Updated Kia Rio vs New Opel Corsa – Power versus features

So you’re in the market for a Kia Rio – but the new Opel Corsa just got released and this has made your purchasing decision that much harder.

They look quite similar, have about the same dimensions, and the price difference is under R10,000.

Both cars have won multiple awards, according to their respective makers, and you can get both for less than R3,000 per month if you go for one of their dealer offers.

To help car buyers make up their minds, we have compared the Opel Corsa Edition 1.2N and the Kia Rio 1.2 LS below.

Under the hood

Under the hood of these cars you will find a 1.2-litre, non-turbocharged petrol engine.

Their outputs differ, however, and the Kia Rio pulls ahead with 61kW of power and 120Nm of torque.

This is compared to the 55kW and 118Nm the Opel Corsa produces.

Combined fuel consumption remains low for this segment, and the Opel comes in at a claimed 5.8l/100km – whereas the Kia wins with a slightly-lower 5.7l/100km.

Both motors are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, but it is worth noting that the 1.4-litre version of the Rio offers a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission option, along with the more powerful engine.

Opel currently does not offer any of these options on the new Corsa, but have stated they will release more derivatives in the Corsa line during the year.

Features

Moving inside, there are good-looking fabric seats installed in both, each one is treated to the brand’s newest infotainment system connected to six speakers, and a multi-information display is placed in the instrument cluster.

The Rio has an 8-inch touchscreen display mounted near to top of the dash, while the Corsa’s 7-inch display is a bit more integrated and sits flush with the rest of the dash.

Both cars are Bluetooth compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities, with additional USB and AUX inputs also installed.

Furthermore, they both receive handy multifunction steering wheels, all-round power windows and electric wing mirrors, and manually-adjustable air conditioning systems.

One area where the Opel reels in the Kia, however, is with safety systems.

It has all-round airbags while the Rio only has two at the front.

It has a 180-degree panoramic rear-view camera and cruise control with speed limiter and speed limit adaptation fitted as standard, whereas these features are optional extras on the Rio.

Additional standard features for the Opel Corsa include hill-start assist, emergency braking assist and warning, and park assist systems.

Looks

These compact hatchbacks look quite similar.

In fact, the Rio is only 10mm longer, 20mm lower, and 25mm narrower than the Corsa – and boasts a higher luggage capacity at 325 litres, compared to 309 litres.

Halogen headlamps and rear fog lamps are fitted to both, and daytime running lights are standard on the Opel.

For the wheels, Opel decided to put 16-inch alloys on the Corsa, while the Rio sits on 15-inch alloys that are now standard across the range.

Both cars are quite attractive in their segment, and have the prescribed angles, stylish lines, and sporty bumpers that every hatch needs if it wants to make an impression.

The Corsa does look a bit more modern, however, but you wouldn’t say it’s nearly four years newer than the design of the Rio.

Price

Looks are subjective, but it’s hard to ignore the fact the Corsa Edition offers more features as standard than the cheapest Rio.

Prices for the Opel Corsa Edition 1.2N start at R289,900 – and with this you receive a 3-year/120,000km warranty and roadside assistance, as well as a 3-year/45,000km service plan.

Prices for the Kia Rio model range start at R280,995 for the 1.2 LS.

It’s worth mentioning that an upgraded version with a 1.4-litre engine and more base features will only cost R2,000 more than the Corsa, at R291,995.

With the base model you receive a 2-year/30,000km service plan, along with a 5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assistance.