The Kia Rio hatchback was teased by Kia Malaysia at an exhibition hall next to Asia Klasika 2012 last weekend. Dressed in psychedelic colours which pretty much hid a lot of the car’s lines, it took the centre stage of their floor space beside the rest of the current line-up.
We hear that the Rio hatchback is set to be launched in the first half of 2013, probably with a 1.4 litre engine and an automatic transmission. We’ve seen the Kia Rio hatchback being tested with a trade plate back in March this year.
Here are more pics of the Kia Rio hatchback, and its sedan sibling, without distracting colours.
The launch is overdue. Expected from Kia ,the design, for me at least, is better than anything the T,H and the leaning H can offer.
Won’t say anything until the spec and pricing is confirm
For K and leaning H. Design sells, problems settle later. Malaysian mindset. Watch out for the coming T designs.. jaw dropping.. in my case that is. Only my opinion. Dont go hating ppl. :)
T design should be awesome in a couple of years as the brand president is trying to make the brand more ‘exciting’ but plans have been delayed due to external prob: earthquake, tsunami, politic, economies, recall , etc…..
T design SHOULD be awesome in a couple of years as the brand president is trying to make the brand more ‘exciting’ hence the GT86 (rumor has it that he wants a new Supra by 2015) but plans have been delayed due to external prob: earthquake, tsunami, politic, economies, recall , etc…..
But from what I see from the new Auris(UK) and mark X, T is finally ,though very late, ready for the kimchis onslaught.
FT86*
FT86 is the concept ver
GT86 is the production car
Yeah, used car yard fella will show you a Hilux, to tell you politely that your trade in value is Hailat
Haaa. How come u r gone from the post on Toyota engines and appear here preaching your RV point again?
sam loo, you so pity…
If u live at miri, u can see tis Rio everywhere, all are brunei plate.. the back of tis car really nice. and very large rim..
Brunei people seems to like Kia a lot. Been to Miri just last few weeks, and saw a lot of Sportage and Optima K5. Many were wearing Miri’s plate numbers too, so i think Kia should be doing rather well in Miri too.
U know why Brunei like KIAs? U look carefully at the details at the back of those KIA….all have a same letter “CRDI”….Brunei are at euro4 diesels, and KIAs diesels are damn powerful & frugals. Bruneian love those Korean diesels, my cousin had a CRDI Rondo, very powerful torquey engine at more than 300nm and FC averaging 16-18km/l. Can drive to & back Miri with lots of extra fuel.
Their toyota altis use diesel too, got label “2.0D”..
Bruneian they used to buy a car for 5 years, after 5 years they’re going to lease it and buy a new car. So they did not encountered any major problem like us
Brunei’s Kia Optima K5 are a little bit different than Malaysian version. Look like a B/M line model. But with a huge custom rim on it looks awesome!
Sorry Malaysians, Mirians and KK’s always updated with cars. All thanks to Bruneians.
Hyundai Accent looks awkward though. Hyundai Elantra looks better.
Just waiting for the new Kia Forte so I can take a peak and tell you guys how was it.
no point if u can’t buy them. I don’t need to be in miri to get updated about cars, I just use the internet.
Ford Fiesta any time over this Rio Lollipop.
Eh. Ford fiesta ah? I tot u r a big supporter of T and H?
Finally woke up from your slumber alreaDY that T and H are basically ripping off its customers with every new model launched?
I suppose the only car manufacturer that I consider worse than Hyundai/Kia is TaTa
Nissan design still the best…
you mean this?
http://www.nissan.com.my/vehicles/sentra_sport/Default.aspx?referral=AllVehicles
ppl already started to scrap this junk 2-3 years ago but TCM still selling it…
its like mini sportage. i like the back side
Is there an error in the write-up?
‘To be launched in the first half of 2012’ – Shouldn’t that be 2013? We’re already in the final quarter of 2012! :)
Paul – “We hear that the Rio hatchback is set to be launched in the first half of 2012″….2013 eh? I know, the staggered holidays is distracting the productive minds :) Cheers
who is the photographer? All wrong angle! pusing pusing my kepala to observe the car…
Korean car-design is pretty,sometime look like overdesign..but when come to performance and engine technology,still cannot beat T & H..
I think engine is vw,Toyo is hybrid sysytem.
unfortunately, its not the koreans who design Kia cars…
but they did design some Malaysian cars like Saga BLM.
At the moment there are only 3 affordable hatchback u need to consider,i.e. the mps3, the focus st, and gti, the rest r just a refrigerator on wheels.
Hmmmmmmmm..still preve is better, overall. Those buy this only to look diff frm the crowd.
umm dont you guys think the front headlight looks like lagi best?can say the overall front look similar….
at least Rio doesn’t have the ugly big emboss behind each door handle seen on lagi best
Let me guess the price: Rm68,888.88?
RM 72,888-78,888
1 year later, RM35k oso cannot get for trade in
cars distributed by naza, just forget it. service and warranty is the worst you can get. in the end, better settle for others like T and H……bought their P and K……P a lot of worksmanship problem, fix also till tulan. K, claim warranty also take years, problem also dunno how to fix…..still dare to buy? no more cars from naza for me….
Everyone has bad experience with service center for almost all manufacturer…… Maybe except Rolls-Royce
But I for one says that the worst I ever experience is by p2, terrible terrible terrible service
I have no problem with Honda 4S @ section 13 and Toyota @ 217. Excellent service. My Previous generation of civic was excellent except for its steering rack. My current 86 is a dream to drive. I can donut endlessly.
Ditto Toyota.
My horror with Naza and Kia and its associated RV really tells me that I TAI SEI when I bought the kimchi junk instictively
No wor. I have a Kia. My sister in law also has one.
Service at Kia Glenmarie. No problem at all. Good service. Problem solved quickly. Big store for parts.
U think Honda or BMW is better? Try AB and Honda glenmarie. Then u will realise how high your blood pressure can go before u pass out.
Honda near Kota Damansara is almost perfect. good wifi too.
It mostly depends where you are(or how close you are to the employee[being a good customer])….and no I dun think Honda or BMW is better. I did’t say it.
Regarding Honda, the one near Jalan 222 is pretty good. Efficient service, attentive people. The same goes for Naza Kia in Kinara, as well as Toyota in Section 19 PJ. Had good service from all three, and the repair costs were pretty reasonable for what it is.
Why like nobody at this motor show?
Now MITI surely pressure Naza above RM72K…must…protect…Protong
for this showcar, if registered, what color should appear on the log card?
Rainbow!!!
i think u overlooked kia and hyundai’s safety ratings. Kia is the only brand here in Malaysia that has cars with 6 airbags and ESP(stability control) for a reasonable price.
Dont forget. Thanks to Kia and Hyundai’s 5 years warranty, other car companies is now giving at least 5 years warranty.
They can have 11 airbags like Beemers, but with the crap quality, whats the point?
Where can i buy the sticker?
give me k3 pls. the rio is now outdated
I thought that Fiesta 1.4 has 7 airbags at RM70k..
This design is amazingly beautiful, love it.
Good car, but 70k for a small korean car is kinda overpriced.
RM70k will be able to buy you a 6 month old Elantra
Just Check with Naza, only 4 speed auto available launching late January 2013. What a disapointment !