Kia Ray Review: Korea's Tiny Car with a BIG Surprise

Jenny is in South Korea, and while we were there we had to review a Korean car. Not one we already get, though. In Australia, Kia sells us the Picanto. Korea keeps something much more interesting for itself: the Kia Ray, an ultra practical micro van that is not sold here. Part car review, part Korean road trip, this one is just for fun.

Design and that sliding door

The Ray has a cute, flat nose with Kia's tiger face grille, and it is extremely short, so judging where the car ends in a tight parking spot is easy. From the side it is a tall, boxy little thing, and the party trick is on the passenger side: the rear door slides back and there is no B-pillar, so the whole side opens up. The driver's side has a normal door.

At the back, the tailgate drops almost vertically to make the most of the space inside, with neat vertical LED tail lights. It rolls on small 14 or 15 inch wheels, which keep it nimble and make tyres cheap to replace.

Engine and economy

Under the tiny bonnet is a 1.0 litre three-cylinder petrol engine with about 95 Nm of torque. It will not win any drag races, but it is fine for zipping around the city. Jenny saw roughly 7 L/100 km, so it is cheap to run.

Inside

The first thing you notice is the headroom: Jenny reckons she could wear a top hat. The gear shifter sits up on the dash, which frees up room between the front seats and makes it feel like a little van. Our 2024 Ray Signature had a USB port and a 12 volt socket, heated front seats, a cooled driver's seat and an 8 inch touchscreen. The screen is basic, but there is storage everywhere.

Back seat and boot

This is where the Ray shines. With the side door slid all the way back, getting in is easy, and the rear seat has more room than plenty of full-size SUVs: heaps of headroom, a flat floor and seats that slide back. There are bottle holders, a USB-C port and even cooled rear seats, though the middle position is a bit of a nothing burger.

The boot is small with the rear seats up. Slide them forward for a little more room, or fold them flat for a bunch of suitcases, and there is a handy utility tray too.

Exploring South Korea

Between driving, Jenny goes sightseeing. South Korea is home to around 40 per cent of the world's dolmens, the huge stone monuments scattered across the country, some with capstones weighing up to 300 tonnes. We also stopped at a retired battleship, and finished in Seoul after dark: colourful streets, late night food, endless coffee shops and great e-biking.

How it drives

Visibility is incredible, like driving a greenhouse, and the turning circle is tiny. You can pull a U-turn where other cars would not even try. For narrow streets and tight car parks, it is the right tool.

Safety and price

For a micro car, safety is solid, with six airbags plus forward collision avoidance and lane keeping assist. In Korea the Ray starts from around 14 million won, roughly $16,000 to $18,000 Australian. That is a Korean-market price, not an Australian retail or import quote.

Cartell Assessment

The Ray is quirky, hugely practical and full of clever engineering, and for the money it is a bargain. It is not sold in Australia, but we would love more cute, clever little cars like this in Australia.

If you want something similar that you can actually buy, look at the Kia Picanto, or use our Car Finder to see what fits your budget.