In the past, the small “Compact” cars were considered loss leaders, and used to draw potential customers in with their low price. Dealerships would then hope to up-sell them to a more profitable vehicle. Those days have past and the small car offering aren’t just little metal shells with four wheels. They have emerged into stylish, comfortable, and fun-to-drive vehicles which can be loaded with the high-tech toys found in their bigger siblings. Kia has successfully reinvented its small sedan and hatchback offering in the form of the 2013 Kia Rio.
Kia has had incredible success over the past five or so years. It has transformed its brand and its lineup in short order. It started with the Soul and Forte then remodeled the Sorento, and Optima. In 2012, Kia carved out a fresh new look for the Rio. Today’s Kia’s are smart, relevant, and a quality automobile.
The 2013 Kia Rio is available in two body styles: Sedan and Hatchback. The Sedan comes in three trim levels LX ($14,350), EX ($16,153), SX ($17,024). The Hatchback has the same three trim levels LX ($14,550), EX ($17,450), SX ($18,650). All trims come with a 4-cylinder 1.6-liter engine. The LX’s trims come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and an optional 6-speed automatic transmission that is standard with the other two trim levels.
Kia packs the 2013 Rio with high-tech features including a 7-inch color touch screen, Bluetooth smartphone connectivity and a rear camera. Optional techie items include satellite navigation and traffic information system, power tilt/slide sunroof, and push button start with Smart Key.
The styling of the Rio sedan follows the lines of the bigger Optima bringing class and flare. The back end grins at you with big eyes in the form of large headlights that sweep up into the front fenders. The hatchback version has a different lower fascia that is broken up into three pieces. Both body styles drape a sporty flare. The wheels are pushed as far out as possible to help improve the ride with a longer wheelbase.
The interior was comfortable and not cramped. The center point of the dash was the 7-inch screen that displayed the rear camera images, radio, optional navigation and other items. Below the climate control knobs were front and center. Little storage compartments were placed throughout the interior. Two 12-volt plugs were at the base of the center dash along with an auxiliary and USB plug.
Power comes from a 1.6-liter inline 4-cylinder DOHC 138-hp engine that generates 123 lb. ft of torque and enough power to move the small Rio. The automatic transmission is an electronically controlled 6-speed with overdrive. Rio also is the first non-hybrid vehicle to offer ISG technology to the mass (non-luxury) market. This helps to reduce fuel consumption and improve fuel economy by turning the engine off when the vehicle is not in motion – such as at a stop light or in traffic.
Room for Improvement:
- The touch points on the dash were hard
Cool Features:
- Optional Push-button start
- 7-inch screen
- Two 12V plugs
The standard safety equipment on the 2013 Kia Rio include dual front advanced airbags, dual front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, hill-start assist control, tire pressure monitoring system, rear child-safety door locks, with lower anchors and tethers for children.
In Summary – The 2013 Kia Rio is a fun little vehicle that does not feel small. It has class leading power and is loaded with available technology and safety features. Both body styles are sporty and project athletic profiles. Since its redesign in 2012 the Rio has received a number of awards by major car magazines. If you are going small, think big fun, and take the Rio out for a drive.
Specifications
2013 Kia Rio SX Sedan
Base price: $17,700 as driven: $21,340 (including destination)
Engine: 1.6-Liter 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 138 @ 6300
Torque: 123 foot pounds @ 4850
Transmission: 6-Speed Auto
Drive: Front Wheel-Drive
Seating: 5-passenger
Turning circle: 33.5 feet
Cargo space: 13.7 cubic feet
Curb weight: 2410 pounds
Fuel capacity: 11.4 gallons
EPA mileage: City 28 / Highway 36
Wheel Base: 101.2 inches
Warranty: 5 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper
Also consider: Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mazda2 and Toyota Corolla
Leave a Reply