If there were a formula for mass-market automotive success in Canada, it would involve building an entry-level sedan with lots of interior space, a powerful but economical engine, good quality, competent handling, an exceptional warranty, and lots of content for a good price.
Since the Kia Rio coming to Canada from Korea this summer can boast of all of those attributes, it's hard to see how it could be anything but a success.
The only important aspect of the 2006 Rio we don't know for sure is its pricing, but it's unlikely that Kia will abandon its high-value approach now. In support of that notion, Paul Butterfield, the president and CEO of Kia Motors America, Inc., says ''The all-new Rio reinforces Kia's position as a value leader in the subcompact class with its comprehensive list of standard features and emphasis on safety, delivering an affordable and fun-to-drive vehicle.''
We can assume Butterfield speaks for Kia Canada here, since it was the Mississauga-based firm that distributed his remarks.
So a prospective customer for Rio can probably expect to pay about $13,000 for a base model, or as much as $17,000 for a heavily-equipped version.
For that money, Kia will be offering a four-door Rio that sits on a longer wheelbase and a wider track, runs on a more powerful engine, has a smoother ride and more performance.
Butterfield says Rio was designed to ''stand out from the crowd in the entry-level segment,'' with its ''European-inspired exterior design radiating a youthful personality from the sedan's sportier, more substantial appearance.''
Various design refinements ''provide a more athletic stance and a more significant, yet modern appearance to the vehicle,'' s Butterfield continues. ''Changes to the front of the Rio include an aggressively styled black mesh grille, swept-back headlamps and bumpers with black inserts.''
A distinctive black body side molding runs the length of both the front and rear doors and ties into the black inserts on the bumpers creating a unified look with a subtle wedge shape, says Butterfield. Sculpted arches at each fender are said to ''contribute to the Rio's wide, assertive stance.''
While it's a matter of personal taste what the new Rio's ''stance'' does for its appearance, there is no denying its impact on the amount of interior space it creates for passengers.
By extending Rio's wheelbase to 2,499 mm, the width to 1,694 mm and the height to 1,470 mm, Kia has created a cabin that Butterfield says is the ''roomiest'' in its segment, with more interior space that the larger and more expensive Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla models.
There's also ''significantly'' more room in the trunk than ever before, Butterfield says, and that's a fair description for a 29 percent gain over the previous model.
With increased horsepower and torque the all-new Rio offers improved performance. In fact, the new Rio offers more standard horsepower than any vehicle in its class.
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The only important aspect of the 2006 Rio we don't know for sure is its pricing, but it's unlikely that Kia will abandon its high-value approach now. In support of that notion, Paul Butterfield, the president and CEO of Kia Motors America, Inc., says ''The all-new Rio reinforces Kia's position as a value leader in the subcompact class with its comprehensive list of standard features and emphasis on safety, delivering an affordable and fun-to-drive vehicle.''
We can assume Butterfield speaks for Kia Canada here, since it was the Mississauga-based firm that distributed his remarks.
So a prospective customer for Rio can probably expect to pay about $13,000 for a base model, or as much as $17,000 for a heavily-equipped version.
For that money, Kia will be offering a four-door Rio that sits on a longer wheelbase and a wider track, runs on a more powerful engine, has a smoother ride and more performance.
Butterfield says Rio was designed to ''stand out from the crowd in the entry-level segment,'' with its ''European-inspired exterior design radiating a youthful personality from the sedan's sportier, more substantial appearance.''
 |
A distinctive black body side molding runs the length of both the front and rear doors and ties into the black inserts on the bumpers creating a unified look with a subtle wedge shape, says Butterfield. Sculpted arches at each fender are said to ''contribute to the Rio's wide, assertive stance.''
While it's a matter of personal taste what the new Rio's ''stance'' does for its appearance, there is no denying its impact on the amount of interior space it creates for passengers.
 |
There's also ''significantly'' more room in the trunk than ever before, Butterfield says, and that's a fair description for a 29 percent gain over the previous model.
With increased horsepower and torque the all-new Rio offers improved performance. In fact, the new Rio offers more standard horsepower than any vehicle in its class.