Kia has announced the fourth-generation Rio. The latest Rio pairs an updated exterior and interior design with safety and infotainment technologies. The Rio features a range of enhancements to reinvigorate the car’s position within the highly competitive B-segment.

One the outside of the Rio, the refreshed design retains the car’s iconic ‘tiger-nose’ grille, narrowed for a more focused appearance and matched by a lower, wider front bumper and distinctive new fog lamp housing. All models now feature new full LED headlamps with integral running lights. Two new exterior colours are introduced with the new model, Perennial Grey and Sporty Blue, bringing the total number of paint palette options to nine, depending on specification and market. The new model is also offered with a new eight-spoke 16-inch alloy wheel design.

Inside, the Rio features a series of visual, material and technological upgrades to create a more upscale atmosphere and enhance quality. The main update is a new larger 8.0-inch widescreen and a higher-resolution 4.2-inch digital display in the driver’s instrument cluster. The Rio is also now available with a new interior customisation option in the form a new blue colour pack, depending on vehicle specification and market. GT-Line models are offered with a black single-tone interior with white contrast piping and stitching on the seats, and a carbon fibre-effect dashboard for added visual impact.

The Rio is among the first Kia vehicles to offer new ‘Phase II’ UVO Connect telematics features. The Rio gives drivers access to a range of ‘Phase II’ On-Board Services, in addition, to live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest (POIs), fuel prices, and details of potential on- and off-street parking – including price, location and availability. The system also features Online Voice Recognition, supported by server technologies, which lets users give voice commands, hands-free, to search for nearby POIs, addresses, weather updates, or send text messages.

Major revisions have been made to the Rio’s existing range of petrol engine options, the Kia Rio is now offered in Europe with a choice of Smartstream petrol engines – the new 100 bhp 1.0-litre T-GDi engine that is mated to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed auto dual-clutch transmission (7DCT), and a new version of Kia’s naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine, with innovative Dual Port Injection technology and a power output of 84 bhp.

The Rio is the first Kia powered by a petrol mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) powertrain. The new ‘EcoDynamics+’ powertrain pairs Kia’s new ‘Smartstream’ 1.0-litre T-GDi (Turbocharged Gasoline Direct injection) engine with Kia’s 48V MHEV system, maximising fuel efficiency with electric torque assistance and regenerative braking. Overall, the new EcoDynamics+ powertrain reduces the Rio’s CO₂ emissions by between 8.1 per cent and 10.7 per cent (NEDC, combined cycle), and is offered on both 100 ps and 120 ps versions of the new engine. Both 48V powertrains will be equipped with a Drive Mode Select system, giving drivers the choice to customise their drive with ‘Eco’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Normal’ modes.

The Rio features several of Kia’s latest Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with the pedestrian, vehicle and newly introduced cyclist recognition, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and Blind Collision Warning (BCW). Furthermore, Rio now offers several new active safety systems to enhance occupant safety. Depending on specification, the Rio’s new ADAS range includes the latest version of Kia’s FCA system and is also available with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Intelligent Speed Limit Warning (ISLW), Smart Cruise Control (SCC)*, and Lane Following Assist (LFA).

European sales of the Kia Rio start during the third quarter of 2020. Official performance and efficiency figures for the Rio’s mild-hybrid powertrains will be announced closer to the car’s on-sale date.