The 2012 Kia Rio EX sedan looks miles better than its predecessor but still has a little ways to go before it looks as good as the hatchback. The tiger-nose grille, as funny as it sounds, does make the front end look a bit cute. The rear sits up a bit too high for my taste; it makes the car look narrow. The styling on the rear is OK, but it's nothing like the hatch, which I say looks almost cool.
The 1.6-liter provides the power and scoots this little car around nicely. My fuel reading shows almost 32 mpg, which is not bad with the heavy feet here at Autoweek. The six-speed automatic works fine, and even though it has the autostick function, it's best just to leave it in “D.”
On the road, the Rio sedan is acceptable. The easy-riding suspension absorbs most of the bumps but isn't completely numb to steering inputs. The wheel has a decent amount of heft for the small car, and it generally goes where you point it. The stock brakes bring the small sedan to a halt easily.
The interior was relatively spartan, but it was laid out nicely, very simple and neat. I think that's what buyers want from an economy car. It was easy to use as well. It has four big toggle switches for HVAC and a small radio screen with well-marked buttons and an auxiliary input for iPod.
The price is about right at $18,000. That includes the most-wanted options like fog lights, infotainment system and alloy wheels. Also, it has folding side mirrors, which are pretty advanced for a car at this price.
It's a crowded segment, but I think the Kia Rio is a decent player. That 40-mpg expressway rating doesn't hurt, either.
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