Kia Rio review (18/01/2012)

FOR two years, I have been banging on about how the "Koreans are coming" and I’m not referring to the military strength of Kim Jong-Un’s recently inherited Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, but to the industrial strength of their hated southern neighbours in the Republic of Korea.

I met a man involved in one of Ireland’s top retail car companies, which has agencies for leading brands — including Kia.

He was disappointed because these brands were either too popular (and not profitable enough) or too niche (profitable, but not selling enough). I was bemused, particularly so with regard to Kia, which is one of the fastest growing brands anywhere. Along with Korean sister company Hyundai, it is making huge inroads all over the world.