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Does this Motor Trend
Garage introduction qualify as one of those "that awkward moment"
Internet posts? Our last subcompact hatchback comparison's final draft
order made the Kia Rio the automotive proxy for Mr. Irrelevant ("Shiftbox Revolution," April 2012). We aired grievances ranging from driving dynamics to the lack of features onboard.
But that was a stripped-out LX, picked to the bone and devoid of power
door locks, electric-crank windows, and cruise control for the sake of
low pricing. The Rio SX furnishes all three, plus automatic headlights,
tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power-folding side mirrors, and backup
camera. The SX-specific sport suspension has higher-rate rear springs,
specially valved shock absorbers, and a 2 mm-thicker front anti-roll
bar.
Despite the LX's poor showing, our new
long-termer is the kind of car embraced by car buffs. Not because it's
crazy powerful -- the direct-injection, 1.6-liter I-4 makes 138 hp,
"beating" the 140-hp VW Passat TDI for least amount of pony power in the
Garage. It's the transmission. A limited run of just 459 SX five-doors
with six-speed manuals were built and sent to Atlanta, Cleveland,
Dallas, Miami, four East Coast markets, and Southern California.
Further tickling the car aficionado gene is a calculated purloining of
equipment from the auto SX's $2350 Premium Package. The single-spec
manual SX nabs the keyless entry with push-button ignition and 7-inch
audio/video/nav touchscreen display at no extra cost. What didn't make
the cut: a sunroof, leather seating, and heated front seats.
We'll examine how the car behaves around town
and far away from home base. We'll even see how it engages the
enthusiast driver, and we'll sneak a peek at the chassis beneath the
well-dressed sheetmetal. Nope, there won't be anything awkward about any
of this at all.
But that was a stripped-out LX, picked to the bone and devoid of power
door locks, electric-crank windows, and cruise control for the sake of
low pricing. The Rio SX furnishes all three, plus automatic headlights,
tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power-folding side mirrors, and backup
camera. The SX-specific sport suspension has higher-rate rear springs,
specially valved shock absorbers, and a 2 mm-thicker front anti-roll
bar.
Despite the LX's poor showing, our new
long-termer is the kind of car embraced by car buffs. Not because it's
crazy powerful -- the direct-injection, 1.6-liter I-4 makes 138 hp,
"beating" the 140-hp VW Passat TDI for least amount of pony power in the
Garage. It's the transmission. A limited run of just 459 SX five-doors
with six-speed manuals were built and sent to Atlanta, Cleveland,
Dallas, Miami, four East Coast markets, and Southern California.
Behold the only long-term garage vehicle named after a city. Or a river. Or a restaurant? It couldn't be the kid-friendly movie...
Further tickling the car aficionado gene is a calculated purloining of
equipment from the auto SX's $2350 Premium Package. The single-spec
manual SX nabs the keyless entry with push-button ignition and 7-inch
audio/video/nav touchscreen display at no extra cost. What didn't make
the cut: a sunroof, leather seating, and heated front seats.
We'll examine how the car behaves around town
and far away from home base. We'll even see how it engages the
enthusiast driver, and we'll sneak a peek at the chassis beneath the
well-dressed sheetmetal. Nope, there won't be anything awkward about any
of this at all.
| 2013 Kia Rio SX | |
| BASE PRICE | $18,650 |
| PRICE AS TESTED | $18,794 |
| VEHICLE LAYOUT | Front engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door hatchback |
| ENGINE | 1.6L/138-hp/123-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4 |
| TRANSMISSION | 6-speed manual |
| CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) | 2522 lb (61/39%) |
| WHEELBASE | 101.2 in |
| LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT | 159.3 x 67.7 x 57.3 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 8.2 sec |
| QUARTER MILE | 16.5 sec @ 83.1 mph |
| BRAKING, 60-0 MPH | 123.5 |
| LATERAL ACCELERATION | 0.80 g (avg) |
| MT FIGURE EIGHT | 27.9 sec @ 0.60 g (avg) |
| EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON | 29/37 mpg |
| ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY | 116/91 kW-hrs/100 miles |
| CO2 EMISSIONS | 0.60 lb/mile |
| TOTAL MILEAGE | 1442 mi |
| AVERAGE FUEL ECON | 30.9 mpg |
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