Kia Rio / Rio5 2012

Kia Rio / Rio5 2012 Car news

Kia's compact Rio model is a little like RC Cola: while there's nothing wrong with the soda, most people have forgotten that it exists. That may very well change—for the Kia, at least—if these images of the next-gen Rio, which were released in advance of the European car's debut at next month's Geneva auto show, are any indication.

While the car looks a ton better, we were surprised to learn that Kia has made no changes to the European Rio’s chassis; the “new” Rio is simply a reskin. That said, stylistically, the Rio hatchback (called Rio5 in the U.S.) should be well situated to challenge the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, and Honda Fit if buyers are judging books by their cover alone. At the very least, the new Rio’s duds may help lure traffic to Kia showrooms, but the car probably won’t be contending for top honors in the suddenly crowded small-car arena.

Kia is planning a range of small gas and diesel engines for the Euro Rio; the only mill in the group that's even a contender for a U.S. appearance is the carry-over 110-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder already found in Stateside Rio sedans and Rio5s. But it’s possible we may get a different engine (or engines) altogether, which would be one way to make the Rio a bit more competitive.

While the Kia Soul hums along racking up sales, the current Rio has taken a beating in the charts, as the no-frills hatch and four-door are likely proving less appealing to customers than their well-equipped competitors. We’ll soon discover how the refresh plays out for this market; a Kia spokesman has confirmed we will see this Rio on our shores as a 2012 model. U.S.-specific details will be released later this year, but if you need something to do while you wait, perhaps it's a good time to give RC another try.