We came to a stop sign soon after getting in the all-new 2006 Kia Rio 5 SX for the first time. The car was so quiet I thought I'd killed the engine, but the tach indicated it was still running. My passenger thought we were driving a hybrid vehicle. To say that we were stunned by the quietness of this very economical car is an understatement.

Unexpected pleasure, quality, and value are things that kept popping up during our time in the new Kia Rio 5 SX. Besides liking countless features, we kept putting all the positives in light of the super affordable price. You just don't expect these things at such a low price point.

Starting with the Rio's exterior, we were pleased with the handsome styling. If it had a Mazda badge we would have believed it. That's a compliment. The styling is clean and contemporary.

The Rio 5 SX comes very well equipped with items such as 15-inch alloy wheels, 195/55R15 tires, fog lights, a rear spoiler, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and body-colored mirrors. It has that hot sport compact look. Kia officials are working to expand the availability of dealer-installed accessories. They recognize the value of individualizing cars; witness the popularity of Scion and Honda.

Kia has embraced the concept of offering only well-equipped models. People might want an economy car, but that doesn't mean they want a bare-bones car. There are only five options for the Rio 5 SX: automatic transmission, ABS with rear disc brakes, carpeted floor mats, cargo tray and a power package (power windows, locks and power heated mirrors).

Everything else is standard equipment including air conditioning, tilt steering, cloth upholstery, tinted glass, AM/FM/CD audio system, tachometer, split folding rear seats, rear defroster and wiper, and front, side and side curtain airbags (six total airbags). The Kia Rio 5 SX base price is $13,500. That's a lot of car for the money and the price includes Kia's excellent 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty.

All the pluses we've listed wouldn't be quite as attractive if the Kia Rio 5 SX wasn't fun to drive. We took the Rio on a trip up through the mountains via twisty back roads as well as I-90. The car was very responsive and fun to drive. It wasn't quite a Mini Cooper, but it wasn't too far behind.

The 110-horsepower 1.6-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine produces 107 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with the excellent 5-speed manual transmission it's enough power for spirited driving and easy freeway merging. We also drove automatic-equipped Rios, but weren't as pleased. The manual transmission is by far the best choice and it's $850 less.

Interior space and comfort were another pleasant surprise. The quality of materials, fit/finish, storage features and ergonomics were excellent. The noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels were similar to cars costing two or three times as much. The new stronger body structure and multi-level sound dampening measures really show in the quietness of the interior.

Whines: We really didn't have anything to complain about except the more leisurely performance of the automatic transmission and that's a common situation with any low horsepower drivetrain.

Bottom Line: The bottom line of the 2006 Kia Rio 5 SX is excellent. It's a well-built, safe, fun-to-drive, handsome, economical car with an outstanding warranty all at a bargain price.