2012 Kia Rio Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Kia Rio overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Rio, and includes Kia Rio safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The 2012 Rio is Kia’s most basic, most economical vehicle, and pricing starts at just over $13,000. Available in sedan or hatchback flavors, the Rio is a compact car that seats five and competes with the likes of the Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Mazda2, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris.

Kia’s entry-level car is redesigned from the ground up. While it is structurally derived from the previous generation Rio, the 2012 version underwent a massive restyling inside and out, features a lengthened wheelbase and a made-over suspension, and offers tons more stuff to make it a much more desirable vehicle than the undistinguished Rio of yore.

The 2012 Kia Rio comes in your choice between sedan or hatchback formats and in one of three trim levels: LX, EX and SX. And we’ve gotta say, we’re impressed by the level of standard features on what serves as a basic automobile.

The standard 15-inch steel wheels on the least expensive LX trim level might not garner any wows, but an audio system with three free months of satellite radio, an auxiliary audio input jack, a USB port for connecting MP3 players, and full iPod and MP3 control via the audio head unit and steering wheel-mounted controls might. Oh, and how quaint. There’s a CD player, too. The Rio LX also includes air conditioning, power heated side mirrors, a height adjustable driver's seat, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, a trip computer, a tilt steering wheel, and, for the hatchback model, a cargo cover and a rear spoiler. AN optional Power Package is available with the automatic transmission, and adds power windows, power door locks, and remote keyless entry. The Rio 5-door hatchback also comes with a pert rear spoiler.

Moving up to the EX trim level includes the Power Package plus a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, Bluetooth, cruise control, metallic cabin accents, and a chrome surround for the grille. Opting for the EX model’s Convenience Package nets you 15-inch alloy wheels, soft-touch interior materials, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Kia’s UVO voice-activated infotainment system with a 4.3-inch color touch screen and rear camera display is also included in the Convenience Package, along with automatic headlamps, power folding side mirrors with turn signal indicators, and fog lights. You can build on the Convenience Package with the Eco Package, which adds an automatic stop-start feature to the engine in an effort to increase fuel economy.

The top-of-the-line Rio is the SX model. You can tell it apart by its upscale 17-inch wheels, dual chrome exhaust tips, fog lamps, LED taillights, and power folding outside mirrors with turn signal indicators. Inside, you’ll find a pretty Supervision gauge cluster, metallic pedal trim, and the same items contained in the EX Convenience Package. Rio SX buyers can add a Premium Package which supplies leather upholstery, heated front seats, a navigation system with real-time traffic reports (replacing the UVO system), push-button start with Smart Key access, and a power moonroof.

A 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine powers all 2012 Kia Rios. Kia says that this is the most powerful vehicle in its class, but the Chevy Sonic matches it in terms of horsepower and beats it on torque. In LX models, it can be matched with a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic; the EX and SX come standard with the automatic. Impressively, the direct injection engine achieves a rating of 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway for both the sedan and hatchback, regardless of transmission choice.

Here’s another impressive feature – you can equip the Rio with Idle-Stop and Go (ISG) technology, which turns the engine off when the vehicle is stationary at a stop light or in traffic, and automatically restarts the engine when the driver releases the brake pedal. You can find this feature in most hybrid vehicles, and Kia says that it will earn you an extra mile per gallon in both the city and on the highway. That might not sound like much, but it could be a lifesaver when you have an extra 11.4 miles of range.

Standard safety features on every 2012 Kia Rio include six airbags, four-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, traction and stability control, and Hill-start Assist Control to help keep your car from rolling backward when you’re starting off on a steep hill.

Since the Rio is redesigned for 2012, it has yet to be crash-tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as this review is written.

Furthermore, neither Consumer Reports nor J.D. Power and Associates have made any predictions for reliability. But Kia hopes that consumers will be reassured by the Rio’s comprehensive warranty program, which is among the most generous available from any car company. Included are a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty, a five-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation rust protection warranty, and five years or 60,000 miles of free roadside assistance.

The new Kia Rio Sedan provides 13.7 cubic-feet of trunk space, while the hatch gives you 15 cu-ft with the rear seats in use. Kia has not released cargo volume data for the hatchback when the rear seats are folded down.

Greenies will approve of the fact that 85 percent of the Rio's materials are recyclable at the end of its lifespan, including seat foam material that uses 100-percent biodegradable and non-toxic castor oil rather than petroleum to produce. Those who absolutely cannot abide by the Rio’s styling may want to check out the new Hyundai Accent, which is essentially a reskinned and rebadged Rio.

Vehix had the opportunity to drive the new Rio at a media introduction, getting enough seat time to make a few initial assessments about how the car performs.

For commuting duty, both urban and suburban, the Rio’s 1.6-liter engine does its job without complaint, and while the engine could use a tad more power (couldn’t they all?), it does scoot the car along without too much trouble. The ride/handling balance, while trending to the sporty side, is definitely pleasant enough for trolling around town, and the Rio’s steering promises good things, thanks to a nicely weighted sporty feel. There’s plenty of headroom and legroom in the attractive cockpit, and cargo space is par for the class.

Take the Rio for rousing run on back roads, and you might be disappointed. The tires just aren’t up to the task, not even the 17-inchers that came standard with the SX 5-Door we drove. Too much understeer in corners does not inspire confidence, and that’s the problem here. It’s too bad that the tires don’t do a better job of cooperating, since the Rio offers plenty of promise for fun. The only other handling sin we noticed was a bit of float when cresting ridges, but we admit we were going a tad faster than most drivers will.

We realize that most subcompact car buyers don’t care about driving thrills, though. Value is the name of the game here, and the Rio delivers. Overall, this Kia is a pretty enjoyable car, even if it has some work to do to catch the Honda Fit or the Chevy Sonic in fun-to-drive factor.

Buying one of the cheapest new cars available used to be a real drag. But Kia is trying to put the mojo back into econoboxes with sophisticated style and a generous features list that appeals to younger buyers. The 2012 Kia Rio, especially in hatchback form, is a thoughtfully packaged little car that takes a lot of the sting out of driving basic transportation.

By Liz Kim and Tim Healey