Kia's compact Rio model is a little like RC Cola: while there's nothing wrong with the soda, most people have forgotten that it exists. That may very well change for the Kia, at least if these images of the next-gen Rio, which were released in advance of the Geneva auto show, are any indication.
NH Kia enthusiasts will be very impressed with this car once it hits the ground and is available for test drive at Berlin City Kia.
The 2012 Kia Rio gets a new 138-horsepower 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder engine linked to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. It also features optional ISG technology, which is new to the Rio. The fuel-saving technology turns the engine off when the vehicle is not in motion and restarts automatically when the driver releases the brake pedal. The outgoing model is equipped with an older 110-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine linked to either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.
Kia said the 2012 Rio will return 30 mpg in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway. The EPA has not yet rated the 2012 Rio. The
2011 Kia Rio with a four-speed automatic transmission returned 27 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway.
Kia was one of many automakers to tout fuel-economy gains in rolling out vehicles at the 2011 New York Auto Show. The AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report on Thursday pegged the average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline in the U.S. at $3.84 and CNBC.com on Wednesday predicted that gas could hit $6 a gallon by summer.
The 2012 Kia Rio sedan is new from the ground up, riding on a platform that is longer, wider and lower than the outgoing model. It gets a wedge-shaped exterior and shares family traits with the 2011 Kia Optima and Sportage. The base 2012 Kia Rio LX features body-color door handles and side mirrors and 15-inch steel wheels. The Rio5 comes with a standard rear spoiler.
The uplevel 2012 Kia Rio SX features standard 17-inch wheels, foglamps, LED daytime running lights, and dual chrome tip exhaust.
Stay tuned to your
New Hampshire Kia dealer, Berlin City Kia, for the latest information on the release date of the 2012 Rio.
