Kia debuted its 2012 Rio 5 hatchback last month at the Geneva auto show, and this time it was the all-new Rio sedan's turn to take a bow.
The 2012 Kia Rio sedan is new from the ground up, riding on a platform that is longer, wider and lower than the 2011 model. It gets a wedge-shaped exterior and shares family traits with the 2011 Kia Optima and Sportage.
Expect an increased level of comfort inside the cabin, as the compact sedan's interior was designed at Kia's Frankfurt, Germany, studio, and Europeans are plenty familiar with luxury in B-segment cars.
The Rio uses a new 138-horsepower 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder engine linked to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The new engine is 29 pounds lighter than the outgoing power plant. The EPA has not yet rated the 2012 Rio, but Kia says the sedan earns 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.
Kia says that both sedan and hatchback models of the 2012 Rio will be priced under $13,000. The hatchback will go on sale this summer, while the sedan will launch in October.
1487 says:
01:08 PM, 04/21/11
This looks very good.
93aero says:
01:15 PM, 04/21/11
seems like a nice strong competitor. Would for sure pass up a cruze for this, if i were in the small car market. I liked the lag between the screen and the guys gestures in the first picture, makes him look dopey and awkward.
dougtheeng says:
01:17 PM, 04/21/11
The hatch looks great. The sedan, like so many other compact sedans, looks a little awkward. I don't know why people in the market for small cars won't just embrace the greatness of the hatch, but I digress.
This looks like a great vehicle for the money.
1487 says:
01:17 PM, 04/21/11
this is smaller and cheaper than Cruze, this is a Sonic competitor. Its priced to battle the Fit and Fiesta.
05forenza says:
02:09 PM, 04/21/11
Do I see LED running lights? Nice. This has definitely put Toyota and Honda so far out of the picture, it's not even funny. Just GM, Ford and Kia now.
actualsize says:
02:53 PM, 04/21/11
@1487: Yep. Sonic, Rio, Accent, Fit, Fiesta, Mazda2; the B-segment is getting interesting. Not surprising with CAFE ratcheting upwards. Fiat 500 seems a bit tinier than these, but should probably be included anyway, and the Versa...is that a little bigger? Anyway, lots of strong product to choose from here.
stovt001 says:
03:17 PM, 04/21/11
@05forenza: Forgetting the Fit? That little Honda is seriously good and definitely their best product. But the Yaris and Nissan's Versa? Oh yeah, they've been put on notice.
My only gripe here, and this applies to nearly every car in this category is an entirely America's fault: B-segment cars should NOT come in sedan form. It NEVER looks good and it is an awful waste of utility on a vehicle where space is at a premium.
litewerk says:
07:48 PM, 04/21/11
If you need a car or hatchback in this size or price-range, the new style of the Kia Rio is gonna compel you to at least check it out. And, if the price of gas continues to climb to $5/gal as people keep predicting, I could see a lot of these being sold simply to commute to work and back. I personally like the looks of both the sedan and hatchback. Would go fo a lesser trim level without the rather blingy wheels. And, it would be a manual tranny for me.
bonzjr says:
08:26 AM, 04/22/11
OK, this thing is really well done. Just like its Hyundai cousin.
Honda? Toyota? Seriously? Do you guys see what's breathing down your neck now? Especially Honda execs: go read the comments under your (cough) "new" Civic debut. Then go out and search the Hyundai, Kia -- and while you're at it even the Ford and Chevy -- threads. That "good rep" is getting old... and it hasn't been exclusive for a while now. Look what happened to Volvo when everyone got wise to seat belts, safety cages, airbags, collision mitigation, and 5-star crash testing. Don't think it can't happen to you too.
cr_driver says:
07:04 PM, 04/25/11
Very good looking for the price.