KIA Rio

The most impressive parts of the car can be found inside. The Rio’s spacious cabin can accommodate five adults and offers various amenities that guarantee comfort and convenience such as adjustable anchored seatbelts, bottle holders for both the front and the rear door, a rear USB charging port, and a center console armrest. Besides already having a generous cabin, there are also 60:40 split-folding rear seats that allow drivers to utilize the Rio’s maximum trunk capacity of 288-litre. There are also various driver-oriented features such as a tilt-adjustable telescopic steering wheel with audio remote control, a supervision cluster fitted with a higher resolution 4.2-inch digital display, and an auxiliary with USB connections. Additional modern features include an 8-inch  touchscreen infotainment system, keyless entry with push-button start, and automatic climate control which make the vehicle feel more premium.

The Rio has finally left the 4-door sedan version and has evolved into a 5-door hatchback. Amazingly, the addition of the rear hatch managed to give the model added charm and convenience, keeping the design fluid without sacrificing the elements that made it successful as a sedan. The Rio measures 4,050 mm long, 1,720 mm wide, and 1,455 mm tall. It’s a fairly large vehicle considering it’s a hatchback. The front now sports a narrower ‘tiger-nose’ grille, a lower and wider front bumper, and new foglamps which make the vehicle look sportier. The Rio is now also outfitted with new 16-inch wheels as well as Bi-projection headlamps with daytime running LED lights, giving it a more premium feel. In addition to that, Kia has also included modern aero blade wipers and integrated run lights. For the rear, it also features modern taillights, a spoiler garnish with a stoplight, and a more efficient antenna.

The Rio delivers a comfortable ride, easily maneuvering around corners while its suspension successfully absorbs road bumps. It also has one of the best fuel economies in the hatchback segment, capable of doing only 33mpg in the city and 41mpg when cruising on the highway. According to Kia, their new iMT technology will also reduce Rio’s CO2 emissions by around 8.1% to 10.7%. It has the front-wheel drive as standard.

The main highlight of the Rio is its new mild-hybrid 1.0-litre turbocharged gasoline engine. A 48V lithium-ion battery will supplement torque to two versions of the engine which generate either 99 hp or 118 hp respectively. This will use Kia’s new clutch-by-wire technology for its six-speed manual gearbox. This means that the third pedal will still be included but will not be mechanically attached to the clutch. The pedal will instead use a sensor that notifies the vehicle when to engage the clutch while an electromechanical actuator operates. Because the pedal can now take over in certain situations, Kia has also added a coasting function to disengage the clutch and switch off the engine before the vehicle comes to a stop. This allows it to have much better fuel economy, which is something more typically found in automatic and dual-clutch transmission. Kia is calling this they’re intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT), claiming that it will contribute greater fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. A seven-speed DCT will also be available for those who don’t prefer the manual transmission.

The vehicle now uses Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS), giving it additional cabin protection. It is outfitted with a number of SRS airbags for both the front and the rear. The Rio is also equipped with standard safety features including electronic brake distribution, ABS, an immobilizer, security alarm, a crash sensor, electronic door locks, and ISOFIX anchor for child seats. It also has front and side-impact beams as well as ventilated discs for the front and drum brakes for the rear.

The all-new Kia Rio is a reliable vehicle ideal for those looking for an entry-level vehicle with excellent features and fuel economy. The new modern touches integrated by Kia have only made the model feel more premium and give it some more road presence. The Kia Rio hatchback starts at P920,000.