Overview

The 2012 Kia Rio is brand new from bumper to bumper and is definitely upscale for its segment. The Rio is definitely dynamic looking and the entire vehicle says quality whether you are looking inside our outside of the vehicle.. The interior is inviting and has plenty of standard and optional features to make it a contender in its class.

Safety

General Safety Features

• Automatic Locking Retractors
• Crash Sensor Turns On Flashers
• Crumple Zones
• Driver Airbag With Dual Stage Deployment
• Front and Rear 3-Point Seatbelts
• Front Seatbelt Height Adjusters
• L A T C H
• Passenger Airbag Cutoff Sensor Activated By Weight
• Passenger Airbag With Dual Stage Deployment
• Personal Safety System(R) Includes Pretensioners With Load Limiters, Driver Airbag With Dual Stage Deployment, Passenger Airbag With Dual Stage Deployment, Automatic Locking Retractors, Driver Seat Position Sensor and Crash Sensor
• Pretensioners
• Seat Mounted Front Side Airbags
• Side Guard Door Beams
• SYNC(R) Crash Sensor Sends GPS Signal (Requires Paired Wireless Enabled Phone)
• Trunk Anti-Trap Device

·   Anti-Theft & Locks

• Power Door Locks
• Vehicle Anti-Theft Via SecuriLock(R) Engine Immobilizer

·  Braking & Traction

• 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
• AdvanceTrac(R) Traction Control
• Electronic Stability Control(ESC) Vehicle Stability Control System Operated Via Engine Power Reduction, ABS and Traction Control Measures Steering Wheel Angle and Yaw Rate
• Front Power 316-mm X 30-mm Vented Disc and Rear Power 300-mm X 19-mm Vented Disc Brakes
• Limited Slip Differential

Under the Hood

The all-new drive train for the 2012 Kia Rio comes from a new 1.6-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder producing 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. My test drive had the six-speed automatic, which is standard on the EX. The Rio will be the first in the segment to offer start-stop technology.  EPA rating is 30mpg in the city and 40mpg on the highway.

Driving Impression

While driving the Rio for a week I found the cabin noise at a minimal, but you could feel the bumps and vibrations when you hit a pothole.

Pick up for the 4-cylinder engine is OK and the automatic transmission was very quick for passing on the highway. The power steering is responsive when making turns

Our test car was also equipped with the stop-start system, which would kill the engine when we came to stops, which increases the overall gas mileage by 1mpg.

Inside

The Rio EX interior is very\inviting, and the seats are very comfortable. The driver’s seat has six-way adjustable and can be raised and lowered in height. The interior materials are very nice and the instrument cluster is nicely laid out. All controls are easy to reach and easy to read.   The steering wheel on the Rio has controls for cruise, radio, and telephone controls. The large switches on the center stack for the climate controls were also easy to use, and pretty cool in design. All the Rio interior surfaces are soft, which are high quality in feel and touch.

Outside

The design for the Rio is unique to its sibling the  Hyundai Accent. The unique C-pillar treatment gives the appearance of a sporty compact. The front fascia has an aggressive look and is rear end is highlighted with chrome twin- exhaust; the blackened lower rear valance and a taillight treatment emphasize the vehicle.

Summary

Kia has come up with a car with personality and is fun to drive The Rio is a great value for the money. The Rio 5 door is a great commuter vehicle that is worth stopping at a Kia dealer to check out

Specifications

Dimensions