Kia Rio sedan – interesting alternative to hatchback?

Kia Rio sedan

Of course, the booted version of the Kia Rio isn’t new, having made its first global appearance as the Kia K2 sedan in Shanghai a full two years ago and then as the Kia Rio sedan in New York shortly after. Still, no harm revisiting the little four-door B-segmenter, especially since it’s turned up at the ongoing Bangkok show.

Although they sit on the same platform as the Rio hatchback, the China-market K2 and the Rio sedan are not exactly one and the same – the former borrows more than a couple of styling cues from the bigger K5. The one you see here is the latter; the work of Kia’s design studios in Irvine, California.

DSCF5220

The design of the lower air intake and fog lamps are different to those on the hatchback, and it’s got a bigger grille, too. Also, the hatchback has projector headlamps while the sedan makes do with conventional reflector units. Lamps are LEDs at the back. Boot volume is 390 litres, up from the hatchback’s 288 litres.

The Thai-market car, which sells from 749k baht (RM79k), gets a 1.4 litre Gamma four-cylinder engine that produces 109 PS at 6,300 rpm and 137 Nm at 4,200 rpm, a four-speed auto ‘box and 15-inch wheels wrapped in 185/65 tyres. We’ve driven the Kia Rio hatchback – read our preview drive report on the 1.4 SX here.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • Front’s a bit awkward but overall still not bad. This is a good example of how a hatch to sedan transition should be done.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 32 Thumb down 1
    • JUNJUN on Mar 29, 2013 at 2:40 pm

      atleast this car have a better design than toyota vios…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 44 Thumb down 2
      • What you said there is a super duper understatement. This have been thought through and have an unrivaled design way out of league of Vios or alike.

        I respect japanese for their reliability, but I have also respect for KIA’s new change of not letting any ugly cars come into light.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 3
    • BlackBJQ on Mar 29, 2013 at 3:06 pm

      Agree. This is a good example of hatch to sedan transition.

      The most fugly transitions are Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 0
      • Kalun on Mar 29, 2013 at 7:06 pm

        You forgot the transition of Savvy to Saga.

        It’s like Ugly to ugly until the facelift come.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 11
      • frenzyaustin on Mar 29, 2013 at 7:21 pm

        Fiesta transition is the worst of all time! Mazda 2 not really photogenic but still acceptable, Kia Rio id not bad but awkward at certain angle, need few workout to be perfect. Polo is good too, just looks like overpriced saga BLM.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 3
        • corkey on Mar 30, 2013 at 7:17 pm

          overpriced saga BLM? are you suggesting it should be priced same like viva? lol

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • Matchy on Mar 29, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    I hope they’ll bring in the Rio Sedan… because I’m hearing that the K3 aka Forte-replacement will be price at RM95++, which kinda moved to the C-segment. So, I think the Rio Sedan will fill the RM70k-RM80k gap.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
  • sNapsHoOter on Mar 29, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    you should have seen the 3 doors version of the Rio. All these 3 versions, hatchback, sedan and 3 doors can be seen on the road in Brunei since 2012..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • BMW Fanboi on Mar 29, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    Preve is still a better car.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 44
    • Preve Hatch is a bad example of how Sedan transition to Hatch. It ain’t launched yet but the spyshots ain’t looking good.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 14
  • Naza///pls name it NAZA…can sell to rakyat 50k !!!! affordable..well equipped car for rakyat

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 2
  • So what’s the difference compare to Forte anyway?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5
  • Gracke on Mar 29, 2013 at 3:06 pm

    Nice looking….especially the Audi rear light…oh my god :-p

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Peter on Mar 29, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    I like current batch of Kia. I just don understand Kia’s criteria on choosing an engine. Take Forte SX 1.6 for example, a normal 1.6 engine has already hardly cope with the 1.34 ton chassis, yet they add in a 17″ wheel. This made the car under-powered. Now they choose a 1.4 litre engine for a sedan of this size. Kia RIO hatchback already weighted 1100 kg moreover this one. Can you imagine how the car perform when carry 3 adults going up Genting?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
    • sam loo ex-girlfriend on Mar 29, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      if you work in genting don’t buy this. If you go to genting once per 3 years than you can buy. you can go to genting by bus. ticket sell at kl sentral.problem solve:). the only problem is when you buy this car, suddenly you’ve been offered to work in genting. than the prblem is RV..hmmm

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 5
    • This is why,
      Kia cars always feel laggy.

      their drive train = sucks.
      no oomph, o feeling.

      Good drivetrain = good combination of Torque, hp, Gearbox ratio, and the tyre.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 13
      • sam loo ex-girlfriend on Mar 29, 2013 at 11:31 pm

        wise people says,

        “nothing have a better drivetrain than the train itself”

        “kia is a car not a train, you drivekia not drivetrain”

        -anonymous-

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 0
        • gOOsh on Apr 01, 2013 at 10:47 am

          bukan ke “drivetrain” tu is a technical term for “gearbox system”…
          just my 2cent… :)

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Simon on Mar 29, 2013 at 4:26 pm

    Rio sedan with a 1.6 litre engine and Rio hatchback’s features will be perfect! More appealing to families.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • toyota dugong killer right here… kill all the dugongs!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 3
    • kentji on Mar 29, 2013 at 6:30 pm

      like it or not it wont hahahaha, people will still choose to buy the RV KING

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 10
  • If the price is right , it should be a great competitor to vios and almera.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Mat Global on Mar 29, 2013 at 10:14 pm

    Don’t understand why Thailand sell this 1.4 car at RM79,000. If in Malaysia at this price it is understandable because our pump fuel is cheap less than half price of theirs.
    If i am in Thailand i will choose to drive in Toot Tut.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • mamamia on Mar 30, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    fatty+shorty=weird+ugly….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 6
  • b sensible on Mar 30, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    4-speed auto gearbox? i thought 4-speed is outdated. nowadays we talk about fuel efficiency…as the more gear-speed, the more fuel efficient is the vehicle…might be need to be 6,7,8-speed gearbox…5-speed? 5-speed is only good for manual.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • The rio slush box is 4 speed steptronic and cvvt which is better than existing city and vios. Btw I rented the new K3 for the weekend and the 1.6 engine suprised me! it is a spirited engine did not expect this from Kia at all. Next time will rent Rio.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Dennis Ting Jing Sung on Mar 31, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    on this do it have daytime running light on this model or just a guide light like any hyundai car

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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