The 2017 Kia Rio will soon be in Malaysia, with the fourth-generation hatchback expected to arrive in the second quarter of the year. But, despite having a complete exterior and interior overhaul, the B-segment hatch will retain its mechanical package – a 109 PS/137 Nm 1.4 litre petrol with a four-speed automatic.
This is the same package offered in Australia as well (where a six-speed manual is also available), unlike the more advanced direct-injection 1.0 litre petrol turbo and 1.4 litre turbodiesel motors on sale in Europe (as pictured here).
The 1.4 litre, four-speed automatic combo is offered in the Continent too, albeit with lower outputs (98 hp, 133 Nm), meant for “drivers who spend most of their time in heavy traffic or who have physical disabilities which prevent them from driving a manual.” Other engine options get a manual gearbox as standard.
However, our colleagues over at paultan.org/bm were in Australia last weekend to drive the all-new Rio, and were duly informed by a Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) official that the company is working on a new five-speed automatic transmission. That will come later, though.
“We do have plans to upgrade the transmission to a five-speed unit for the Malaysian market, but it has not been finalised yet. We may implement the change if there’s a demand for it, but there is no timeline as of yet, and there may be a price hike when it does arrive,” said the KMC official.
Asked if Kia will follow the trend towards continuously variable transmissions, he answered that “Kia will continue to use conventional automatics for its engines, with no plans to change to CVTs.” Instead, the company will focus on improving its current set of engines and transmissions, according to the source.
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just bring the manual version to Malaysia..!! come on..
As above
P1 Iriz mantaaap.
nobody wants Iriz. It is a failure. Even Tun M confirmed it is a failure. Now, they are begging Uber to take their Iriz even cause yard full of unsold Iriz
they better bring in 1.0 turbo. without it, yawn~~ boring~
2012 Kia Sportage 2.0 $64,800,
*Price when new $140k…70% Drop!!!
bro do u even primary school math ?140k to 65k is not 70%.
Agree. People in this country prefer going the route of downsized forced induction petrol engines like what the Europeans are getting.
Niro de best!
“drivers […] who have physical disabilities which prevent them from driving a manual.”
:D
Anyway, that’s a rather nice looking interior there for this segment, and the layout seems sensible too.
1.0T with 6MT should be offered as manual option here. I don’t mind it’s slightly pricier. In the end the more spiritual driving experience should put a grin on every face of ours.
Kia, it is the 1980. They want the 4 speed automatic gearbox back!
even lexus use 4 speed auto on their lc500h
You must be using a different internet from me because a quick search on the one I’m using said the 2017 LC500 has the “World’s first 10-speed direct shift automatic”.
even Proton CVT 7speed.
4 speed? What is this 2010? That gearbox is just not acceptable in 2017. At least give a 5 speed box.
Thank you for not going with CVT
a light,compact 5 speed auto makes so much sence than stupid cvt’s for compact cars….Kia has brains!
Say it stupid or anything, more and more cars using CVT now
another good thing about korean cars are they dont equip their cars with cvt. even a 4 speed auto feels more lively than a cvt car.
Lively but actually slower
CVT makes more sense, but people don’t like CVT.
its a weak spot in the kia lineup.. this Rio. can sell the 4speed as much as they want, but market demands at least 5 speed. and the car is cramped and impractical. did well with the others in the range, but not this one
Are they sure there is no demand for 5 speed auto here?
Never do markey survey izzit?
We all can easily show Kia no demand for 4 speed auto – just stop buying it. lol
I guess what the KMC official meant was
“I am gonna price it very high (make more money) with the new 5-speed, so if people cannot afford I might as well just throw in the old 4-speed”
Kia Forte first batch was fitted with 4 speed auto. The second batch was upgrade to 6 speed auto.Those who bought the 4 speeder auto really feeled unhappy, wrong move. So for your advice don’t buy the 4 speed auto. Kia definitely will not dare fix the 4 speed.
cvt means more money for maintenance . That’s why carmaker turn back to normal auto transmission.