I've not range tested one but I did see my first one yesterday at a local shop. My first impression wasn't very positive.
The metal finish is rather shiny. Not a deep blue shine but more like a plastic type shine against a black surface. It also feels like there is some type of coating on the metal. Whatever the type of finish they apply to it did not entirerly cover the right side of the rear sight and the barrel at the same location. There was a copper color showing. The one piece scope base was visibly crooked. The front of the base angled left. The base is such that you can still use the open sites without removing it.
I liked the finish on the wood. It appeared to be an oil stain and looked nice on the lever action, however the surface was rough. The metal to wood finish looked good. The action felt a bit gritty. I cannot quote the price ... I don't even recall if I looked at it.
I'm not going to make any judgements on the Rio Grande. I've been around guns long enough to know that a bad example gets through now and again. It looks like it could be a decent entry into the lever action market if the one I observed is an exception.