Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Kia Rio matures into a fine subcompact car
Part of the kick of reviewing cars over the years is watching them evolve. Seeing a model begin a new generation - grow up, if you will. Watching it learn from its mistakes, improve itself.
Well, the 2012 Kia Rio is no longer that crazy little juvenile down the street; it has matured into a fine, upstanding member of the subcompact family.
The Rio once lagged behind the other guys like the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent and Honda Fit. For 2012, it has been redesigned into a little tiger, with an aggressive new front end that wants to growl.
And inside, amazingly, it has the refined look and feel of a higher-priced car. Yet it stays true to its economy roots, delivering superb fuel mileage - as much as 40 mpg on the open road - and coming in well under 20 grand.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Rio.
Kia designers took some cues from Optima and Sportage to refine Rio's look, including more slant to the headlights and a larger air dam up front.
Inside - dare I use the word "lavish?" Few indications here that you are driving an economy car. Oh, there are some hard plastics but also soft touches, for the most part, on the dash top and doors. Attractive metallic accents help make a convincing argument that this is not another economy car.
So does the push-button start, in the SX premium package; navigation system, unusual for this segment; and rich-looking leather seats and leather-wrapped wheel. The center console slides back and forth for easy access.
Slip the automatic tranny into reverse and - what? - a rearview camera? C'mon, Kia, are you trying to reinvent the economy car?
Instruments and climate and audio controls are easy to see and within easy grasp.
Seats are slightly firm but comfortable enough, And no problems for six-footers here when it comes to head- and leg-room.
The Rio sedan offers 13.7 cubic feet of trunk space, not bad for the subcompact family, either. The hatchback, with rear seats down, has a canyon-like 50 cubic feet of space.
Visibility out the rear is decent enough but somewhat hampered by broad C-pillars and not-so-broad rear window.
Under the hood of every Rio is a direct-injected, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that's good for 138 hp and 123 pound-feet of torque.
That translates to a 0-60 in just under 10 seconds, not impressive among the pack but not terrible either. It's the price you pay for up to 40 mpg on the highway.
The six-speed automatic with active Eco system can take some credit for the mileage. It's geared for optimal fuel-efficient driving and includes the ISG (idle stop and go) feature. The automatic transmission is standard on the higher-end trim levels; a six-speed manual comes with the base LX.
On the highway, Rio's ride is surprisingly fun. Steering is responsive; it has nice road feel and confidence on the corners.
The suspension is set on the firmer side, so if you prefer a cushioned ride, you might want to shop around a bit.
Higher speeds revealed some wind and road noise, but it wasn't so loud that it was annoying.
All Rios get disc brakes on all corners, rather than drums in the back, and that spells stronger braking. Other safety features include ABS, traction and stability control plus front-seat air bags and side-curtain air bags.
You can step into the base Rio LX for around $14,000 but that's a fairly basic animal - oh, you'll get a radio and four speakers and AC. But a 6-speed manual is standard, and you have to crank down your own windows. Was that really so terrible?
Better to go one better, if you can swing it, to the EX 5-door hatchback which includes power accessories plus cruise control, rear-view camera and audio system that offers CD, MP3 and satellite radio. The XS goes sporty with 17-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension and upgraded instrument panel.
Optional is a premium package with navigation system and moon roof or an Eco package that features the idle stop-and-go system.
While Kia expects some interest from older males, the Rio likely will appeal to a more youthful market. Surely this Rio, all grown up now, will command the respect of both young and old.
Source: Aiken Standard
Monday, March 26, 2012
Treat your car to some new oil for only $19.95!
This is your last week to take advantage of our March Service Special - Treat your car to some new oil for only $19.95! Simply print out your coupon and stop in now through Saturday.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Kia Rio tops Consumer Reports ratings of subcompacts
Consumer Reports rates the Kia Rio the top subcompact sedan, ahead of the Hyundai Accent and Chevrolet Sonic, in its road tests released Thursday.
CR test drivers praised the redesigned Rio for its nimble handling, smooth transmission and relatively low level of noise for a subcompact. The magazine also cited the Hyundai Elantra for top MPG and the Chevrolet Sonic for comfortable ride and good handling, but ranked them just below the Rio. The full results appear in the May issue or, for subscribers, online at the Consumer Reports web site.
The overall tests showed how much subcompacts have improved recently as auto makers work to meet consumer demand and federal regulations for higher gas mileage. "Subcompact cars were once collectively known as penalty boxes for their noisiness, rudimentary interiors, uncomfortable rides and weak performance," notes David Champion, head of the CR auto test center. "But now improved redesigns, combined with an affordable price and impressive fuel economy, make a number of subcompacts good choices for people looking to stretch their budget."
The one redesign that failed to impress the test drivers was the 2012 Nissan Versa sedan. The Versa dropped from the top of the rankings last year to the bottom with the new model. Toyota Yaris also continued its perennially low score in these subcompact tests.
For Korean auto maker Kia, the strong Rio rating comes on top of recent sales success. Kia sales in February were up 37% over a year earlier following a 36% gain for all of 2011.
SOURCE: cbsnews.com
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Kia Motors' "Kia Rio Windows Down" Playlist on Spotify Gains Momentum
In an automotive first, Kia Motors America (KMA) and music-loving Facebook users are creating a one-of-a-kind online playlist, titled "Kia Rio Windows Down," through Spotify, the award-winning digital music service that embraces sharing music and hearing tracks instantly by hitting play on any music post or posting tracks on Facebook and Twitter. Since the submission period began on the Kia Rio Facebook page in February, more than 1,100 songs have been submitted for inclusion on the playlist on Spotify, with song selections totaling 15 hours of music and an average of 24 minutes of time spent per user listening to the playlist, which provides an environment for users to listen, discover, and share the unique playlist with their friends. To create the perfect playlist for a joyride in the all-new Kia Rio subcompact, songs from Spotify's library of more than 15 million tracks can be submitted for the playlist until April 15, and will remain on the Spotify platform indefinitely.
"From our 'Share Some Soul' ad featuring LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem' to Motley Crue belting out 'Kickstart My Heart' in last month's Super Bowl commercial, music plays an important role in Kia's marketing efforts and being the first in the auto industry to partner with Spotify continues that trend," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "Spotify is an innovative music service, and aligning with a new platform that embraces the sharing of music was a natural fit for Kia to extend our Rio launch. Being the first to create a car-centric playlist on Spotify in the U.S. increases Kia's interaction with our target audiences that are passionate about music and social media."
About the Kia Rio 5-Door and Rio Sedan
Available in a sedan or hatchback configuration, the eco-friendly Rio and Rio 5-door offer three trims – LX, EX and SX – and are equipped with a 1.6-liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) four-cylinder with the option of either a six-speed manual transmission (LX only) or efficient six-speed automatic. One of only two vehicles in the segment to offer a GDI engine, the 2012 Rio provides an inviting combination of power and fuel efficiency, achieving standard class-leading 138 horsepower while maintaining a standard class-leading fuel economy rating of 30/40 mpg (city/highway).
Source: PR Newswire
