2012 Kia Rio Hatchback Features & Specs

 

What's New for 2012

The 2012 Kia Rio is fully redesigned.

Introduction

When you hear the word "Rio," you might think of the city or perhaps Duran Duran. But would "Kia Rio" pop into your head? Probably not. For many years, the Rio has been a pretty forgettable little car. But for 2012, this should change, as the subcompact Kia is thankfully as far removed from last year's model as parachute pants and feathered hair are from today's fashions.
Redesigned for 2012, the Kia Rio has been improved in virtually every way. As with Kia's other recently redesigned models, style is a priority. Inside and out, the Rio has a bold look, especially in this segment of small cars. The new Rio is larger than before, which translates to more passenger and cargo room.
Under the hood is a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with direct-injection technology. With 138 horsepower on tap, the Rio is one of the most powerful cars in its segment. Still, performance is just a little better than average, though fuel economy ratings -- 30 mpg EPA city and 40 mpg EPA highway -- are at the top of its class.
As is Kia's customary practice, the Rio combines a low starting price with a fairly generous standard features list. The Rio also reflects Kia's recent efforts at improved quality, notably in a nicely trimmed cabin that would be at home in a more expensive car. But with so many upscale features available as options (navigation, leather seating and keyless ignition/entry, for instance), the price of a loaded Rio can approach that of a base Kia Optima.
There's no doubt that Kia now has a firm grasp on what most consumers are looking for, which would be styling, quality, performance and features. As a result, the 2012 Kia Rio is finally a front runner in a market segment that has seen a lot of improved vehicles lately. Other worthy choices include the Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and the Hyundai Accent, which resembles the Rio under the skin. Your decision will likely come down to styling preferences, driving position, handling/ride dynamics or maximum cargo capacity. Back-to-back test-drives are recommended.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2012 Kia Rio is available in both sedan and hatchback body styles, each with four doors. Trim levels are base LX, nicely equipped EX and sporty SX.
The LX comes with 15-inch steel wheels, power/heated mirrors, air-conditioning, a trip computer, a tilt steering wheel, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB/iPod interface. An optional Power package provides power windows and door locks with keyless entry.
The EX comes with all the above and adds a chrome grille frame, upgraded audio speakers, Bluetooth, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a center console with sliding armrest, upgraded upholstery and metallic cabin accents. An optional EX Convenience package adds 15-inch alloy wheels, foglights, automatic headlights, a rearview camera, power-folding outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, a soft-touch dash top, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and Kia's "Uvo" voice-activated interface for electronics features.
The SX adds to all the above 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, dual exhaust tips, LED front accent/rear taillights and an upgraded gauge cluster display. An optional SX Premium package adds a sunroof, keyless ignition/entry, leather seating, heated front seats and a navigation system.

Powertrains and Performance

Every Rio is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 138 hp and 123 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the LX, with a six-speed automatic optional. Both the EX and SX come only with the six-speed automatic.
In Edmunds testing, a Rio SX did the 0-60 sprint in 9.7 seconds, an average time for the subcompact segment. Fuel economy estimates stand at 30 mpg city/40 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined for the automatic, with 30/40/34 for the manual.

Safety

The 2012 Kia Rio comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and hill start assist. Unlike most rivals that have a front disc/rear drum brake setup, the Rio has disc brakes all around. This undoubtedly contributed to its strong braking performance, as the Rio SX came to a stop from 60 mph in just 119 feet -- an excellent distance for an economy car.

Interior Design and Special Features

The Rio's cabin boasts very good build and materials quality. Although there is a lot of hard plastic trim, it is nicely grained and doesn't scream economy car. Indeed, in the upper trims, features such as a soft-touch dash top, sliding center armrest and tasteful metallic accents give the impression that the Rio is a cut above what you'd expect in this class.
The climate and audio controls are easy to use, as is the optional navigation system. The Uvo voice-activated telematics system is another nice bonus, although we've found it isn't quite as intuitive to use as the Fiesta's Sync system.
The coupe's rearward visibility is hampered by thick C-pillars and a small rear window. The rearview camera (a rare feature in this class) helps greatly while parallel parking. When it comes time to carry extra items, the sedan has a 13.7-cubic-foot trunk, a respectable figure. With its rear seats lowered, the hatchback can hold up to 49.8 cubic feet.

Driving Impressions

As we've only driven the sporty SX, these impressions pertain to that trim. With its firmer suspension tuning, the 2012 Kia Rio SX may surprise you with its agile nature. Crisp steering response and a buttoned-down attitude make the Rio a good choice for those who enjoy spirited drives on a curvy road. The price to pay is a firm ride that borders on harsh when the car encounters severely broken pavement.
Despite its impressive engine stats, the Rio isn't the quickest car off the line, and gearchanges from the automatic transmission are smooth but on the slow side. Still, it feels peppy in everyday driving and has more than enough power to keep up with traffic. Under hard acceleration, the engine remains smooth but can get rather noisy.
 

Colors

Exterior

Interior

Exterior

Body

• Rear spoiler

Tires and Wheels

• Steel wheels
• 15 x 5.5 in. wheels
• Null spare wheel
• 185/65R15 tires
• Null tires
• Full wheel covers

Roof and Glass

• Variable intermittent wipers
• Privacy glass
• Rear defogger
• Rear window wiper

Measurements

• Width: 67.7 in.
• Height: 57.3 in.
• Length: 159.3 in.
• Ground clearance: 5.5 in.
• Front track: 59.9 in.
• Rear track: 60.0 in.
• Wheel base: 101.2 in.
• Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 15.0 cu.ft.

• EPA interior volume: 105.0 cu.ft.
• Drag Coefficient: 0.32 Cd
• Curb weight: 2410 lbs.

Exterior Options

• Sport Graphic
• Rear Bumper Applique

Mechanical

Engine & Performance

• Base engine size: 1.6 L
• Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)
• Cylinders: inline 4
• Valves: 16
• Valve timing: Variable
• Direct injection
• Torque: 123 ft-lbs. @ 4850 rpm
• Horsepower: 138 hp @ 6300 rpm
• Turning circle: 33.5 ft.

• Base engine type: gas

DriveTrain

• Drive type: front wheel drive
• Transmission: 6-speed manual
• Brake hill holder

Suspension

• MacPherson strut front suspension
• Torsion beam rear suspension
• Front independent suspension
• Stabilizer bar stabilizer bar

Fuel

• Fuel type: gas
• Fuel type: regular unleaded
• Fuel tank capacity: 11.4 gal.
• Range in miles (cty/hwy): 342.0/456.0 mi.
• EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 30/40 mpg

Safety

Safety & Security

• 4-wheel ABS
• Front and rear head airbags
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Child seat anchors
• Emergency braking assist
• Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes
• Rear door child safety locks
• 2 front headrests
• 3 rear headrests
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
• Rear center 3-point belt
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Stability control
• Traction control
• Electronic brakeforce distribution
• Front height adjustable headrests
• Rear height adjustable headrests
• Tire pressure monitoring

Warranty

• Basic: 5 yr./ 60000 mi.
• Drivetrain: 10 yr./ 100000 mi.
• Roadside: 5 yr./ 60000 mi.
• Rust: 5 yr./ 100000 mi.

Interior

Front Seats

• Front head room: 40.0 in.
• Front hip room: 52.1 in.
• Front leg room: 43.8 in.
• Front shoulder room: 53.1 in.
• Height adjustable driver seat
• Cloth
• Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

• Rear hip Room: 51.2 in.
• Rear head room: 37.6 in.
• Rear leg room: 31.1 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 52.1 in.
• Split-folding rear seatback
• Folding center armrest
• Rear ventilation ducts

Power Features

• Power mirrors
• Heated mirrors

Convenience

• Front cupholders
• Front and rear door pockets
• Front seatback storage
• Electric power steering
• 12V front power outlet(s)
• Tilt-adjustable steering wheel
• Audio controls on steering wheel

Comfort

• Air conditioning
• Cargo area light
• Dual vanity mirrors

Instrumentation

• Clock
• Tachometer
• Trip computer
• Low fuel level warning

In Car Entertainment

• Mast antenna
• 4 total speakers
• AM/FM in-dash single CD player with CD MP3 Playback stereo
• Sirius XM satellite radio
• Auxiliary audio input and iPod integration
• 3 Months of provided satellite radio service
• USB connection

Interior Options

• EC Mirror w/Homelink and Compass
• Cargo Tray
• Cargo Net
• Carpeted Floormats