Story & photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
BEING one of the primary drivers of increased sales and brand awareness in the country, the Kia Rio has indeed been the real deal for Columbian Autocar Corp. (CAC) for the past years in the Philippines.
Recently, CAC, which is the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles, brings in the latest edition of the beloved icon to our shores—thus adding more color and style to the Korean marque’s already dynamic roster.
Introduced last September 2016 at the Paris Motor Show, this all-new fourth generation Rio promises to dig deep and unbridle everyone’s real inner character with the fresh tagline: “Freedom to be You”.
And with its recent local unveiling held at Sentro1771 Restaurant in Capitol Commons, Pasig City, everyone seemed to be ecstatic.
“The good thing about this is that it’s a hatchback priced like a four-door sedan,” said CAC President Ginia Domingo. “We expect a positive response from the market, particularly since it’s more catered to the youth. It’s nontraditional and more expressive.”
At first glance, this renewed vibe has made the Rio sharper at every corner. At the front, it dons a refreshed energetic appeal—putting more emphasis on the tiger-nose grille coupled with a pair of strikingly dashing sportier headlights. As a standard feature for Kia, these beacons automatically activate when the driver turns the wheel, or just after one starts the engine and immediately releases the hand brake. This unique kind of panache flows all the way to the rear with a now universal hatchback form for all Rio’s.
Size-wise, this latest stunner has been further stretched to 5mm wider and 15mm longer than its predecessor. The increased surface area of the vehicle’s hood, matched with a more upright C-pillar, all contribute to its commanding presence on the streets.
Interior-wise, the new Rio’s more minimalist approach creates a neater cabin—keeping it simple and uncluttered. Enhancing comfort and convenience to the driver are the vehicle’s contact points at the seat and steering wheel that are all adjustable. Likewise, a more driver-centric dashboard that features Smart Key with push-button start and front power outlets for charging devices among others, endows an innovative solution to usual daily conundrums, such as knotty access to controls and many others—thus, providing even more ease throughout the driving experience. Each seat also provides quality passenger comfort, with ample head and leg room at the back and full automatic climate control. Not to mention rear power outlets, as well.
In fact, primarily because of its latest technology and design novelties all wrapped up in a sleeker, yet snazzier, package, this all-new Rio emerged as a winner for its category in the 2017 Red Dot Awards held at Essen, Germany. The said known organization has been conducting such accolades since 1954 with about a thousand entries annually. For this, the Rio truly deserved it as its updated profile was the result of a diverse collaborative effort. Kia’s designers, based in Germany and California, worked closely with the team from the company’s headquarters in South Korea—giving rise to a rightfully exceptional global aesthetic that merges both a balanced stance a suitable confident look.
This Kia Rio will be available in three variants all with a retained lightweight 1.4L engine paired to either a five-speed Manual Transmission or with a four-Speed Automatic Transmission, with a GL as the top variant. It will be priced starting at P735,000 SRP, beginning June 2017.
Another real deal to be unveiled soon
“Another thing Kia fans in the country should watch out for would be the launch of the new Picanto this July,” Domingo said. The said unveiling is set in time for the renaming of the company’s Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) team Mahindra Floodbuster back to a so called Kia product again.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes