Now Much More than Merely A to B

When the Rio hit the market in model year 2001, Kia boasted it was the

After spending three days driving the four-door sedan and five-door hatchback in various levels of trim, I think that its under-priced by at least a thousand across its lineup. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

lowest priced car in Canada. Now, the 2006 Kia, just being introduced nationwide, is so good that it doesn't need to be marketed on price alone. Actually, after spending three days driving the four-door sedan and five-door hatchback in various levels of trim, from Quebec City to Charlevois, Quebec, home of the beautiful Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu hotel, one of the grand dames of the CP hotel chain and a destination all its own, and through a torrential downpour the first night, which actual had police blocking off flooded sections of roadway, and blue skies the next day in which we drove about 400 km up the St. Lawrence and back down, I think that its under-priced by at least a thousand across its lineup.

Why? Well, first of all it's a high quality car. I first noticed this when scanning its exterior panels, that fit together with a precision normally associated with premium brands, and the best entry-level marques from

All panel gaps are tight and perfectly aligned, not something I can say about all manufacturers. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Japan. All panel gaps are tight and perfectly aligned, not something I can say about all manufacturers, no matter the price paid. The paint quality is also high-grade, at least on the ten or so cars available to journalists during the event.

That same attention to detail was apparent inside the Rio, with higher quality plastics that I'm used to seeing in this class permeating every surface, switchgear that appears to have trickled down from pricier models, rugged looking yet attractive cloth upholstery throughout, and that same impressive fit and finish I noticed on the outside, finishing off what was also a nicely laid out, attractive interior.