Review Kia Rio (2012)

We've seen it before, with the Optima, the Sorento, the Forte and Soul. currently it is the 2012 Kia Rio's flip, and it's another major upgrade into the massive leagues. The Rio is pretty much as good because the last Honda Civic we tend to really enjoyed driving--the pre-2006 version--and joins the Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent collectively of the new benchmarks within the subcompact category, with looks, options and potency as its most convincing bullet points.

 European designers draw European-looking cars, and that is true with the Rio, a lot of therefore within the five-door hatchback than the four-door sedan. the tasteless bubbly shapes of the past have dissolved into a wedgy look with countless body sculpting behind the front wheels, Kia's new signature grille in front (chromed on sedans, blacked-out on hatchbacks) with giant trailing headlights and a rounded rear finish. The five-door is pert and clean and attention-grabbing for the primary time within the nameplate's history. And whereas it's robust to draw sedans on this scale, however the Rio succeeds higher than simply regarding any of its competitors. It's even higher within. The cockpit's nicely finished dash hashes along Eighties econobox stylish with airplane-style toggle switches, a medium-to-large LCD screen and a soft-touch panel on most trims for a definite look with BMW outlines and glory-days Honda finishes.

 

There's one powertrain in all Rio sedans and hatchbacks for the 2012 model year, and it is a sleek, and pretty powerful, 1.6-liter four with direct injection and 138 horsepower, the maximum amount because the Hyundai Accent and therefore the turbocharged Chevy Sonic. it is not as really fast because the Sonic feels, however the Rio's combination of its four and a six-speed automatic is one amongst the highlights of the automotive. The four-cylinder's practically muted and therefore the transmission shifts cleanly, with none noticeable driveline shock and with fast response that Ford's PowerShift automatic hasn't matched in our drives. there is a six-speed manual transmission we've not driven, too, however Kia thinks solely 5 p.c of drivers can need it. The four/six combination nets estimated EPA figures of 30/40 mpg for either transmission, while not special fuel-economy packages, putting at the highest of the subcompact category. there is additionally a start/stop packaging returning later within the year as a $400 option; it shuts off the engine at longer pauses and restarts it when the brake pedal is released, adding one mile per gallon to the Rio EX's town fuel economy.

Ride and handling hardly compare with the recent Rio. We're still larger fans of the Sonic's cheerful scrabble beneath turbo power, and therefore the Fiesta's electrical steering leads in tuning, however the Rio acquits itself higher than any little Kia has, and largely higher than the mean for such a short-wheelbase automotive with a basic strut and torsion-beam suspension. On fairly sleek roads in Texas and Nevada, the Rio rides comfortably, with very little of the bounding and crashing that actually little cars used to count among their worst traits. The steering masses up on weight quickly, with the same old electric-steering lack of feedback. the sensation of continuity between those 2 systems is what works best, even with the slight uptick in heft within the a lot of sporty Rio SX.

Kia pitches the Rio squarely within the subcompact category, with eighty eight cubic feet of interior area. Cars just like the Honda match and Hyundai Accent place a lot of cubes on paper with their boxy rear ends, and therefore the Nissan Versa could be a bit larger. The Rio lines up best alongside the Ford Fiesta, with a 101.2-inch wheelbase, an overall hatchback length of regarding a hundred and sixty inches, and a cargo hold measuring fifteen cubic feet (13.7 within the sedan, which matches on sale late in 2011). The Rio's front seats have sensible, long bottom cushions and nice, long seat travel, putting a decent foot forward for solo drivers or pairs of adults. the rear seat is a lot of confined than within the match, with no adult-sized knee or head area to spare; its Accent cousin will a higher job of providing area for four, and in baggage area too, where the Rio's nicely squared-off cargo hold nonetheless leaves the proper reasonably area for roll-on baggage and Costco boxes.

Safety scores are not nonetheless obtainable from the IIHS or from the NHTSA. The 2012 Rio has the same old airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability management, still as hill-start assist. A rearview camera is an possibility, as is Bluetooth.

All Rio five-doors go along with a pricetag of $14,350 together with a $750 destination charge. That sticker brings normal 15-inch wheels; a manual transmission; a rear spoiler; tilt steering; split-folding rear seats; an AM/FM/CD player with satellite radio and a USB port; and steering-wheel audio controls. the automated could be a $1200 possibility. The $17,250 Rio EX adds air conditioning; power windows, locks and mirrors; cruise control; tilt/telescoping steering; and Bluetooth. The $18,450 Rio SX adds 17-inch wheels and sport tuning; larger front brakes; fog lamps; power-folding heated aspect mirrors; and LED taillamp and headlamp accents. It additionally gets Kia's version of the Microsoft-powered voice controls sold by Ford as SYNC--only the Kia flavor has fewer obtainable voice commands for phone and audio. Major choices embrace UVO on EX models; a navigation system that replaces the UVO system on SX models; pushbutton begin on the SX; and additionally on the SX, leather seats, a sunroof, and front seat heating. All models have Kia's five-year, 60,000-mile warranty.