This is the 2018 Kia Rio 1.25 1 Euro 6—a small hatchback that’s been cared for so meticulously, you’d think it was the owner’s firstborn child. Under the bonnet is a 1.25-litre petrol engine producing 83 bhp—so no, it’s not going to peel your face off under acceleration, but it will get you from A to B with the frugality of a pensioner at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Official combined fuel economy? 56.5 mpg. That’s proper sipping. Insurance? Just Group 5, which is about as cheap as it gets without buying a moped. And yes, it’s ULEZ compliant, so you can swan into London without having to remortgage the house for daily charges. Now, here’s where it gets impressive: the service history. It reads like the diary of a car that’s been to the spa more often than most celebrities—10,228, 19,570, 30,572, 39,118, 49,759, 60,393, 70,475, 80,425, 87,043, 91,748 miles—and we’ll service it again before sale. That’s eleven stamps and counting. Oh, and Kia? They’re so confident in their build quality, they give these things a 7-year warranty from new. Even now, you’re buying into that legacy of “we actually built it to last.” Spec is basic but honest—manual air con, electric windows, USB/Bluetooth, and a cabin that’s been screwed together properly rather than with the hopes and dreams of an intern. It’s the car equivalent of a reliable mate who always turns up on time.