The 2016 Kia Rio features a clean, feature-rich interior with European-inspired styling, a pleasant, fuel-efficient engine, and crisp, stylish exterior styling. However, the Ford Fiesta is unquestionably more enjoyable to drive, the Chevy Sonic has a smoother ride and is more comfortable, and the Honda Fit, which was introduced last year, has significantly more interior space and better packaging. As the testing becoming more difficult every few model years, the Rio is also currently lagging behind in terms of safety ratings.
Since the Rio has been on the market for five years, it is currently contending with two challenges: low gas costs in the United States and escalating competition in the subcompact sector. Although the Rio has never performed as well as Kia’s larger models, the Korean automaker is attempting to keep it new this year with a few minor modifications, including updated front style and inside trim materials.
We still enjoy the Rio design, which was introduced for the 2012 model year as a five-door hatchback as well as a four-door sedan. Both Rios have rakish bodies and neat proportions. Although the five-door has unquestionably more attitude than the sedan and a new front end design upgrades the Rio to the same corporate Kia identity as the larger Soul and Optima, we commend the car’s stylists for avoiding the weird tall-trunk look of competitors like the Ford Fiesta.
Even if there are some retro features, including toggle switches for the climate control system, the materials inside have a luxury feel. High-end models come standard with a sizable touchscreen display, and for 2016, Kia has added satin-finish air vent bezels, which we like, and a new piano-black center console, which we don’t like. To reduce cabin noise, Kia also added more noise-canceling foam to various structural elements.
The 2016 Rio has just one engine, a 1.6-liter inline-4 with 138 horsepower. The hatchback is exclusively available with the automatic this year, while the Rio sedan comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and an additional 6-speed automatic transmission as an option. When driven vigorously, the Rio moves along with just the right amount of vigor as the engine revs smoothly up its power band and is mostly quiet. Although we’d prefer a little more steering feedback, the Rio handles amazingly well for a small, affordable economy car with a basic strut and torsion-beam suspension and a short wheelbase. No matter how you choose to maneuver the automobile, it maintains its composure.
Even for this niche market, the 2016 Rio’s interior is now on the small side. One or two passengers should be able to travel comfortably in the front seats thanks to their long bottom cushions and ample rearward seat travel. More seat bolstering is added to the sporty Rio SX versions, and it’s modest enough that nobody will really disagree. However, compared to the Honda Fit and Versa Note, the back seat is more confined. There is very little space for the rear knees or feet when the front seats are towards the back of their range of motion, which is necessary for an average-to-tall driver. There isn’t much headroom in the backseats either. The Rio hatchback’s cargo space has a 15 cubic foot capacity (or 13.7 cubic feet in the trunk of the sedan).
But there’s a problem with safety. When compared to the crash test ratings of more recent models like the Honda Fit or ones that have undergone significant revisions like the Ford Fiesta, the 2016 Rio is, at best, middle of the road. With the exception of its good side-impact rating, which obtains four stars in federal crash tests, the Rio performs slightly worse in IIHS tests. We are concerned about its “Marginal” rating on the new small-offset front crash test, despite the fact that its side-impact rating is “Acceptable,” one notch below the highest rating. That’s only one step better than the lowest rating, and several rivals have performed better. Both hill-start assistance and a rearview camera are options, and we strongly advise them because the Rio’s five doors have some significant and obvious blind spots at the back pillars.
For its pricing, the 2016 Kia Rio offers a long list of remarkable amenities. Satellite radio, a USB port, and air conditioning are included on all Rio LX versions. Along with such features, hatchbacks come standard with 15-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, tilt steering, steering-wheel audio controls, and split-folding backs for the back seats. The Rio EX, the middle trim level, adds a tilt/telescoping steering column, power windows with a driver-side one-touch auto-up/down control, remote keyless entry with trunk release, and cruise control with steering-wheel mounted controls.
For 2016, Kia offers two option packages for the EX: the Eco Package, which includes a start-stop system in addition to an updated UVO telematics system with an integrated backup camera; and the new Appearance and Designer package, which has an interior that is two-toned and made of black cloth with gray leatherette trim and gray contrast stitching.
The top-of-the-line Rio SX comes with 17-inch wheels, sport suspension tuning, larger front brakes, power-folding heated side mirrors, fog lamps, and LED taillight and headlamp accents as standard features. Additional options on the SX include a navigation system (which takes the place of the UVO system), keyless ignition, leather seats, heated front seats, and a sunroof.
One justification for purchasing a subcompact automobile is fuel economy, but it is merely average. The Rio Eco model bizarrely carries the same rating, with a 1-mpg increase in the city rating only. Both powertrains are rated at 31 mpg combined, with differences in their city and highway ratings. The Eco model includes an engine stop-start function, which while having minimal impact on the EPA’s city cycle, is likely to increase fuel efficiency for drivers who frequently encounter stop-and-go traffic.
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Where is the Kia Rio’s cruise control?
1. To activate the system, press the CRUISE button on the steering wheel. The TRAVEL
2. Increase the speed to the desired level, which must exceed 30 km/h (20 mph).
3. Lower the lever (to SET-), then release it at the appropriate rate. A SET
The instrument cluster’s indicator light will turn on. Release the gas pedal.
Can the Kia Rio cruise?
Currant Red, Sporty Blue, and Steel Gray are three more exterior paint color choices available on the 2022 Kia Rio S model level. Both the Gray Tricot and Woven Cloth inside and the Black Tricot and Woven Cloth interior with the S trim are options for Kia drivers near Plano, Texas. The Kia Rio S comes with extra options including Cruise Control, Remote Keyless Entry with Trunk Opener, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat in addition to a center sliding armrest with a storage compartment.
Customers can take use of user-friendly technologies like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keeping Assist, and Lane Following Assist with the optional S Technology Package. LED headlights, 15-inch alloy wheels, and Smart Key with Push-Button Start are further features of the 2022 Kia Rio S.
What about the 2015 Kia Rio’s cruise control?
Kia Rio 2015 Features Keyless entry, push-button start, a sunroof, automatic headlights, cruise control, GPS, Bluetooth, and Kia’s voice-activated UVO infotainment system with a touch screen are among the options that are available.
What button activates cruise control?
First, assess the highway’s driving conditions. Inclement weather is not intended for usage with cruise control. When determining whether to use your car’s cruise control, use caution. Before engaging cruise control, especially if it is your first time using the device, make sure there are no impending obstructions.
- Even if the road appears to be empty, it would be a bad idea to use cruise control in such weather.
Increase your speed. The legal limit for traveling on an interstate is often between 55 and 70 miles per hour. The cruise control speed range is great. Never try to increase the cruise control speed on your car past the speed limit. This is reckless and dangerous.
Turn on cruise control once you’ve reached the appropriate speed. The cruise control system’s buttons are often found on the steering wheel in cars. To prevent an accident, identify these buttons by consulting your owner’s manual when the automobile is not in use.
The mechanism is often activated by pushing a larger button labeled “cruise.”
Set the cruise control after the cruise control system has been turned on. Most likely, this will only involve pressing another steering-wheel button. You can take your foot off the accelerator after you’ve set the cruise control. The vehicle must maintain its speed.
Keep a close eye on the road when operating a vehicle that is being accelerated by a cruise control system. You will need to turn off cruise control before you slow down or stop, which will cause a delay in your reaction time.
Most models either feature additional buttons or let the driver temporarily press the accelerator pedal while in cruise control.
Either hit the corresponding cruise control system button or swiftly press the brake to slow down. Almost all car models automatically deactivate the cruise control as soon as the brake is applied as a safety measure.
When driving on the interstate, using cruise control is a terrific method to manage your speed. By avoiding abrupt accelerations and decelerations, setting your vehicle’s cruise control to a suitable speed will also cut down on fuel use. Be warned that if you are prone to driving fatigue, it is not a good idea to utilize cruise control. Many motorists believe that being able to unwind their legs while driving and not having to pay strict attention to their speed increases the risk of driver tiredness.
Here is a video explaining adaptive cruise control, which is a precursor to autonomous vehicles and is becoming more and more common in new cars every year:
Has the Kia Rio LX a cruise control system?
LX and S are the two possible trim levels for the 2022 Kia Rio. The starting MSRP for the base model trim LX is $16,150, while the starting MSRP for the S trim is $16,790. The same engine is included in both grades, with combined fuel economy ratings of 33/41/36 mpg from the EPA. Remote keyless entry with a trunk opener and cruise control are two amenities that have been added to the LX level. Along with LED headlights, 15-inch alloy wheels, and Kia Drive WiseDriver Assist Technology features like Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Lane Following Assist, the S Technology package is an option (LWA). Since the price difference between the improved S trim and the standard LX trim is only a few hundred dollars, it is advised to go with the latter to access more amenities.
Is adaptive cruise control available for the Kia Rio?
To keep you and your passengers safe, the 2022 KIA Rio is equipped with KIA Drive Wise Driver assist safety technology. With features like Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Following Assist, KIA drive-wise technology is onboard to support you and keep a safe gap between you and the vehicles in front of you.
Do Kia Rio models from 2012 feature cruise control?
With the Optima, Sorento, Forte, and Soul, we’ve seen it before. The 2012 Kia Rio is already in the spotlight and represents yet another significant advancement. The Rio joins the Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta, and Hyundai Accent as one of the new benchmarks in the subcompact market, with appearance, amenities, and efficiency as its most compelling bullet points. It is as good as the last Honda Civic we actually enjoyed driving, the pre-2006 model.
The Rio exhibits this characteristic of European designers’ work, more so in the five-door hatchback than the four-door sedan. The previous boring bubble designs have been replaced with a more edgy design that features extensive body sculpting behind the front wheels, Kia’s new distinctive grille up front (chromed on sedans, blacked-out on hatchbacks), huge trailing headlamps, and a rounded rear end. For the first time in the history of the nameplate, the five-door is sprightly, immaculate, and intriguing. While drawing sedans on this scale is challenging, the Rio does better than nearly all of its rivals. Inside, it’s even amazing. With airplane-style toggle switches, a medium-to-large LCD screen, and a soft-touch panel on most trims, the well completed dash of the cockpit creates a distinctive design with BMW contours and glory-days Honda details.
For the 2012 model year, all Rio sedans and hatchbacks have the same engine, a smooth, reasonably potent 1.6-liter four with direct injection and 138 horsepower, which is comparable to the output of the Hyundai Accent and the Chevy Sonic with a turbocharger. Although it doesn’t seem quite as rapid as the Sonic does, the Rio’s four- and six-speed automatic transmission combo is one of the vehicle’s best features. The four-cylinder engine is rather nicely muffled, and the transmission shifts smoothly, quickly, and with a rapid reaction that Ford’s PowerShift automatic hasn’t been able to match in our drives. The Rio was estimated to earn 29/37 mpg with a manual transmission or 28/36 mpg overall by the EPA.
The original Rio’s ride and handling are hardly comparable. The Fiesta’s electronic steering leads in tuning, and we still prefer the Sonic’s cheery scrabble under turbo power, but the Rio performs better than any small Kia to yet and is well above average for a short-wheelbase vehicle with a basic strut and torsion-beam suspension. The Rio travels comfortably, with little of the bouncing and crashing that truly small vehicles used to rank among their worst characteristics, on quite smooth roads in Texas and Nevada. With the typical lack of feedback associated with electric steering, the steering quickly gains weight. Even with the modest increase in weight in the more athletic Rio SX, it is the impression of continuity between those two systems that works best.
The Rio’s 88 cubic feet of internal volume places it firmly in the subcompact category, according to Kia. With their boxy back ends, cars like the Honda Fit and Hyundai Accent put more cubes on paper, while the Nissan Versa is a little bigger. With a 101.2-inch wheelbase, an overall hatchback length of roughly 160 inches, and a cargo capacity measuring 15 cubic feet, the Rio fits best next to the Ford Fiesta (13.7 in the sedan, which goes on sale late in 2011). For adult couples or lone drivers, the Rio’s front seats offer fantastic, lengthy bottom cushions and great, extended seat travel. The Accent relative of the Fit does a better job of accommodating four people, and the Rio’s smartly squared-off cargo storage still leaves the proper type of space for roll-on bags and Costco boxes. The back seat is more constrained than the Fit, with no adult-sized knee or head room to spare.
The IIHS and the NHTSA do not currently provide safety ratings. The 2012 Rio comes equipped with hill-start assistance in addition to the standard airbags, anti-lock brakes, and stability control. Bluetooth and a rearview camera are options.
The price of each Rio five-door is $14,350, plus a $750 destination fee. The 15-inch standard wheels, manual transmission, rear spoiler, tilt steering, split-folding rear seats, AM/FM/CD player with satellite radio, USB port, and steering-wheel audio controls are all included with that sticker price. The automatic is an extra $1200. The $17,250 Rio EX upgrade adds Bluetooth, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering, air conditioning, and power windows, locks, and mirrors. 17-inch wheels, sport tuning, larger front brakes, fog lamps, power-folding heated side mirrors, and LED taillamp and headlamp accents are all included in the $18,450 Rio SX. Additionally, it receives Kia’s take on Ford’s SYNC speech controls, which are powered by Microsoft but offer fewer spoken commands for the phone and audio. The UVO system on EX versions, the navigation system that takes the place of the UVO system on SX models, push-button start on the SX, leather seats, a sunroof, and front seat heating are major options. The five-year, 60,000-mile Kia warranty is offered on all models.