2012 Kia Rio 3-door

The Kia Rio is a series of subcompact automobiles produced by Kia Motors since August 2000. Two generations have been produced, both in five-door hatchback and four-door sedan body styles, all equipped with inline-four gasoline and diesel engines, and front-wheel drive. The Rio replaced the first-generation Pride—a rebadged version of the Ford Festiva—and the Avella, a subcompact sold as a Ford in some markets. A second generation of the Rio was introduced in 2005 in Europe and 2006 in North America, and is based on a redesigned platform shared with the Hyundai Accent, a subcompact manufactured by its sister Hyundai Motor Company. This car is known as the New Pride in its domestic market of South Korea. The vehicle was facelifted in 2010 to incorporate Kia's "Tiger Nose" grille. In 2007, the South Korean government began testing approximately 4,000 pre-production Rio hybrid-electric models, with parent company Hyundai Kia Automotive Group later announcing and subsequently withdrawing anticipated release dates for the hybrid model.

The official pictures of the third generation of the Kia Rio were released on February 11, 2011. The car was unveiled on March 1, 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show. It will once again be based on the Hyundai Accent, carrying its totally new 1.4 L and 138 horsepower (103 kW) 1.6 L Hyundai Gamma engine featuring GDI and Dual-Continuous Variable Valve Timing. It will be available with a 6 Speed Manual Transmission as well as a 6 Speed Automatic. According to Kia's website, the 2012 Rio5 hatchback will be available in North America fall of 2011, and the sedan in January 2012.

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