Kia makes steam. The compact hybrid SUV Niro is waiting for the starting signal on the last weekend in September, the Optima Sportwagon as the first medium-sized estate car from the Korean brand is launched and the first plug-in hybrid, also an Optima family member, has already been unveiled And announced for the coming spring, the next debutant is already waiting: The fourth generation of the small car Kia Rio will celebrate its official world premiere at the Paris Motor Show at the end of the month, but has already been presented to the international press at the German company headquarters in Frankfurt.
In Europe, the higher-positioned Kia Sportage and Kia Cee'd are the best-selling brands, but worldwide, the small Rio plays the main role. 16 percent of sales around the world, or nearly 500.000 units last year, went alone. And Kia's European boss Michael Cole is convinced that the newcomer to the B segment will increase this brand to 20 percent.
After the first visual impression, you don't want to contradict him. The Rio, which is still a real Korean and is produced in the Sohari plant at home, is well proportioned; more powerful and stocky than its predecessor. And although all dimensions have been changed on the one hand, on the other hand the increase in length (plus 1,5 centimeters), height (0,5 cm) and wheelbase (1 cm) with a slightly lower roof edge (minus 0,5 cm) hardly has this effect can achieve alone.
The somewhat beefier front section with the “tiger nose grill” (with double trapezoidal structure) introduced by the German chief designer Peter Schreyer, the flatter headlights with the LED daytime running lights, the extension of the bonnet and front overhang as well as the more upright position of the C-pillar with a very short rear Overhang underlines this characteristic and turns it into a coherent work. The C-pillar, which is almost nine centimeters narrower, also has the advantage of reducing the blind spots when looking back.
Horizontal lines dominate the redesigned interior. In the driver-oriented cockpit, which requires fewer buttons and switches, there is a 7-inch touchscreen in the center of the dashboard, whose navigation and infotainment system can now also incorporate Apple and Android smartphones - although only for an additional charge. With the standard audio system, the buyer must be satisfied with a 3,8-inch TFT display. The trunk volume of the Kia Rio has grown by a decent 13 percent or 37 liters, which almost brings the Polo rivals up to the level of a Golf.
In terms of safety, Michael Cole proudly announces: "The Kia Rio is the first B-segment car to have an emergency brake assistant with pedestrian detection." The system, which works with radar and camera, without which the Euro-NCAP crash test can no longer be performed the top five star rating is part of the optional ADAS package, which also includes a lane departure warning system.
The new three-cylinder turbo gasoline engine, which made its debut in the larger Cee'd last year, works for the first time under the bonnet of the 4,07 meter long small car. The 1,0-liter downsizing engine with direct injection and the type designation T-GDI is available in two output levels with 73 kW / 100 PS and 88 kW / 120 PS, which on the standard round with 4,7 and 4,9 liters ( CO2 emissions 109 and 115 g / km) show manners of drinking. The 1,2-liter base engine, a four-cylinder with 62 kW / 84 hp, and the 73 kW / 100 hp 1,4-liter four-cylinder, however, are on the same level.
In this regard, the 1,4-liter diesel, which is available in two versions with 52 kW / 70 PS and 66 kW / 90 PS, is of course unbeatable. At best, he is satisfied with 3,8 liters (98 g / km CO2) on the roller test bench. The Rio 1.0 T-GDI 100 and the 1,2-liter with five-speed manual transmissions are combined as standard. All other engine variants have six switching stages. And optionally, a seven-speed dual clutch transmission is available as an option.
Kia is silent on driving data as well as the prices. The cheapest model of the Korea Minis, which is still only available as a five-door car, is likely to remain below 11.000 euros. A higher premium seems rather unlikely given the current base tariff of EUR 10.665.
In Europe, Michael Cole hopes to hit the 100.000 mark with the Kia Rio in the first full year of sales. And with all the other innovations, the last record mark is expected to fall in 430.000 with a total sales of half a million vehicles after the last 2018 copies sold per annum. As I said, Kia makes a lot of steam. (Michael Lennartz)