Getting your player ready...
The sound of the stringed music was pleasant, and so relaxing that I pushed the voice-command button on the steering wheel and asked, “What’s playing?” With no hesitation, “Nola, by Peter Ostroushko,” was the response.
The voice connection is an unexpected stereo feature on a car which costs less than $19,000 and offers an EPA-rated 40 miles per gallon on the highway.
It’s the newly released 2012 Kia Rio SX 5-door hatchback, competing with other high-fuel-mileage subcompacts such as the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 and Chevrolet Sonic. It is a field growing in numbers.
Sized closely to the Fiesta, the Rio is bigger than the Toyota Yaris, a bit smaller than the Suzuki SX4 and noticeably smaller than the new Sonic and the Nissan Versa.
Reaching the 40-mpg level marks tremendous improvement for the Rio. Four years ago, a main talking point with the Rio SX 5-door was the fact it could top 30 mpg on the highway. Today’s EPA-rated 40 is a 33 percent increase over the earlier figure.
The basis for that achievement in the coming year is a new direct-injected 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine of 138 horsepower tied to a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission, replacing an older, rougher-shifting 4-speed automatic. The new 1.6-liter has been honored as one of “Ward’s 10 best engines.” Its horsepower is 25 percent above last year’s rating. Also aiding fuel mileage is the “idle stop and go” technology, which momentarily shuts down the engine when stopped; this was an infrequent occurrence during my drives.
The SX’s handling is improved with sport-tuned suspension with MacPherson struts, monotube gas shock absorbers, coil springs and stabilizer bars in front, coupled torsion-beam axle at the rear and 17-inch alloy wheels. To go along with its sport suspension, the SX is equipped with larger front brakes than Rio LX and EX models. All three have four-wheel antilock disc brakes.
In fairly equal split of highway and in-city driving, the SX averaged 34.1 miles per gallon. This is equal to the mpg average I recorded with the Mazda2 earlier this year. I averaged 37.3 with the Ford Fiesta, a review benefited by a lengthy 350-mile highway cruise, and 32.3 with a Nissan Versa.
Though not as nimble as the Fiesta, the Kia is quick in steering and measures up against all competitors in its ride quality.
The exterior is stylish, from its big-beam projector headlamps, over its raked windshield to the rear spoiler and large LED taillights.
Once inside, vision is good all around. Seats are comfortable, fairly sizable with a bit of bolster. Rear-seat legroom is very limited, giving way to decent cargo space of 15 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Heated leather seats and leather-covered steering wheel and shifter knob enhance the interior.
Heated power folding mirrors with turn-signal indicators are a highlight for the SX, which carries a sticker price of $18,545. It also is equipped with power windows and locks, air conditioning, cruise control, tilt and telescope steering wheel, cargo cover, fog lights, dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side bags and full-length side-curtain bags. The aforementioned audio system offers AM/FM/CD/MP3, Sirius, USB port and Bluetooth.Kia continues a strong showing in the U.S. auto sales race. In November, the Korean-based automaker sold 37,007 vehicles in this country, a jump of 39 percent over the 26,601 sold in the same month a year ago.
The Sorento midsize crossover led sales among Kia’s individual models, followed in order by the Optima, Soul, Forte, Sportage, Rio and Sedona.
Interest continues
in Chevrolet section We continue to hear from readers seeking information on the 100 Years of Chevrolet section, published Nov. 2. Many have asked for results of the voting as “best-looking Chevrolet of all time.” Gaining most votes were three – the 1958 Impala two-door hardtop, the ’63 Corvette Stingray and the ’69 Camaro. Behind the top three was the 1957 Bel Air two-door hardtop. Other features in the 20-page section were a 100-year Chevy timeline; letters from Dean Singleton (The Denver Post publisher), John Hickenlooper (Colorado governor), Michael Hancock (Denver mayor) and Tim Jackson (Colorado Automobile Dealers Assocation president); an outlook from Mark Reuss, General Motors North American president; 10 memorable drives of Chevrolets I’ve made since the late 1970s; Colorado Chevy dealers then and now; feature on A.J. Guanella, 60-year employee of Burt and Elway Chevrolet; a Chevrolet feature by Jackson, and a look at the firm’s namesake, Louis Chevrolet. The section can be accessed online at DenverPost.com, then click on Shopping, then on Special Sections, then on the 100 Years of Chevrolet feature section. 2012 Kia Rio SX 5-door $18,545 (price as tested) MPG City 30 Highway 40 Vehicle type: Subcompact hatchback Wheelbase: 101.2 inches Length/Width/Height: 159.3/67.7/57.3 inches Weight: 2,483 pounds Engine: 1.6-liter 4-cylinder Transmission: 6-speed automatic Fuel mileage: 34.1 mpg Fuel tank: 11.4 gallons Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles basic; 10/100,000 powertrain Competitors: Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mazda2, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris Built at Seoul, South Korea Parts content: Korea 90 percent THE STICKER $17,700 base $95 Carpeted floor mats $750 Destination PLUSES Fuel mileage $18,000 pricing Exterior style MINUSES Underpowered Lack of roominess
Though not as nimble as the Fiesta, the Kia is quick in steering and measures up against all competitors in its ride quality.
in Chevrolet section We continue to hear from readers seeking information on the 100 Years of Chevrolet section, published Nov. 2. Many have asked for results of the voting as “best-looking Chevrolet of all time.” Gaining most votes were three – the 1958 Impala two-door hardtop, the ’63 Corvette Stingray and the ’69 Camaro. Behind the top three was the 1957 Bel Air two-door hardtop. Other features in the 20-page section were a 100-year Chevy timeline; letters from Dean Singleton (The Denver Post publisher), John Hickenlooper (Colorado governor), Michael Hancock (Denver mayor) and Tim Jackson (Colorado Automobile Dealers Assocation president); an outlook from Mark Reuss, General Motors North American president; 10 memorable drives of Chevrolets I’ve made since the late 1970s; Colorado Chevy dealers then and now; feature on A.J. Guanella, 60-year employee of Burt and Elway Chevrolet; a Chevrolet feature by Jackson, and a look at the firm’s namesake, Louis Chevrolet. The section can be accessed online at DenverPost.com, then click on Shopping, then on Special Sections, then on the 100 Years of Chevrolet feature section. 2012 Kia Rio SX 5-door $18,545 (price as tested) MPG City 30 Highway 40 Vehicle type: Subcompact hatchback Wheelbase: 101.2 inches Length/Width/Height: 159.3/67.7/57.3 inches Weight: 2,483 pounds Engine: 1.6-liter 4-cylinder Transmission: 6-speed automatic Fuel mileage: 34.1 mpg Fuel tank: 11.4 gallons Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles basic; 10/100,000 powertrain Competitors: Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mazda2, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris Built at Seoul, South Korea Parts content: Korea 90 percent THE STICKER $17,700 base $95 Carpeted floor mats $750 Destination PLUSES Fuel mileage $18,000 pricing Exterior style MINUSES Underpowered Lack of roominess
