NAJA Car of the Year

THE Kia Rio automobile in a keenly contested competition, has beat other brands to earn the prestigious 2015 Car of the Year (COTY) Award. It got the highest number of votes across the country to top the competition.

The event, which was the annual Nigerian Automobile Journalists Association (NAJA) awards, saw the Kia Rio conquering some high-performance challengers to take the victory. The brand was adjudged to have ticked all the boxes in terms of value for money, safety, innovation, technology and dynamics.

The third generation Kia Rio’s fantastic engines, great handling, and lighter platform were adjudged the best amongst other competing brands.

In October this year, NAJA started conducting annual assessment of all selected cars that are eligible to be included in the car of the year category. All the cars went through rigorous testing, which also included driving on various Nigerian roads.

At the ceremony, which held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, NAJA’s judges revealed that the Kia Rio won because of its sophistication and fuel efficiency. Other factors considered were its handling and drivers’ involvement.

“Kia will continue to build cars that brighten people’s lives and exceed their expectations. The Kia Rio has just upped the ante once again. We aim to become a “one-and-only” brand for our customers; a brand they will choose again and again,” said Chief Commercial Officer, Kia Motors Nigeria, Sandeep Malhotra.

Intelligently designed and expertly engineered, every single detail of both the Kia Rio’s exterior and interior seems meticulously thought-out.

The Kia Rio, also dubbed as the People’s Car, is a top-of-the-segment sub-compact car featuring the engineering prowess, future-proofed safety technologies and classic design elements that ensure that they will remain remarkable for years to come.

The Rio is a solid pick for a small sedan or hatchback. It’s not quite as refined as some class-leading rivals, but it might still win you over with its inviting cabin, strong engine performance and excellent value.

It is stylish inside and out; ample standard and optional features; high-quality interior materials on EX and SX; long warranty; strong acceleration; feels bigger than it is.

“Grown-up” really would be the optimum expression to describe the Rio. Its exterior is notably European in appearance, with the sedan in particular, avoiding the awkward proportions of its competitors. And although the base LX trim is rather bare-bones, the EX and SX step things up considerably with higher-quality interior materials and near-luxury levels of equipment that are sure to make one forget that he’s in such a small car.

It comes with standard four-wheel antilock disc brakes, stability control, hill start assist, front side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.

Overall, the Rio stays very composed when driven either gently or at whatever the engine can deliver. It handles remarkably well for a small, inexpensive hatchback with a basic strut and torsion-beam suspension and a short wheelbase, although one would appreciate some more feedback from the steering.

The interior is a little tighter on space than other subcompacts, but pleasing trims and materials and reasonably good cabin refinement keep it more cheerful than the other choices.