It would be devastatingly easy to make fun of a budget hatchback that's at its most interesting when the engine isn't running. But I do think that the addition of idle-stop-go (ISG) technology to the entry-level LX model has made the Kia Rio a much more engaging supermini.
At the very least it's a talking point, because although stop-go - which cuts the engine when the car is stationary and restarts it automatically when you select first gear - is becoming commonplace on more expensive cars, it still makes the Rio a good proposition in the supermini market.
Especially when you consider that this LX model is a mere $22,990.
Exactly how much fuel ISG saves is a moot point, as Kia does not offer a 1.4-litre manual Rio without the technology in New Zealand. But in Europe you can buy such a vehicle and it achieves 5.5 litres per 100km, which is not a lot worse than the Kiwi ISG model's 5.3 litres, even bearing in mind the cars will not be exactly the same.
However, you can put that stat in the "every little bit helps" department and there's no doubt that ISG allows you to sit at the traffic lights feeling smug about reducing pollution and impressing your passengers should they happen to notice the car's engine shudder quietly to a halt at the crossroads.
