be accessed by satellite controls on the steering wheel, in the Yaris you have to reach through or around the wheel to click a button that is mounted with the cluster.

Both cars offer steering wheel audio controls, which are great safety features and additions at this end of the market.

In the space race it is a pretty even-run event. Both cars offer good room for front and rear occupants, considering the class they fit into. If anything, the sculpted front seatbacks in the Yaris help create a little more kneeroom for rear-seat passengers.

That extra legroom does impact marginally on the luggage room, as the Toyota has less boot space at 232 versus 248 dm3 for the Kia. Surprisingly, the Kia manages to win on boot volume even though it houses a full-size alloy spare wheel under the boot board.

On the road

Small hatchbacks are designed for a wide variety of drivers and uses but, for the most part, they are aimed at younger drivers and the driving controls are developed with this in mind.

Piloting either car is a doddle. The major controls are light and mostly devoid of feel. The Yaris has the shorter-travel clutch pedal, which makes it slightly more prone to stalling. A higher bite point on the Rio makes for easy use in traffic. So there isn’t much to choose in that regard.

Neither is there much difference between the gearshift actions. The Toyota has a slightly more mechanical feel through its shortthrow gearlever, which won’t sit well with all drivers. The Rio feels far more detached from the inner workings of the gearbox.

From behind the helm, the Rio has the quicker-rack steering action, with just 2,82 turns needed from lock-to-lock. The Yaris requires 3,0 turns for the same.

In-line, four-pot motors are employed in both cases, and each drives the front wheels via sixspeed gearboxes.

The Rio might have the on-paper power advantage, its engine has the larger displacement and it develops more power. However, it also weighs a good 100 kg more than the Yaris. So, in a straight line, there isn’t much to choose between these two, and no one buying a 1,3-litre hatch should ever expect GTI-rivalling performance. If there is any differentiation worth noting, it is that the Yaris powerplant feels more refined and eager to rev than that of the Rio, despite its longer gearing.

As they both pack small engines, fuel consumption is expected to be low. Toyota claims an average fuel consumption of just 5,6 litres/100 km in the combined cycle and Kia claims 6,4 for the same routine. On our fuel route, the Yaris achieved 6,5 and the Rio 6,6 litres/100 km.

Of more importance is the ride quality and, to a lesser extent, handling ability. The Toyota feels typically, er, Toyota-ish through the seat of the pants and its tyres. Ride comfort is very good and the handling displays no real vices. Any ambitious driving is announced with a chirp from the tyres but matters never get out of hand.

Considering its larger alloys, by a full two inches in diameter, the Rio displays a ride that is easily comparable with that of the Yaris. One area of criticism we have levelled at most recent Kia products is the artificial feel of the steering action. A new Kia we drove recently felt as though it was connected to a gaming console with force-feedback. Thankfully this unseemly trait has not been carried over to the new Rio. The quick-rack steering may not be communicative, but it’s as good as any other full-electric system. It is comparatively entertaining to drive. The nose resists understeer to a decent degree and there aren’t any butt-clenching moments if you become too carried away.

Neither car is fitted with an electronic stability system but both have ABS, which makes for fussfree emergency braking. However, here again the Kia has the Toyota beat. While the Rio managed a good average stopping time of 2,97 seconds, in the same procedure the Yaris only managed an average of 3,39 seconds, earning it a poor rating.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Priced at R177 600, the Yaris is not as cheap as the Rio, which was launched at R168 995. Now, we would forgive the Yaris the dearer price tag if it came chock-full of standard features or excelled in various aspects of the drive experience. But it doesn’t. It seems that Toyota is trading heavily on the popularity of its brand.

Not only is the Rio cheaper, but it is also feature-laden. Apart from satellite navigation there is little that this car lacks; there are even parking sensors in the rear bumper. Our test unit was fitted with a sunroof, which adds R6 000 – and it’s still cheaper than the Toyota.

Both cars include four-year/ 60 000 km service plans in their list prices, but the Kia once again trumps the Toyota by virtue of a more realistic five-year/ 100 000 km warranty versus three years/100 000 km.

TEST SUMMARY

There was a time when such comparisons fell in favour of the mainstream brand, with statements such as “The next generation Kia should be better” or “The Korean falls short because”, but that time has come and gone.

In this test, the Rio has delivered a knock-out blow to the Yaris. It has beaten it in nearly all aspects. Once the doyen of South African buyers, Toyota has often seen off the challenge from newcomers, but not anymore. The manufacturer should hope brand loyalty runs deep and strong, as the Yaris is outclassed at the price.

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