Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), the official distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines, has made its local debut of the all-new Rio. This Korean subcompact hatchback features a more aggressive exterior design, roomier interior, and more.
Right off the bat, CAC boasted about the all-new Rio’s international accolade even before hitting the local market. This said feat is its recent winning of the 2017 Red Dot Design Korean City Car award. With that being said, one can’t help but notice key changes in the vehicle’s exterior looks.
Heading its way is a wider stance which is 5 mm more spread out than the older model. It also has a redesigned fascia with a sleek and more slender-looking version of the brand’s signature tiger-nose grille. Complementing the grille is a pair of more angular headlights with LED daytime running lights that surround the projector lamps. Just below is a redesigned bumper with bigger air intakes and reshaped fog light housings.
Turning to the side, the all-new Rio is noticeably longer than the outgoing model as well, 15 mm longer to be exact. It also comes with a choice between a 15- or a 17-inch set of alloy rims. These, and its re-angled C-pillar makes it look more robust. The back end, on the other hand, has been improved with redesigned LED tail lights and reshaped bumper.
Due to its increased overall dimension, its cabin is now roomier with more leg and shoulder rooms for occupants to move about. For hot summer days of long drives, the all-new Kia Rio offers full auto air-conditioning. Digging deeper into its interior details, CAC said that the all-new Rio can be optioned with 2 choices of head units; the higher-end of which uses a 3.5-inch LCD screen.
As for practicality, it’s got cup holders and a 60:40 folding rear seat to accommodate more or bulky items. Add to that the increased trunk capacity and the fact that one can load it up easier, thanks to the lower trunk opening lip that’s been trimmed down.
Under the hood is a 1.4L gasoline engine that makes 100 hp and 133 Nm of torque. Meshed to it is a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Of note, CAC says that the all-new Kia Rio will sticker at P735,000 and will be available starting this June in single-variant only (1.4 GL AT). However, the end goal is to add 3 more trim levels to the nameplate as months go by. To know more about Kia Philippines, visit the official website.
