Kia Rio - design-led with industry-leading fuel economy
The all-new 4th generation Rio goes on sale in the UK on 1st September and is a major step forward in Kia’s relentless drive to upgrade the style and quality of its entire model range while hammering down fuel consumption and CO2 figures.
By 2012 Kia aims to have the newest product line-up on offer in the UK. The arrival of the new Rio, and for the first time as a three-door from early 2012, is a significant milestone towards that ambition.
Globally, Kia expects B-segment sales to rise from 9.2 million in 2012 to 14 million in 2014. In Europe the sales growth over the same period is predicted to go from 4.78 million to 5.22 million. The new Rio, with its greater emphasis on style and quality, emphatic lead in fuel economy and emissions and wider range of equipment is set to capitalise on that and to build on the success of its predecessor. Kia expects the new Rio to be a top-ten contender in the supermini market.
UK-best fuel economy and emissions
The new Kia Rio will be available with four engines – two petrol and two diesel –
including a 1.1-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel with lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than any other non electric car on sale in the world, including hybrids and eco specials from rival companies.
Fitted with 15-inch wheels and sporting the full gamut of Kia’s EcoDynamics fuel-saving technologies – including Intelligent Stop & Go engine technology, low rolling resistance tyres, a drag-reducing front grille, gearshift indicator and rear spoiler - this model is capable of 88.3mpg, with CO2 emissions of only 85g/km.
Yet with 74bhp and 170Nm of torque from a mere 1,500rpm, it delivers sprightly performance. All 1.1-litre diesel versions of the new Rio five-door have CO2 emissions below 100g/km and combined cycle fuel economy of at least 74.3mpg.
EcoDynamics technologies will be a standard feature with all new Rio diesels, including the 1.4-litre models scheduled to be added to the line-up shortly after launch. The 1.4-litre diesel is a four-cylinder engine from the same U2 family as the 1.1. It develops 89bhp and 220Nm of torque. Economy and emissions figures are 70.6mpg combined and just 105 g/km of CO2 .
There are also two petrol engines in the new Rio. The entry-level unit is the 1.25-litre Kappa engine which recently made its debut in Kia’s smallest car, the new Picanto. This engine develops 83bhp and 121Nm of torque. The new Rio is also available with Kia’s 1.4-litre Gamma engine, developing 107bhp and 137Nm of torque. It also offers buyers the convenience of an automatic gearbox as an option to the standard manual.
Four trim grades with a high standard specification
Even on entry level ‘1’, standard features include daytime running lights, body-coloured bumpers, door handles and door mirrors, speed-variable front wipers, headlamp levelling, front electric windows, 15-inch steel wheels, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, two-way steering column adjustment on the petrol model (height-adjustable only on the entry level diesel), a tachometer and trip computer, split folding rear seats, a boot light, a 12-volt power socket and an MP3-compatible RDS radio and CD player with USB and AUX ports. Bluetooth is also standard on the petrol entry model, and on all versions with other trim grades.
The ‘1 Air’ grade is for buyers who want the comfort of air conditioning without upgrading to level ‘2’.
The ‘2’ is distinguished by 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and a chrome radiator grille surround. Inside, there is premium black cloth upholstery, rear electric windows, a cooling glove box, electrically adjustable heated and folding door mirrors with side repeaters, leather trim on the steering wheel and gearshift and a centre console armrest.
The luxurious level ‘3’ specification adds 17-inch alloys with low-profile tyres, ultraviolet-reducing solar privacy glass, LED daytime running and rear combination lamps, automatic air conditioning with auto de-fog, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, automatic headlights, heated front seats and six speakers in lieu of four.
And every new Rio, as with all Kias, is covered by the best warranty in the business, extending to seven years or 100,000 miles and is fully transferable to subsequent owners.
Democracy in safety
In terms of safety all Rio models enjoy exactly the same standard safety specification. The package includes the potentially life-saving features of electronic stability control (ESC), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist (EBA) in addition to emergency stop signalling (ESS).
The new Rio also includes the helpful feature of Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) to prevent the car momentarily rolling backwards when pulling away up steep gradients.
Should an accident be unavoidable, the new Rio has a stiff body shell featuring front and rear crumple zones that absorb and dissipate crash energy to minimise the risk of injury to occupants as well as twin front, side and curtain airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners with load limiters for the front occupants.
Style outside; quality inside
The new Rio, styled under the watchful eye of Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, is another modern, European-influenced Kia that will sell as much on its revolutionary good looks and class-leading quality as on the company’s fabled high specification –value equation.
It is longer, wider and lower than the model it replaces, with a pronounced coupé-like roofline and a 70mm longer wheelbase. All of this ensures it appears dynamic and sporty while offering occupants more room than the previous Rio. Careful weight management has ensured the new Rio is no heavier than the outgoing car, despite the increase in size and a significantly higher specification across the range.
The exterior design, a blend of dynamism and sophistication, is a complete departure from the more functional approach taken with the last-generation Rio. At the front it features a new interpretation of the Kia family ‘tiger nose’ grille that integrates neatly with the front headlamp units. On the new Rio, the Kia logo now sits above the grille. Below the grille there is a bold bumper and spoiler.
The side profile emphasises the ratio of metal to glass. A forward-leaning wedge and coupé-like roofline give the car the same dynamic, sporty stance as the new Picanto and Sportage. A distinctive feature line adds tension to the flanks and leads towards a rear end which suggests strength and stability through high shoulders and a sharp rear screen angle.
The interior is clean and sophisticated, the choice of materials and the fit and finish giving the new Rio the look and feel of a refined, premium product. Signature Kia features like the three-cylinder instrument cluster and wide, horizontal dashboard blend with new ideas such as the toggle switches on the centre stack to control some secondary functions. They are neatly integrated into the car’s heating and ventilation unit.
The cabin has enjoyed an upgrade in space as well as quality. With the 70mm increase in wheelbase there is now more legroom, and the cabin is also 25mm wider than in the previous model. The base of the windscreen has been moved forward by 156mm and upwards by 18mm, creating more headroom, despite the coupé-like roofline and an overall reduction in height.
The luggage area is 100mm wider than in the outgoing car. With an overall capacity of 288 litres it is also 7% larger and is supplemented by useful, bespoke storage areas throughout the cabin. The 60:40 split rear seats fold down when additional cargo space is needed.
Kia Care-3: Great value servicing
First introduced on the recently launched Picanto, Kia’s Care-3 all inclusive national servicing package is now available on the new Rio.
The Care-3 package is just £259 including VAT, which covers the first three services - either 36 months or 30,000 miles or the Care-3 Plus package is just £499 including VAT which covers the first five services - either 60 months or 50,000 miles.
These packages are not just excellent value for money, they offer a fixed cost and inflation proof servicing for the full three or five years. All work will be carried out by trained product technicians, using genuine Kia replacement parts and specified oils.
The Care-3 and Care-3 Plus package stays with the car, so is fully transferable to another customer. If a second owner would like the five year service package - on a vehicle with a Care-3 package, the new owner can top-up this package to cover the next two years.
