2018 Kia Rio Sedan, Hatchback, GT, Release Date

The Rio is one of the better-equipped subcompacts on the market which offers great value for money. Because the current model was getting old, Kia decided that it might be the right time for an all new version. The 2018 Kia Rio has already been showcased by them in hatchback form and it will be officially released at the Paris Auto Show.

The sedan is also expected to be released quite soon with the two of them being expected on the US market in 2017. The new car is larger than before, and this is mostly thanks to a new platform.

 

2018 Kia Rio Price, Release Date and More Details

The chassis it now uses is wider and it also features a longer wheelbase. The hatchback is 0.6 inches longer than before, it has 0.4 inches longer wheelbase and it is also slightly wider. Even though the changes are not big, it should be enough for it to become a more comfortable all around vehicle. Its price has not been announced for now but considering the competition, a starting point of around $15,000 to $16,000 is expected.

 

 

Design

The current model of the Rio is a rather interesting car to look at with its big headlights and perky lines. The new 2018 Kia Rio, on the other hand, has grown up quite a bit over the previous generation. For starters, it now looks completely different and we would also have to say, quite a bit better. Kia decided to go for a more European look, similar to what VW or Ford have been doing with their latest offerings. In the front it features a much larger intake in the bumper and two vertical fog lights housings. The headlights are swept back and they are now a lot slimmer than before. The grille also is now a lot more similar to what is available on the Optima. The back continues the design scheme with the influences from the Optima while from the profile it could easily be mistaken with a Polo.

Inside Cabin

Here Kia Rio 2018 did their best in order to depart themselves from the competition, and we have to say that they did it quite well. The dashboard features a rather minimalistic design with a curvy look to it. The steering wheel is really nicely proportioned while the red glow of the buttons and instrument cluster do give it a sporty feel. The only real grief here would have to be the infotainment system. This pops out from the dashboard and doesn’t really fit the lines of the interior.

Under the Hood

So far it still is unknown what engines the 2018 Kia Rio will use. However, considering their latest Cee’d, it is safe to assume that the Rio will use a very similar setup. At least in Europe, the car is expected to get a 1 liter turbocharged inline three petrol engine with as much as 110 horsepower and 171 Nm of torque. The 1.8 liter naturally aspirated inline four which is fitted to the US market model might be carried over relatively unchanged.

However, Kia might also go on another route and release the Rio with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. This is known for being able to make over 200 horsepower in some applications. The base US market model could easily do with 140 to 150 horsepower, quite a bit more torque than the older 1.8-liter engine as well as better fuel efficiency. A GT version has also been rumored for some time. Even though it is not official, an unnamed Kia insider did say that the Rio is the next in line. This could use the 1.6-liter engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox while having an output close to 200 horsepower.