KIA RIO

There is one phrase that sums up the Rio and that's VFM, which this feisty supermini has in spades. With the entire range squeezed into a small price envelope of between £8,495 and £9,995 you might wonder if some corners have been cut. The answer is an emphatic no, as the Rio has tons of standard equipment such as power steering, an adjustable steering wheel, cup holders, map lamp, power outlet and aircon. The CD audio system also comes with an MP3 player so no cost cutting there either. The LX version also has tinted windows and fifteen inch alloy wheels. So maybe it is the supermini that's got it all. So far I haven't even mentioned central locking and front electric windows, driver's seat height adjustment, and a large 1,145 litre boot.

So for carrying ability and equipment it's great for a car that is higher, wider but shorter than the outgoing model, and has the best in class interior space, so you get maximum comfort. The length is now 3990mm, but has an improved wheelbase. Perhaps they have cut corners on the engine, but when you look closer you will find that in fact the engine has now got better performance and is more economical. There are two engines, a 1.4 and 1.5 litre turbo diesel, which was the model we looked at. This gives up to 36% more power than most diesels in the segment. It's rated at 109bhp and has a top speed of 110mph and acceleration figures of 11.5 seconds for the 0-62mph sprint. Economy is 49.6, 68.9 and 60.1mpg for the urban, extra urban and combined cycles.

All that's great,but the real reason you may want to consider a Rio is for the looks. Both inside and out it has clean, crisp lines. The front and rear light clusters are distinctive and there are wheelarch flares and some strong looking black side protection mouldings. There's even a distinctive air intake grill and a deep front spoiler.

So there you have it. A VFM supermini that's longer than most of the European supermini's and with good looks, comfort, a good equipment list, and a punchy, yet economical engine. And with the new Rio being Euro 4 compliant you know you're being kinder to the environment too. This must be a serious contender for in town travel.