You know that nerdy guy or geeky girl you want to avoid at your high school reunion? Now imagine that when you get there, you find out he or she is rich and gorgeous. Bingo. That’s the new 2012 Kia Rio. If you were looking at subcompacts before this and were not exactly excited, you will be now. Completely redesigned for 2012, the Kia Rio has new, trendy styling, incredible eco-friendly mileage and features to make even the popular kids envious.
The 2012 Kia Rio again comes in two versions, a 4-door sedan and the 4-door hatchback Rio5. Each is available in three trim levels, the base LX, EX and SX. The 2012 Kia Rio line has a new, punched-up 138-horsepower 4-cylinder 1.6-liter engine, which replaces previous years’ 110-horsepower 1.6-liter motor. This moves the Rio’s acceleration to the head of the class, with the highest horsepower in subcompacts and an unbelievable estimated 28 mpg city/35 highway on regular unleaded gas. Part of the increase in fuel mileage is a result of the EX trim’s Idle Stop and Go (ISG) which shuts off the engine when the car is not in motion and restarts it when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake pedal. Previously available only in some hybrid vehicles, the ISG feature is one of the first offered in a subcompact in the U.S.
In spite of its compact cuteness and high fuel efficiency, you will need to upgrade to get some of the higher-end options, but few are found on any of the other cars in its category. The Rio LX trim comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, manual windows and door locks, heated power mirrors, tilt steering, variable intermittent wipers, a six-way manual driver seat, split-folding rear seat, AM/FM/CD/MP3/AUX/USB stereo with steering-wheel controls and 15-inch steel wheels. The Rio EX trims are upgraded with power windows and locks, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, sliding center console armrest, front tweeter speakers, metallic cabin trim with faux leather door panels, power-folding mirrors, cruise control and chrome trim.
Optional for the EX are Kia’s Idle Stop and Go and a Convenience package of alloy wheels, automatic headlamps, fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel, mirror signal repeaters, upgraded audio system with UVO by Microsoft and a rear-view camera. UVO, short for “your voice,” is a tricky little piece of voice-recognition technology that allows you to change radio stations, operate the rear-view camera and make or answer phone calls. Beam me up, Scotty!
The sport themed SX trims are automatic only and start with the EX items and add a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, dual exhaust outlets, sports suspension calibration, 17-inch tires on alloy wheels, larger front brakes, projector headlamps, LED tail and front running lights, fog lamps, painted center dash, alloy pedal covers and UVO entertainment with rear camera. There is even a premium package available that adds a moonroof, UVO navigation, leather seats, heated front seats, pushbutton start/smart key and LED map lights.
Some of the other changes for 2012 include a 2.5-inch longer wheelbase and transmission choices that include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic, which replace the 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission of prior years. The Rio’s acceleration and ride make it a fun car to drive. There’s more than enough power in the new transmission’s gear ratios for such a small car, and the longer wheelbase makes for handling that tracks well on the highway. Also thanks to those extra 2.5 inches, there is a surprising amount of headroom in the front seat. No, really. And as long as your friends in the front seat cooperate, there is ample room in the back seats for standard-size adults.
Safety features include ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, curtain-side and front-side airbags, front active headrests, electronic stability control and hill-start assist. There are also lower anchor tethers in the rear seats for child safety seats and side impact door beams to help absorb side impacts.
There are many others in the 2012 Kia Rio's class, but for the money, the Rio has better styling than the Chevy Sonic and a bigger, greener engine than the Ford Fiesta. Go with the 2012 Kia Rio, for looks, for gas mileage and for pure driving enjoyment. It’s always the quiet ones.
Okay my 2012 Kia Rio won't start sometimes. I'll put the key into the ignition and try to and it won't do anything. I know it's not a bad battery, but all I have to do is take the key out and keep doin it and eventually it will start. And it only does this some days, while other days it's fine. And today it started to do it and my check engine light came on. Does anybody know what could cause this?
My entire dash lights up and my steering wheel is frozen but my car starts and runs fine. I have replaced my alternator and my battery with no fix. Not sure what is going on. Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone had an answer as to why this would be? Very frustrating.
Every once in a while my car will not start but it will start on a jump once it's jumped and I go somewhere it will start all day long also as I drive at nighty lights fade in and out
Hi, I have a clunk when I turn steering wheel in my Kia, I heard it could be a coupler, does anyone know if Kia still covers this under warranty
I just bought a new kio rio ex and ticking noise comes from engine until it heats up, is this normal .
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Convenience Features
Cupholders: rear · Power outlet(s): two 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: cargo net
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): two 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: cargo net
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Grille color: chrome surround · Mirror color: body-color
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): two 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: cargo net
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 6
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Grille color: chrome surround · Mirror color: body-color
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: UVO · Infotainment screen size: 4.2 in.
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent