2012 Kia Rio at Australian International Motor Show 2011

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By Alborz Fallah | July 01st, 2011

Update: Kia Rio Review.

The all-new fourth-generation 2012 Kia Rio has just been unveiled at the 2011 Australia International Motor Show featuring a whole new look, significant technological and powertrain advances plus a revised interior.

The new 2012 Kia Rio marks the end of a model cycle update for the Korean giant that has spent the last two and bit years making some serious headway in both styling and quality. The once cheap and cheerful brand from Korea has released some of the best looking vehicles on Australian roads in recent times.

The new Rio is yet another example of the new Kia design philosophy. Taking a great deal of inspiration from the Cerato and even the Optima, the new Rio is certainly a good looker.

Although it’s still very much destined to fight for marketshare in the light-car segment, the new Kia Rio’s wheelbase has grown by 70mm (2570mm). As a result, it’s now 55mm longer (4045mm), 25mm wider (1720mm) and 15mm lower (1455mm).

Full details of the model range have not been released yet, but we do know that even the base model comes standard with tilt & telescopic steering wheel adjustment, 6 airbags (dual front , front side & curtain), ESC with 4-wheel disc brake and Vehicle Stability Management with Hill-start Assist Control.

Given its target market, the Rio also features excellent support for multimedia with a four-speaker system capable of CD, radio & USB/AUX/iPod connectivity with built in Bluetooth telephone support (we are still waiting on word from Kia if that also includes Bluetooth audio streaming).

In order to compete in all sub-categories of the light-car segment, the new Rio will be available in 3,4 and 5 door body shapes. Kia Australia will initially launch just the 5-door Rio in August with the other two body styles to follow early next year.

Power will come from either a 1.4-litre MPI 4-cylinder petrol engine (79kW at 6300rpm and 135Nm at 4200rpm) or a larger 1.6-litre Gamma GDi petrol engine (103kW at 6300rpm and 167Nm at 4850rpm). Needless to say, given the small and the relatively low weight of the Rio (kerb weight to be confirmed), a 100kW powerplant sounds rather enticing.

Both engines will be available with a six-speed manual transmission. The smaller capacity 1.4-litre engine can be optioned with a four-speed auto and the 1.6-litre GDI is available with a more modern six-speed automatic. Thanks to a range of technological feats and a better gearbox, the larger capacity GDI engine is actually more fuel efficient in automatic guise than the 1.4-litre (6.1 vs 6.3L/100km).

If you plan on ticking a few options, you can equip your new Rio with 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels (pictured), front fog lamps, supervision cluster with dot-matrix display, cruise control, LED Day-time Running Lights and LED rear combination lamps.

The big question will be how the new Rio will perform on Australian roads. The Korean company says it has carried out extensive local testing to fine tune the vehicle for our market. The official launch of the new 2012 Kia Rio is in August, stay tuned for a full review.

2012 Kia Rio Specifications:

Engines / Gasoline

1.4-litre 79kW
Type: MPi Petrol DOHC, four-cylinder, dual CVVT – Capacity: 1,396cc
79 kW @ 6,300 rpm / 135Nm @ 4,200 rpm

1.6-litre 103kW
Type: GDi Petrol DOHC, four-cylinder, dual CVVT Capacity: 1,591cc
103 kW @ 6,300 rpm / 167 Nm @ 4,850 rpm

Transmissions

1.4 and 1.6
Manual / speeds 6 and 6
Automatic / speeds 4 and 6

Suspension & Damping

Front – Fully independent by subframe-mounted MacPherson
struts, with coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers. Anti-roll stabiliser bar.

Rear – Semi independent by CTBA (coupled torsion beam axle) with separate coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers.

Steering

Type- MDPS electric power-assisted rack and pinion
Gearing- 2.82 turns lock-to-lock
Turning circle: 10.52 metres (minimum)

Brakes S / Si SLi

Front 256 x 22mm vent. discs 280 x 22mm vent. discs
Rear 262 x 10mm solid discs 262 x 10mm solid discs

Wheels & Tyres

15 in x 5.5J 185/65 R15 tyres
16 in x 6.0J 195/55 R16 tyres
17 in x 6.5J 205/45 R17 tyres

DIMENSIONS (mm)

Exterior

Overall length 4045 Overall width 1720 (ex. door mirrors)
Overall height 1455 Wheelbase 2570
Front overhang 805 Rear overhang 670
Front track 1521 Rear track 1525

Interior Front Rear

Headroom 1015 960
Legroom 1112 790
Shoulder room 1350 1324

Capacities

Fuel tank (litres) 43.0
Luggage (VDA) 288 litres

Performance

1.4 (MT) 1.4(AT) 1.6 (MT) 1.6 (AT)
Top speed / km/h 183 170 190 190
0-to-100 km/h / sec 11.5 13.2 10.2 10.3

Economy

1.4 (MT) 1.4(AT) 1.6 (MT) 1.6 (AT)
Litres / 100 km 5.7 6.3 5.6 6.1
CO2 emissions 135 150 133 145

http://caradvice Onepoppa

This car looks very European – the rear particularly looks like it should have a SEAT badge.

The new products from Hyundai and Kia just confirm that Korea has eclipsed Japan, which seems to have lost its way as it becomes more focussed on the US market. This is especially true of Honda.

Crummydore

Its a great looking car and I would imagine it will sell well.

I totally agree with you about Honda – apart from the Euro Accord and the Civic hatch – all of their current products are tailored for the US market, and they really do not look that great.

I will admit that although the Civic sedan at times looks slightly classy, its still problematic to look at, and having seen the new Civic pics out of the US, things haven’t improved.

So sad – Honda was such a trendsetter in the late 80′s and most of the nineties.
http://caradvice OSU811

I agree, after reading your comment on looking like a SEAT, it totally reminds me of a new SEAT..
Aussie bender

Especially true of TOYOTA!!!
The perfomance figures put the corolla to shame.

Scotto

Kia have been doing a stunning job lately in the looks department.
Kampfer

I’d pick this over standard Polo. (GTi on the other hand…)

Henry

The POLO is a box and built in south africa…. Not true VW quality then!
http://www.facebook.com/sammo.8191 Sam Moss

I’m sorry but I doubt that this car (as good as it may be) would win World Car of the Year, European Car of the Year, Wheels Car of the Year, Cars Guide Car of the Year and Drive Car of the Year like the Polo did.

o

Very impressed to see the LED lights, was not expecting that, If its priced right Ill take a diesel model with LED lights and LCD interior screen for 19k

Kampfer

Let hope we don’t get striped-out car like we usually do here in OZ.

demonaz

Looks very good… I hope Kia will add side skirts and lower front spoiler for the top model
vid_ghost

1.6-litre 103kW
Type: GDi Petrol DOHC, four-cylinder, dual CVVT Capacity: 1,591cc
103 kW @ 6,300 rpm / 167 Nm @ 4,850 rpm

Its a direct injected petrol! model not a diesel.
Opelman

Much better looking than the Barina! The Beep Beep Barina looks beep beep bland!
save it for the track

With 103kW and 167Nm in such a small car it seems it should be quicker than 10 secs to 100. Will be interesting to see that weight figure.

Kampfer

Yeah… it’s very close to the N15 Pulsar SSS with the SR20.

SSS was about 8 secs to 100. It’s just a 5 speeds manual but only weight ~1150kg.

If Kia timed 1-100 for 1.6L 6 speeds manual at 10.2s, I’ll say the Rio is quiet a bit heavier.

Martin V.

Maybe they were timed with cheap-o tyres they put on?

j

1.6L with 103kw and 167Nm? That’s better power and torque than the old 4AGE Corollas, the Swift Sport, and better torque than the old Civic VTIR. That’s progress.

So are we expecting cheap and cheerful entry level prices for this?

Phil

Not to mention the New B class 1.6 which despite a Turbo, only puts out 90KW and needs 98 octane!

Goodfa

The 1.6 has better economy than the 1.4. Why not just make it standard and be done with it.

Looks better than the new Barina.

If they can keep the price down this car will shake the small car market.

I don’t know who the new Kia designer is but they would want to lock him/her into a long contract.

Sumpguard

Everything looks better than the new Barina.

Our Sportage gets comments even now despite them being around a year or so.

Thema

Same with our Sorento which is 1 year old now…we still get comments and stares from Territory/Kluger drivers.

My 3rd gen Subaru Forester neighbour scoffed when he first saw our Sorento Sli Diesel..but after actually looking through the car, features, spacious interior and clever value proposition his grin was wiped off his face.

Not to mention we average 9.5L/100Km in the suburbs whilst his XT Forester chews through 13.5l/100km of Premium fuel urban cycle.

save it for the track

Given the far superior handling and acceleration of the XT Forester vs the Diesel Sorento, I’d say that his smile would quickly return if driven back to back. In all seriousness comparisons should not be seriously made between an economy focused diesel and a somewhat sportier focused turbo petrol. A Forester is also about a half size smaller than a Sorento.

David

Sorento’s are fare from slow!
Sumpguard

…and reviews on the latest Forrester have been far from glowing.. I owned an outback 10 years ago and it was brilliant as was the first forrester. Pretty much every review I read says the current forrester is not as good as the last. So it isn’t just subaru’s stylists that are getting it wrong lately.

Save it for the track you should take a modern diesel for a run before making the assumption they are slow.

RedBack

Quote – Goodfa July 1, 2011 at 3:44pm: “I don’t know who the new Kia designer is but they would want to lock him/her into a long contract.”

Peter Schreyer. Worked for VW/Audi for 25 years.

Designed the first Audi TT.

A genuinely gifted designer who’s picked up numerous awards for his work both before and after joining KIA.

Hopefully they appreciate the difference he’s making to their image.

Actually, KIA do seem pretty switched on at the moment. Last I heard they’d just engaged Lotus Engineering to do work for them on suspension design & tuning.

Can’t wait to see the results that produces!

Joey

Gee, stunning little car

Can we get one with the Soul’s CRDI motor please
http://caradvice peter

Well done Kia. Take note mazda
john

Very nice car. Looks like a vw which isn’t a bad thing.
Tim

Absolutely stunning look for Rio, the only question now is how much is it gonna be?

http://googlechrome julie

would like to know the price stunning car

Anf

Kia have nailed it again, well equipped, good performance and good looks this is a cracker for a small car. Any name snobs really have to re-think about purchasing anythng else when Kia offer packages like this
Phil

280mm discs on the front of the 1.6 models. Thats bigger than what you got on EL Falcons (276mms)! Hahahahaha.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1715760895 Charles Dean

The model in those photos is the full spec one which here in Australia will cost well and truly above 24k.. And that’s why it will once again fail..

Will this be a success in Europe; YES it will because in Europe cars like this are perfect for their market..

In Australia people will go upper class (larger car) once this car touches the twenties point..

So this will co eye with more established brands with it’s basic trim and people will choose the other brands..

Kampfer

Sad but true… We won’t see many fully optioned Rio like the one in the photo on our road, Kia may not even offer some of the options here.

I do see lot of highly spec’ed Sportage and IX35 on the road.
Mat

Good news… seen the base model and the only external difference is the alloys… this car aint gonna fail. fact.

Elitist

They even call it GDi to copy GTi, not even knowing what GTi means…
Anyone who buys this piece of crap has no taste.

David

sighs….read properly and you will see that GDI means Gasoline Direct Injection!

Henry

Who is this… must be one of the snoby and gealous VW fans!

Kampfer

GDi copied GTi…? Hahahahaha… Who is this Elitist clown…
Mat

Haha thats the funniest comment here..

t39

six-speed manual transmission: that’s better than the new focus!
http://caradvice Onepoppa

Have just seen it at the Motor Show. What a sharp looking small car. Looks even moe Fiat/Seat in the metal than in the pictures. Long rear doors without quarter windows very smooth looking.

This car will do well worldwide. Kia styling is on a roll as is Hyundai – making most Hondas looking pedestrian and very much old hat, no doubt due to its fixation on the US market.
Bana

It’s not as though SEAT is a good looking car to start of with..
col

I really like the look of this car.
Sumpguard

The only thing stopping this car from becoming a major success in the small car market will be the price. It looks sensational! I suspect however that with the standard kit mentioned it will be up in Yaris territory. We will know soon enough I guess.

I had 4 guys standing staring at my Sportage when we came out of the cinema just after midnight. As I approached and hit the unlock button and the daylight running lights lit up one of them said how fantastic the new KIA’s are. You certainly wouldn’t have heard that a few years ago.

Everywhere I go people check it out or comment. This RIO will attract similar praise when launched and into a segment that is lacklustre for the most part where styling is concerned.

Fiesta and Polo perhaps the exceptions.
David

I like it…masculine yet not over done! nice stance and gr8 performance (1.6)..ill have one with all the LED’s thanx
http://nil canlova

Wow – VW should have kept the man in charge of design (Peter Schreyer) instead of letting him unleash his creative talent on these Korean brands. Let’s hope the quality issues on every front have been revisited with these new models.

Kampfer

VW/Audi already have a “design language” that designers need to follow, or at least there’s a limit how far they can go.

On the other hand KIA gave Schreyer a clear start which let him do what-ever he wants.

That alone is enough to get most designers to join.

xl

Only one thing bothers me about this Rio, and I am referring to its interior. Can anyone tell me what the huge hole next to the radio controls is?

J

I’m assuming it’s a cubby hole of some sort.

http://www.firstchoicecarsales.com Mark David

I like the concept of this car,and it is more comfortable and easy to drive.
Torque

KIA,
IMO, ditch the CTBA (coupled torsion beam axle) and replace it with indepent suspension, the Cerato could benefit from this as well. I hired the previous shape Rio and drove it hard for over 2000Km on rough slippery and light snow and ice covered roads, a great little car.