Kia Rio Brand-new Facelift Examined Close-up by Motor1.com

The Brand new Kia Rio was first shown to the public in January of this year when spy shots of a prototype with huge amounts of camouflage were circulated over the many automotive news sources online. Now five months later, the honed-in development work on the subcompact hatchback we love so much here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis is done and everyone can take a moment to greet the new Rio face-lift. It has gained a more simplified front fascia with a slightly more aggressive and wider bumper with new fog lamp housing.

There is also the introduction of a full-LED headlight setup on every model as standard, and two new exterior colors are available plus a set of 16-inch and new 8-spoke design. Inside the cabin, the most drastic change is the larger 8.0-inch screen on the center console, and the 4.2-inch digital display in the driver's instrument cluster. The GT-Line models sport special carbon fiber-like trim, and a few new customization options are available. The most important upgrade is now hidden underneath the skin, where there is the introduction of a new 1.0-liter mild-hybrid engine to replace the Rio's earlier Kappa 1.0 T-GDi.

 

This new electrified powertrain sees the combination of an integrated starter-generator for lowered carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 8 percent with a 3-cylinder combustion engine. It will offer the same peak power as the engine before it... 100 or 120 horsepower, and be paired to a newly-developed manual transmission that provides electronic control of the clutch. This fascinating “clutch-by-wire” gearbox completes seamless integration with the mild-hybrid system to switch off the engine earlier that the start-stop function when easing to a halt. The non-hybrid 1.0-liter gasoline engine will from now on be available with a new 6-speed manual gearbox, as well as seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

There will also be the base naturally-aspirated 1.2-liter gas engine with a peak power of 84 horsepower, and this refreshed Rio is slated to go on sale in Europe during the third quarter of 2020. We'll keep you posted right here on the blog about further findings on the US release date, and any other details that we find as we glean the web for news. The addition of the Perennial Gray and Sporty Blue brings the total number of paint options to nine, and onboard is also the UVO Connect “Phase II” telematics features.

The 2021 Kia Rio also brings to the table an array of our brand's latest Advanced Driving Assistance System, such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian, vehicle and cyclist recognition, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and Blind Collision Warning. The telematics features take the stress out of long journeys by enhancing the vehicle's connectivity and control, by means of offering live traffic information, weather forecasts, and fuel prices along the way.