Following the unveiling of its five-door hatch counterpart in Geneva last month, Kia has pulled the covers back from the 2012 Kia Rio Sedan.
Power for the US models will come from a direct-injected 100 kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, although engines ranging from a 51 kW three-cylinder 1.1-litre diesel to a 80 kW 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine have been slated for international models.
Paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, Kia says the 1.6-litre petrol engine will return city-driving figures of 7.8 L/100km, and 5.8 L/100km on the highway. In a first for Kia, the Rio is also equipped with ISG (idle stop and go) technology, switching off the engine when the vehicle is not in motion.
The 2012 Rio Sedan is larger than the model it will soon replace. Its wheelbase is 70 mm longer, and the body measures 4366 mm long overall. It is also 25 mm wider, offering increased interior space with 45 mm more front legroom. Standard safety features across the Rio range will include three-point seatbelts all-round, electronic stability control, four-wheel ABS, hill-start assist and vehicle stability management.
