Premier Rio CRDi4 DX

Rio CRDi4 DX Review

Credited as the India’s first Compact SUV, Premier Rio CRDi4 DX is the latest addition in SUV class in Indian market. Introduced on 2010, this SUV has got a promising start and is looking a strong contender among the others. This variant of Rio is the basic model of all the other ones offered by the company. Under the hood it has a powerful engine which gives out a good fuel economy too. It has a five speed manual transmission. The car has superior leather seats which are quite relaxing to sit on. Other features include central locking and power windows and doors. Considering it is a C segment car, it has a nice hatchback. So to conclude all, it is a good mixture of style, comfort and safety features.

Exteriors

Premier Rio Diesel DX is fully equipped with the latest features and specifications. The overall length and width measures are tagged at 3970mm X 1570mm. Also this SUV stands tall with the height of 2420mm . This compact SUV has good rather very good ground clearance of 200 mm which is more than sufficient for country like ours. Also the front track is about 1305 mm and the rear one is 1310 mm. Tinted glass windows, front and rear fog lamps, three speed windscreen wipers, black colored B pillars, side stepper,  rear spoiler are jut the few good things of many. Also the Premier Rio CRDi4 DX is available in four colors namely Paradise White, Sterling Silver, Mystic Black and Cherry Red. The kerb weight measures out to be 1145kgs, while the GVW (Gross vehicle weight) comes out to be 1530kgs .It has a wheelbase of about 2420 mm and they are covered with the body colored paint. And this SUV has a turning radius of about 4.7 meters.

Interiors

When it comes to the interior department, PremierRio Diesel DX doesn’t let you down. With its large luggage room and double folding rear seats, it makes up a lot of space to carry things in it. Adjustable head restraints and cup holders for both front and rear are very convenient to use. The front and back seat pockets are a good addition to carry keys, change or other small things. While the floor matting is not done in this model but still it can resist a lot of damage. Vanity mirror has been used along with day-night rearview mirror to avoid any restraint to our eyes. This 4 door can carry around five persons very easily without any problems. Also the trunk capacity is quite big with 454 liters of volume and it increases to up to 1158 liters when rear seats are folded. Fabric upholstery has been done extensively.     

Engine and Performance

PremierRio CRDi4  DX version has a 1.3-litre multi jet diesel engine which can generate a maximum power of  70bhp at the rate of 4000 rpm and the maximum torque up to 183Nm at the rate of 1800-2400 rpm. It has a direct injection fuel supply system.  The 4 cylinders equipped in this SUV can produce an engine displacement of 1248cc . Plus the air charging system has a fixed geometry and do have a turbo charger with inter cooler. Now coming to the transmission department, it is a 5 speed manual gearbox. The top speed comes out to be 145kmph. The fuel consumption of this vehicle is quite good, on the highways it can give you 19kmpl and in the city traffic roads you are left satisfied with 15kmpl. The fuel tank capacity is of 46 liters. The engine emits BSIV type of emissions. 

Braking and Handling

PremierRio Diesel DX has tubeless radial tyres of type 205/70 R15 which is ideal for Indian roads. They are strongly joined to the front and rear suspension. The front suspension is the Mc Pherson strut and coil spring type and rear has a 5 rods system. When it comes to braking, the front brakes are ventilated disc brakes while the rears are the conventional drum brakes.

Safety features

Almost all of the SUV’s now support the ABS (Anti braking system) along with EBD (Electronic brake force distribution) and PremierRio Diesel DX too has this safety feature. Seat belts are available for all passengers of the car. Brake assist, child lock feature, and high mounted stop lamp, keyless entry are some of the active and passive safety features. Both front as well as rear lamps are fog lamps. One thing that has to be noted that all variants of Premier Rio doesn’t have any airbags, parking sensors, ESP( Electronic Stability Control) or the traction control. The halogen headlamps are equipped in Premier Rio Diesel DX. Anti theft alarm as well as engine immobilizer are a great addition. Front and side impact bearing beams comes into play in case of any crash, which not only protects the delicate equipment and parts of the car but also provide safety to driver and passengers too.  The fuel tank is mounted in the center of the car for its own protection.

Comfort features

PremierRio Diesel DX does not come with a factory fitted CD player or radio but it has four speakers in it. Windows are electrically powered and so are the external view mirrors on the front doors. Rear passengers also enjoy the armrest and headrest provided with the cup holder too. The fuel filler and central locking too are operated via remote. Rear wiper and rear defogger further enhance one’s visibility in difficult conditions. The 3 spoke steering wheel can absorb most of the shocks . And indicator for reverse gear truly is a new concept. Cigarette lighter and ashtray are both removable. Child lock and door ajar warning lamp provide extra safety in this car. The air conditioner cum heater supports a manual mechanism. Rear seat headrest and fabric upholstery

Pros

Cheap Pricing

Good characteristics and features.

Cons

Service network is too scarce.

Poor sound insulation.

Antennae problems.