2012 Kia Rio

What's New for 2012

The 2012 Kia Rio will be fully redesigned.

Introduction

When you hear the word "Rio," you probably think of the city, or perhaps Duran Duran. But is "Kia Rio" the first thing to pop into your head? Probably not. For many years, the Rio has been a pretty unmemorable little car. But for 2012, we think this Kia will be getting a lot more attention.

Redesigned for 2012, the Kia Rio receives improvements in just about every area. Similar to Kia's other recently redesigned models, style is a priority -- both the Rio's exterior and interior have a bold look for this vehicle segment. The new Rio is larger than before, and that translates into more interior and cargo room.

Under the hood is a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with direct-injection technology. With 138 horsepower, it will be one of the most powerful cars in its class. It will come paired with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, and that helps the Rio get what Kia promises is 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. A start-stop technology similar to that found on hybrid vehicles will be an option.

A Rio sedan and four-door hatchback will be offered. As with the previous Rio, pricing will be low, but this time Kia is promising more upscale features as options, including leather seating, heated front seats, keyless ignition/entry and Uvo, a voice-command system similar to Ford's Sync system. Interior quality also represents a staggering improvement over the old car, and in fact, the Rio's cabin now seems as if it belongs to a higher segment.

All said, the 2012 Kia Rio looks to finally be a front-runner in the subcompact segment. Along with models like the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and Hyundai Accent, the Rio is a car that should immediately come to mind. Check back closer to the Rio's on-sale date this summer for complete buying advice and driving impressions.