  2012 Kia Rio five-door. Click image to enlarge |
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Review and photos by Grant Yoxon
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2012 Kia Rio
Fall City, Washington – I know I’ve said it before, but it is worth repeating. “Sub-compact” and “economy” are no longer synonyms in the world of cars. With each newly redesigned sub-compact that enters the market – and there have been five so far this year (Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Chevrolet Sonic) – it has become apparent that we are witnessing the complete re-invention of the sub-compact.
Certainly these small cars are economical, but it is also possible to get some very upscale equipment and advanced technology in a car that was once considered basic transportation. The new 2012 Kia Rio 5-door is a case in point.
Starting at just $14,095, the Rio 5-door LX comes standard with such features as four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, brake assist, traction control, stability control and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) a safety feature found only on high end luxury cars… until now. Tilt steering wheel, trip computer, map lights, illuminated vanity mirrors, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, sliding centre console arm rest, power door locks and power windows, power heated side view mirrors, variable intermittent windshield wipers and satellite radio (with a four-speaker audio system with auxiliary and USB inputs) are all standard equipment. This is on a vehicle that has an all new and more powerful 1.6-litre engine that produces 138 hp and 123 lb.-ft. of torque and one of the nicest six-speed manual transmissions I’ve ever driven. There are absolutely no exterior clues that you’ve chosen the base model over a more expensive car. Door handles and mirrors are body colour and not black as often has been the case in the past.
  2012 Kia Rio five-door. Click image to enlarge |
For $15,595, the Rio LX+ adds air conditioning, fog lights, heated front seats, cruise control, keyless entry and Bluetooth connectivity for your phone. You can also add an automatic transmission with “active eco” which remaps throttle sensitivity and other engine management functions to maximize fuel economy, for an additional $1,300 on either model.
For $17,695, The Rio LX+ can be equipped with Kia’s Idle Stop & Go (ISG) system and 15-inch alloy wheels. ISG shuts down the engine when the car is in Drive but not moving, such as at stop lights or in heavy traffic, reducing emissions and saving an additional five to ten per cent on fuel over and above Natural Resources Canada’s rating of 4.9 L/100 km highway and 6.6 L/100 km city. It is a feature that all cars should be equipped with. According to Natural Resources Canada, if every vehicle in Canada idle-stopped for just two minutes, 305 million litres of fuel would be saved. Imagine what that number would be if every vehicle in Canada idle-stopped every time a traffic light turned red.
Moving on up the social ladder, the EX trim level with the same sweet manual transmission adds 16-inch alloy wheels, power sunroof, telescopic steering, leather shift knob, metal-grain trim, leatherette door centre trim, soft-touch dash pad (although the dash tops in our LX testers were pretty soft anyway), six-speaker audio and power folding side-view mirrors with integrated LED turn signal repeaters for $16,995.
