Kia Motors had showcased the new Rio hatchback at the 2018 Auto Expo. It is built on the same platform as that of the Hyundai i20, which is on sale in India.
Set for launch in India sometime in 2020 when the South Korean automaker starts its sales operations in the country, the Kia Rio hatchback will boast of a tiger nose grille, swept back multi reflector halogen headlamps and new fog lamps positioned next to air vents on the bumper. The Kia hatchback also gets scooped out doors, 15” alloy wheels and a large rear windscreen.
Interiors will be seen with premium fitments and new technology apart from a host of safety features. It will get a 7” touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking camera, cruise control, 6 way adjustable driver seat and day and night IRVMs.
Safety features will include tyre pressure monitoring system, electronic stability control, automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning along with vehicle stability management. ABS and EBD will also be offered as standard.
Internationally, Kia Rio hatchback is powered by a 1.6 liter, inline, 4 cylinder petrol engine offering 130 PS peak power at 6,300 rpm / 161 Nm torque at 4,850 rpm mated to a 6 speed manual or 6 speed automatic.
But in India, expect the Kia Rio to be powered by the same engine and transmission options which are on offer with the Hyundai i20. These are 1.2 liter petrol and 1.4 liter diesel 4 cylinder engine options. Both options are on offer with manual transmission, automatic option is only on offer with petrol variant.
Kia being a more premium brand than Hyundai, expect the Kia Rio to be priced about Rs 50,000 costlier than the Hyundai i20 on sale. Once launched, the Kia Rio will rival Maruti Baleno, Honda Jazz and the Tata premium hatchback in India.
