2008 Kia Rio Review
KIA’S new compact people-mover, the Rondo 7, is proof positive that the Korean company is moving forward in design and engineering, with a promising blend of compact exterior, roomy and well-packaged seven-seat interior and – given the inexorable climb in fuel costs – the bonus of a fuel-efficient 2.0-litre petrol engine.
Kia Rio was setting new standards for subcompacts even before last year’s complete makeover. Now this roomy little car is better than ever. Rio has received Autobytel’s “Editor’s Choice for Most Improved New Car,” and ranked highest for initial quality in the subcompact segment in the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Initial Quality Study. Rio has also been recognized as one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market by both the Environmental Protection Agency and by J.D. Power.
The ‘06 Rio that earned all that acclaim was offered as a practical sedan or as a more deluxe and sporty five-door hatchback called Rio5 SX. For ‘07, Kia has added an SX-trimmed sedan featuring all of the hatchback’s sporty equipment: front fog lights, 15-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, metal-finish interior trim, metal pedals, black mesh sport fabric seat inserts and door panels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and red stitching and highlights throughout.
The Kia Rio sedan and five-door hatchback are powered by the same 110-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. It’s a sophisticated, modern engine, complete with dual overhead camshafts and variable valve timing. Safety features for all models include front seatbelt pre-tensioners along with six airbags: dual frontal, front seat side-impact and full-coverage side-impact curtain.
sedan is still available as a very basic base model or in more mainstream LX trim. New for ‘07 is the sporty SX. The Rio5 five-door hatchback remains available exclusively in SX trim.






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