2015 Kia Rio - prices, engines, specs

The face-lifted Kia Rio was previewed at the 2014 Paris motor show and has now gone on sale in the UK.

What is it?

Kia has updated its small car offering to compete in a tough class.

The three- or five-door hatch is one of the more spacious models in the small car class and it also includes a 288-litre boot and folding rear seats to boost practicality.

What engines can I choose from?

Kia has kept the same engine line-up as in the outgoing car, so there are two petrol and two diesel options.

Petrol buyers can choose from a 1.25-litre unit that offers 84bhp while averaging 56.5mpg and emitting 115g/km of CO2 and a 1.4-litre unit with 107bhp. When paired with the standard manual gearbox, the 1.4 averages 53.3mpg and emits 114g/km of CO2. When coupled with the optional automatic box those figures are 44.1mpg and 147g/km.

If you prefer diesel power, the 1.1-litre diesel averages an impressive 88.3mpg and emits just 86g/km of CO2 in entry-level 1 trim. However, buyers might be put off by the 74bhp it produces. A more powerful 1.4-litre diesel is available. It produces a more usable 89bhp, averages 70.6mpg and emits 98g/km of CO2.

How much equipment does it come with?

All new Rios come with DAB digital radio, electric mirrors, hill-start assist, front electric windows, a height-adjustable driver's seat, folding rear seats and USB connectivity.

Trim level 2 gets air-conditioning, Bluetooth, a tyre-pressure monitoring system and electric folding door mirrors.

The 3 and 4 trims both come with a new 7.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system that includes sat-nav and a reversing camera.

Trim level 3 also includes climate control, automatic wipers, heated front seats, cruise control and LED running lights. To this, 4 adds keyless stop/start, a heated steering wheel, a sunroof and leather upholstery.

How much will it cost?

The face-lifted Kia Rio is on sale now. The entry-level 1.25 1 three-door starts at £10,345 while the base five-door model will set you back £10,945.

Can I get a discount?

Dealers were selling the outgoing model with discounts of around 10%, so expect some discounts to be available but perhaps not to the same level yet on the face-lifted car.

How good are its rivals?

The Kia Rio is a decent car in a very tough class. It faces stiff competition from the class leaders, the Ford Fiesta and the Volkswagen Polo. It can't match either in terms of drive but it is spacious, good value and cheap to run, which makes it worth a look.

Anything else I should know?

The only other thing to bear in mind is that all new Rios come with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.