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.
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.
Add another $1,500 to the equation and your 2012 Kia Rio 5-door will come equipped with UVO audio infotainment system, rearview camera and automatic headlights. The UVO system can be voice activated, meaning you can tell it what to do, from finding a certain radio station to playing a certain song on your iPod. You can use Bluetooth to stream music to the system, or you can download your music library to the system’s hard drive. If you receive a text message on your phone, the system will interpret and read the message to you. Developed with Microsoft, the system is fully upgradable. Download new software to a computer, plug it in with a USB and you’re good to go.
Again, either EX trim levels with automatic transmission cost an additional $1,300.
For those who just have to have it all, the range-topping EX Luxury will truly make you feel successful but not spendthrift. Features like 17-inch alloy wheels, larger brakes, sport-tuned suspension, twin-tip muffler, push-button ignition with smart key, heated steering wheel, “Supervision” gauge cluster, cooling glove box, luggage net and tray, leather seats with two-tone interior treatment(black and white or brown and cream), alloy sports pedals, fully automatic climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, UVO audio infotainment system, rearview camera, projection headlights, LED taillights, LED positioning lights, UV-reducing solar glass and automatic transmission are included for $20,795.
That’s it (as if that wasn’t enough). For less than $21,000, plus shipping charges and taxes, you can have one of the most well equipped sub-compact cars ever offered by any manufacturer. It can’t be long before power adjustable seats will also find their way into this class.
Despite its smallish size, there was plenty of leg room for rear seat passengers and a very large rear storage area that gets even bigger with the standard 60/40 split rear seatbacks folded down.
Typically, we wished for more power (auto journalists always do) as the long hill climbs in Washington demanded downshifting from sixth to fourth, but we had no such concern about cars equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission as the transmission did the work for us. With the manual transmission, passing requires a bit of planning to ensure you are in the right gear with rpm to marshall enough power to get the job done. But in all other respects, the direct-injected 1.6-litre engine is quite capable providing good acceleration from a stop and operating very quietly both at speed on the freeway and under acceleration.
The Rio shares many of its components with the Hyundai Accent, including its engine, wheelbase and suspension, the latter being MacPherson struts up front and a torsion axle in back. While one cannot describe the Rio as a sports car, it certainly has sporting characteristics, feeling both light and nimble and responding quickly to driver inputs. Cornering is flat and predictable.
The KIA Rio uses electric power assisted steering which helps fuel consumption, however it also has a tendency to wander off centre and a slightly duller road feel than a hydraulic system would have. The positive benefit of electric power steering is the ability to bring that component into the car’s stability control system: VSM or vehicle stability management coordinates the Rio’s electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes, but also allows the car to direct a small percentage of additional (or less) steering than the driver provides in situations where the vehicle is under- or over-steering. Kia is the first manufacturer to make VSM available in this class of vehicle.
With an alphabet of active safety features (ABS, BAS, TCS, EBD, ESC and VSM) the 2012 Kia Rio is well equipped to keep you out of trouble, but six airbags – dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags – are standard equipment on all Rio models,
The Rio is an important vehicle for Kia as it competes in one of the most popular size classes in Canada. Success in this category often translates into success for the brand, if not now, at least down the road when customers return for larger vehicles to meet an expanded family size. But empty nesters will also find that the Rio can meet their need to downsize, while retaining the luxury features they’ve come to expect. The 2012 Kia Rio exemplifies the revolution in small car design and technology that is transforming the sub-compact segment. Buying a sub-compact no longer means buying an economy car. With the Kia Rio there is a sub-compact for everyone and every budget.
