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BC RioJul 2000

BC Rio

REMEMBER the first Mazda 121 hatchback from the latter 1980s? To jog any memories try a stint in the 2000-2005 Kia Rio generation.The BC Rio was a re-bodied Kia Avella, a car we know in Australia as the 1994-2000 WB-WF Ford Festiva.Since Ford and Mazda owned a 16.9 per cent share of Kia Motors before Hyundai bailed it from debt-related oblivion in 1998, most of Kia’s cars were ex-Mazda cast-offs. And sure enough, the Avella was built in the 1986 121 platform, although it used many of the hard points of the famous 1990 121 Bubble.With such a heritage the BC Rio might have been a pleasant little light car, except the heavy 21st Century body, combined with a low-cost focus build and engineering, made for a sub-standard light car.A version of the 121 Bubble’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine – mated to a slick four-speed automatic or rubbery five-speed manual gearbox – provided 74kW of power and 135Nm of torque.Air-conditioning was only standardised from September ’01, but most will have this, along with a driver’s side airbag, central locking, power steering and cloth trim.Two modern and interesting looking (and long for their class) body sizes were offered – a five-door hatchback or a pert four-door sedan.But there was nothing remotely contemporary about the way the BC Rio’s refinement, ride, dynamics or quality feel.

LC AccentJun 2000

LC Accent

This was the first baby Hyundai buyers might choose on merit as well as price.Compared to its popular Excel predecessor, the Accent is more spacious, refined and comfortable, and better built with tangible improvements to ride quality, engine performance and general "feel".The bigger, stronger body means improved safety and a driver's side airbag is standard too.And it’s fun to fling around.On the other hand, the 76kW/133Nm 1.5-litre DOHC 16V four-cylinder engine is too vocal when stretched, the manual gearshift is awful and the steering numb.Hyundai once again blanketed the light car segment with a car somewhat larger than the norm, in three-door base and GS and GL and GLS sedan and five-door hatchback.But several things worked against the Accent replicating the Excel’s success: the Excel’s poor quality reputation the sheer ubiquity of Hyundais on our roads quite ungainly styling and ever improving rivals like the Toyota Echo and Holden’s XC Barina.

KaNov 1999

Ka

The smallest Ford ever sold in Australia was never going to be a success. It didn’t offer five doors or an automatic option, only sat four people and didn’t have much boot space.Its only engine was an ancient 43kW/100Nm 1299cc lump that can be traced back to the 1959 Ford Anglia 105E, and it had very funny styling.So it was no laughing matter for Ford that Australians ignored the little Ka to death, especially as it had to hold the fort after its (inexplicably) popular, Korean-built (by Kia) Festiva supply died soon after Hyundai took control during 2000.But if you cherish driving, individual design or value for money, the Ka is already a coveted classic.A superbly balanced steerer and handler, with a sporty gearshift many “sports” cars would kill for, the Spanish-assembled Ka shone dynamically, even if its eager and spirited 1.3 couldn’t really keep up with rivals that were often 50 per cent more powerful.And it offered plenty of space for four adults, a reasonably versatile load area, dual airbags, power steering, air-conditioning and – until December 2000 – a sunroof and CD player.After that, Ford deleted the roof and added a second model, the Ka2, with everything plus keyless entry, power windows and painted bumpers, leaving a base entry-level model that was then pitched (still unsuccessfully) at under $14,000.In many ways the verve and style of the Ka lives on in its larger, five-door, auto-optional German-built Fiesta successor, which shouldn’t be a surprise since the 1995-2002 version provided the platform from which the Ka was created.Ironically, it still sells very strongly in Europe and South America today.

EF SonataAug 1998

EF Sonata

The third generation Sonata was a complete departure from its smooth predecessor, with a mish-mash of curvy and edgy American-inspired design, flanked by bug-eyed headlight and tail-light treatments.Happily, it all gelled together better underneath with improved engines, a stronger platform, better suspension and steering properties, higher safety levels and advances in ride and refinement qualities.The interior also came in for a rethink and benefited from more intelligent use of space and design.But the big news was Hyundai’s gutsy new in-house 127kW 2.5L V6, while performance was improved in the heavily modified 103kW 2.0L four-cylinder engine.A five-speed manual became optional on the V6s, while all four-speed autos received driver-adaptive computer control.As before, the range initially consisted of GLE 2.0 and GLS and Levant V6s, but slow sales led Hyundai to offer an entry level Executive V6 in March 2000.It was priced identically to the short-lived GLE 2.0 the V6 usurped.Meanwhile, value-added Classique limited editions arrived in June ’99 and March ’01, but the public baulked at the Sonata’s heavy-handed styling.A complete revamp called EF2 arrived in late 2001.

CredosMay 1998

Credos

BEFORE Hyundai bailed out a dying Kia in the late 1990s, the South Korean brand – established in the 1940s – relied heavily on cast-off Mazda components. Case in point: the Credos.Even though it was re-bodied, much of the feel of the 1992 to 1997 Mazda GE 626 is clearly visible in the front-wheel drive Kia four-door sedan.But some very heavy-handed detailing – particularly around the nose and tail areas – means that the 626’s style certainly was lost in translation.Even though a modern 98kW/171Nm 2.0-litre Mazda four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic underpinned the Credos, it was a tiresome car to drive due to soft suspension settings, overly light steering and a lack of good body control.And despite a high level of equipment, including a driver’s airbag, power steering, air-conditioning, power windows, central locking and a trip computer, the cabin’s low-rent feel, look and execution certainly betrayed the car’s low cost base.Australians didn’t care much for the Credos, and the car vanished from the new-car scene after less than three years on the market.The Hyundai EF Sonata-derived Optima replaced it from May 2001.

LanosAug 1997

Lanos

Daewoo was affiliated with General Motors until late ’92, when it went solo and developed a series of all-new models under the guidance of former Porsche AG engineer Ulrich Bez. However crippling losses in the latter part of the 1990s saw a bankrupt Daewoo bought out by GM in 2002. The new company, GM Daewoo, is part-controlled by Holden.The front-wheel drive Lanos was essentially a rebodied 1.5i/Cielo, the 1984-1991 General Motors Vauxhall small car built under license in South Korea by former GM affiliate and now wholly GM-owned Daewoo.Daewoo used the talents of Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to influence the agreeable look of the three-door, four-door sedan and five-door hatchback models sold here.All featured the GM-sourced “Family One” four-cylinder engine of 63kW/130Nm 1.5-litre single-cam or 78kW/145Nm 1.6-litre twin-cam configurations. The former powered most Lanos’ sold here, which was the base SE three-door model.Rivalling the Hyundai Excel/Accent and Toyota Starlet/Echo, the SE featured cloth trim, a radio/cassette player and rear window wiper. The four/five-door variants had central locking.Air-conditioning was made standard from February ’98, followed by power steering in June 2000. A five-speed manual or four-speed automatic were the gearbox choices.Better equipped was the limited edition LE four/five door Lanos from May ’98, which included power windows, a CD player and rear spoiler.Sportier still were the three/four-door SX. Above the LE, it added the 78kW 1.6 engine, alloy wheels, a bodykit and some leather trim.The Lanos sold steadily in Australia, buoyed by very keen pricing and Daewoo’s FreeCare service and warranty incentive.But it was always dynamically mediocre, reflecting its ageing mechanicals and cheap build.

SatriaFeb 1997

Satria

The Satria was based on the (unseen locally) 1992 Mitsubishi CC Mirage nee Lancer three-door hatchback, just as the Wira/Persona and M21 were.This car had a better chance of success, owing to the pretty styling, keen pricing and road manners that bettered arch-rivals the Daewoo 1.5i and Lanos, Ford Festiva and Hyundai Excel.Five four-cylinder engines were offered – a 66kW/126Nm 1.5-litre OHC 8V unit in the GL (until ’99) and GLi (revised to 64kW/120Nm output from November 2000 in the GLi, post-2000 XLi and XLS) a 55kW108Nm 1.3 in the post-’99 GL and short-lived 2000-01 GLS a 70kW/138Nm 1.6 SOHC 16V unit in the pre-2000 XLi the Persona’s 83kW/137Nm 1.6 DOHC 16V in the Feb 2000 to Nov 2000 Satria XLi “Son of a Gun” and the post-’99 GTi’s 103kW/164Nm 1.8-litre DOHC 16V.The latter two benefited greatly from Lotus tuned suspension and steering (that made it fun to fling around), a gutsy and involving engine, an attractive bodykit and alloy wheels, and high equipment levels.

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