New Kia Rio launches in South Africa
Kia has recently refreshed the Rio. If you only took a glance at the car and didn’t notice anything, we wouldn’t; blame you. Kia has kept the design updates to a minimum. What is exciting is that this is a little bit more than just a facelift and we will get into why further on.
A small update to the Kia Rio design.
As we mentioned, the exterior design changes Habe been kept to a minimum. The face does change slightly with a flatter and narrower “tiger nose” grille. The front bumper changes slightly too with new fog lamp positioning. It’s just that little bit wider now.
Entry-level LS grade models gain brand new 15-inch alloy wheels, an upgrade from the previous steel ones. THis while the EX grade (second from the top) gains matching 17-inch wheels with the flagship model.
All the new Kia Rio models will be offered in two different metallic paint finishes. These are Perennial Grey and Sporty Blue. Which one do you prefer?
Upgraded infotainment livens the interior.
Inside, the Kia Rio stays mostly the same with one main exception, the infotainment screen. It is now an eight-inch touchscreen that features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. There are also USB ports for both front and rear passengers. Perfect for longer trips with kids. Speaking of longer trips, the load space in the back is 325 litres.
The standard LS grade models gain an additional two speakers as well. This bumps it up to a total of six.
The 1.4-litre engine is now available in the LS range.
Here is the biggest bit of news about the new Kia Rio, the addition of the 1.4-litre engine in the LS range. Previously, the LS range was limited to a 1.2-litre. Now you have the option between 61 kW and 120 Nm or 73 kW and 135 Nm. This is what makes the new versions more than just a facelift.
The 1.2-litre engine only comes with a 5-speed manual transmission option, however, every other model gets the option between a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Additional electronic stability control can be found on the LX models and up.
Prices for South Africa.
- 1,2 LS: R280 995
- 1,4 LS: R291 995
- 1,4 LS AT: R308 995
- 1,4 LX: R306 995
- 1,4 LX AT: R323 995
- 1,4 EX: R319 995
- 1,4 EX AT: R336 995
- 1,4 Tec: R344 995
- 1,4 Tec AT: R361 995
Source: Cars | CARmag | Kia
