Whether You are a Gas Miser or a Hot Hatch Driver, Rio is the One For You

Whether You are a Gas Miser or a Hot Hatch Driver, Rio is the One For You

This weekend I took a Rio for the day and experienced this vehicle in a number of situations. First of course was the drive home on Friday night. Everyone who looks at the Rio asks me what they can expect for gas mileage. The energuide ratings for the Rio says that it gets 6.8 l/100km (41.5mpg) city and 4.9 l/100km(57.6mpg) hwy. I drove the vehicle through the city on routes with speed limits varying from 50km/hr to 80 km/hr. I was able to keep moving forward and did not spend an unusual amount of time sitting at red lights or train crossings and with the active eco engaged I had an overall mileage of 6.0L/100km which translates to 47 mpg. Not bad for a city drive! The Rio’s Active Eco works by using the cars computer to alter the shifting pattern to maximize fuel economy. If you are looking for hot performance from your Rio, turn the Active Eco off and slip the car from Drive into the Steptronic 6 speed shifting gate. Your automatic transmission now operates like a manual with a clutchless slap stick shifter. Using this method allows you to control when the gears shift allowing the vehicle to climb in RPMs before shifting to the next gear. The difference is dramatic as the car hits maximum torque at 4850 RPM, an engine speed it never reaches on Active Eco mode. The next morning I drove the Rio the 20km or so back to the dealership. This time I left the Active Eco off and used the steptronic shifter. On each shift I let the RPMs climb a little higher than the vehicle had let it get on Active Eco and noticed a considerable difference in performance. The Rio felt like a sports car compared to the Active Eco version I had driven the night before. How did the mileage compare? For the same drive in reverse, the vehicle clocked a 7.5l/100km average. This translates to a 38mpg city drive. For my 20km drive I used .3l more fuel or 36 cents more fuel at current prices. Overall the Active Eco vs Steptronic debate has already been won as 95% of drivers will never use the manual aspect of the steptronic shifter and therefore save themselves a further $90 per year in fuel. So if the wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend/partner etc says they need a vehicle that is top notch in fuel economy vs your desire for a sportscar, Let the Steptronic shifter in the Rio be our little secret.

ROAD TEST ~ 2010 KIA BORREGO

ROAD TEST ~ 2010 KIA BORREGO

It may be the right truck at the wrong time. That statement could very well sum up the fate of Kia's mid-size Borrego SUV that arrived on the market in late 2008 as a 2009 model. Of course, that was just the time that auto sales began to tank with mid-size SUVs leading the nosedive thanks in part to a run-up in fuel prices. Often when a manufacturer is late to the party with a vehicle it works in their favour, allowing them to take the best features of the leading contenders and use them as benchmarks for their new model. That should have been the case for Kia with the Borrego, which in itself is a solid, well-built vehicle. The problem for Kia is that people aren't buying mid-size seven-passenger SUVs in the same numbers these days. Smaller crossovers (SUVs based on a car platform) have now taken over a big chunk of that market. The boxier, truck-style SUVs like the Borrego are much less in demand. But for those who still need a vehicle that can carry up to seven passengers and has lots of cargo room, the Borrego is a nice alternative to SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer and Hyundai Veracruz. The Borrego is available with two engine choices, a 276 hp 3.8-litre V6 or a 337 hp 4.6-litre V8. Both are available in LX and EX trim levels with a 4x4 system standard across the board. Prices start at $37,395 for the V6 LX, jumping to $41,395 for the V6 EX. The V8 LX starts at $39,895 and the V8 EX is $44,395. Add on a destination and delivery charge of $1,650 and a gas-guzzler tax of $200 for the V6 and $400 for the V8 (in Ontario only). The Borrego is a vehicle that should appeal to cottage-goers and drivers who pull a boat or travel trailer. It has off-road capability with a ground clearance of 217 mm (8.5 in) and the 3.8-litre V6 engine has a towing capacity of 2,268 kg (5,000 lb), while the 4.6-litre V8 will haul 3,402 kg (7,500 lb). Make no mistake, though, this is a big, heavy truck weighing 2,750 kg (6,063 lb) with the V6 and 2,800 kg (6,173 lb) with the V8. As a result of this weight, fuel economy is not the best, with a highway rating of 9.4L/100 km (30 mpg) and 13.0L/100 km (22 mpg) city for the V6. The V8 is rated at 9.7L/100 km (29) highway and 14.4L/100 km (20) city. Both run on regular unleaded fuel. During my time with the Borrego I averaged just over 14L/100 km. My tester was a V6 EX model that has a full time torque-on-demand 4x4 system (the LX features a part-time 4x4 system), mated with a five-speed automatic transmission. A dial on the dash allows you to lock into 4Low or 4High depending upon the conditions. It sits on 18-inch alloy wheels and has dual automatic climate control, leather seats and trim, power driver's seat, auto dimming rear view mirror, electric tilt/telescopic steering column, driver's seat integrated memory system, power tilt and sliding sunroof, fog lights and various exterior chrome garnishes. Safety features included four-wheel anti-lock (ABS) brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, six airbags, downhill assist control and hill assent control. From a styling standpoint, I don't feel the Borrego breaks any new ground. It looks much like so many other truck-based SUVs. It is not unattractive, but it just doesn't stand out from the crowd. As for the interior, it is nicely finished with materials that appear to be more upscale than you normally find in a Kia. The seats are supportive and comfortable and the heating feature on the seats was sure nice on cool mornings. All the knobs and switches seemed easy to access on the dash. During my week with the Borrego, the V6 showed plenty of power for all driving situations, so much so that unless you are using the Borrego as a tow vehicle, there would be no need for the V8. On the highway, the ride was fairly smooth and comfortable but on pothole-plagued secondary roads, the stiff suspension produced a bouncy, noisy ride that at times made you feel you were on a bucking bronco. Overall though, it's an easy SUV to drive and I found myself at home in it almost immediately when I got behind the wheel. I drive a lot of vehicles and often you can never find the "sweet spot" as far as driving comfort is concerned. The Borrego does a lot of things well and is an impressive entry for Kia into the midsize SUV class. But, timing is everything and it may have arrived at the wrong time in automotive history to make much of a dent in the marketplace. BODY STYLE: midsize SUV. DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, four-wheel drive. ENGINE: 3.8-litre V6 (276 hp, 267 lb/ft) with five-speed automatic transmission; 4.6-litre V8 (337 hp, 323 lb/ft) with six-speed automatic transmission. FUEL ECONOMY: 3.8-litre 13.0L/100 km (22 mpg) city, 9.4L/100 km (30 mpg) highway; 4.6-litre 14.4L/100 km (20 mpg) city, 9.7L/100 km (29 mpg) highway. PRICE: 3.8L LX V6 $37,395, 3.8L EX V6 $41,395, 4.6L LX V8 $39,895, 4.6L EX V8 $44,395. Posted by Formula Publications Team at 01:18:09 PM