The 2018 Kia Rio sedan made its North American debut today at the New York International Auto Show. The all-new Rio sedan, and the hatchback that debuted in Montreal, grow on the outside and add more tech on the inside, but shrink slightly on the scales.
The Rio sedan grows 18 mm to 4,385 mm long, with a 10 mm longer wheelbase. The greenhouse is more upright than before, and the rear overhang has been shortened. It's 5 mm lower and 5 mm wider than before, for a sleeker look. Inside, there is 22 L more space for passengers than before. Despite the extra size, the Rio sedan trims about 4 kg from the curb weight, with a manual transmission car tipping the scales at 1,204 kg and the automatic coming it at 30 kg over the manual car.
Underneath the Rio Sedan, Kia says they've revised the MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension to make the car more comfortable and more compliant. Helping the suspension work is a structure that uses more high-strength steel to improve stiffness and reduce noise, vibration, and harshness.
The Rio uses the same 1.6L engine as the 2017 model. Kia says the four-cylinder has been enhanced in the name of fuel economy, but it still makes the same 130 hp and 118 lb-ft. Both the automatic and manual transmissions have six speeds.
Inside, the dashboard has a new design and new materials to give a more modern look. There are accent colours available for the dash, and a new console tray to do a better job holding your phone. The front seats have been made thinner to help improve rear passenger space, but still have more padding than before.
The Rio will add an available 7.0-inch touchscreen with Kia's UVO3 infotainment. That system has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Autonomous emergency braking will also be an option.
The 2018 Rio sedan will join the Kia lineup later this year, shortly after the hatch shows up at dealers. Look for more specifications and prices closer to the on-sale date.
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