2016 Kia Rio FIRST LOOK

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Car Critic Steve Hammes

2016 Kia Rio FIRST LOOK

The Rio is not only the entry point to Kia’s 9-vehicle lineup, but with a starting price of under $15,000 it’s also a gateway to the new car buying experience. Proving that you needn’t a lot of money to get a reliable set of wheels, the Rio is one of the highest ranked subcompact cars in J.D. Power’s latest Dependability study. And now for 2016, both the sedan and 5-door models are refreshed inside and out. Most visibly, the front and rear fascias have been redesigned to add visual width and stronger presence with a revised grille insert, new fog light surrounds and repositioned rear reflectors to the far corners of the car. A couple of new colors have also been added to the palette including Urban Blue and this striking Digital Yellow. Passengers will notice decreased levels of noise, vibration and harshness thanks to added high-density foam in the support structure. New technology features centered on Kia’s updated UVO Telematics system, premium touch points and an available two-tone Designer Package highlight the changes to the cabin. Both the sedan and 5-door continue to be offered in 3 trim levels: LX, EX and the top of the line SX, all powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine making 138 horsepower, producing gas mileage as high as 37mpg highway. New for 2016, a manual transmission is no longer offered on the Rio 5-door while a 6-speed auto is available on both.