The Rio: the best-selling Hyundai-Kia car in Europe

The 2018 Kia Motors Rio hatchback / Courtesy of Kia Motors

By Jhoo Dong-chan

European consumers’ preference in automobiles has long centered on hatchbacks and compact cars, a stark contrast to those in the United States and Korea where large-size sedans are still enjoying popularity.

In a bid to meet European customers’ high standards in emissions and energy efficiency, Hyundai Motor Group has strengthened its competitiveness in the subcompact lineup. Among them, the Kia Motors Rio has been the group’s best-selling model in Europe during the first half this year.

According to Rome-based online auto market researcher focus2move.com, sales of the Kia Rio hatchback and subcompact models amounted to 164,002 last year in 28 major European countries.

Kia Motors also introduced the fourth-generation Rio at the Paris Motor Show last October, and the model’s sales stood at 103,137 cars during the first half of the year to become the Korean automotive group’s best-selling vehicle model in the region.

The figure also represents a 12.1 percent growth from a year ago.

Designed by Kia Motors’ design centers in the U.S. and Germany, the fourth-generation Rio features longer front overhangs, a bigger hood, and a more upright C-pillar while body size is 1.5 centimeter longer, 5 millimeter wider and 5 millimeter shorter in height than its predecessor. Hyundai Motor Group design head Peter Schreyer participated in the development project.

Offered only as a hatchback, the fourth-generation Rio is equipped with bi-projection light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps. Between its headlamps, the Kia signature tiger-nose grille is placed; while new 17-inch alloy wheels are used.

The fourth-generation Rio also comes with heated front seats and steering wheel, a feature that has been unseen in its segment.

The hatchback is available with four different engine options _ a 1.0-liter Kappa T-GDi, 1.2-liter Kappa and 1.4-liter gasoline Gamma MPi as well as 1.4-liter CRDi diesel engines.

The Rio model with 1.4-liter turbo-diesel CRDi engine produces maximum 89 horsepower while the turbocharged 1.0-liter T-GDi one makes a maximum 99 horsepower. The 1.2-liter Kappa engine one produces an 83 horsepower output. Each engine is matched with five-speed or six-speed transmissions with manual and automatic choices.

Although the model has a great deal of improvements in safety equipment and structure, the Kia Rio reduced its body weight through use of high-strength steel in the front structure, A-pillars, and roof.

Inside the vehicle, the Kia Rio features the carmaker’s latest infotainment and connected car services powered by real time access to speed cameras, weather and traffic through the seven-inch color touch screen in its center fascia. It can also be connected to the Goggle Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

In order to ensure the vehicle’s safety, the Kia Rio is armed with a six-way airbag system, tire pressure monitoring and rear parking sensor. To deal with challenging road conditions, the model has electronic stability control and hill start assist control. Its windshield automatically detects mist to deploy an auto defogger fan to clear it to help a driver’s front vision.

The Kia Rio also features various advanced driver assistance systems, including lane departure warning system and autonomous emergency braking.

The fourth-generation model can load 325 liters inside its truck with its rear seats folded.

Kia Motors provides a seven-year new car warranty and updates of the vehicle’s navigation map data for seven years.

First introduced in August 2000, the Kia Rio has enjoyed popularity in Korean as well as overseas. It was the country’s second-largest carmaker’s best-selling model worldwide in 2012 and 2015, selling 466,826 and 466,573 cars, respectively.