2018 Kia Rio Grows in Size and Fuel Economy

With the debut of 2018 model year vehicles well under way, the Kia Rio finally showed what it’s working with in the new year. The 2018 iteration of Kia’s resident subcompact sedan and hatchback will be all new, including an updated look, a larger footprint, and a revised powertrain.

The most striking of the changes for the 2018 Kia Rio is its appearance, as it takes on a completely new, classier look that’s more upright and European than before. Sure, it is still very obviously a Rio, but its tiger nose grille is thinner, its headlights are a touch more rounded, its hood has more ridges, its front apron is cleaner, its taillights are more appropriately sized, and the liftgate on the hatchback has more shape to it.

Buyers also will notice both versions of the Rio are larger than the previous generation. Specifically, both grow by 0.6 inches, putting the sedan at 172.6 inches and the hatchback at 160 inches. Both models also are lower and wider, and both sit atop a 0.4-inch-longer wheelbase.

2018 Kia Rio 5-Door (Credit: © Kia)

A larger body and wheelbase also leads to a roomier cabin for the 2018 Rio, as the sedan’s passenger space grows from 88 cubic feet to 89.9 cubes and the hatchback’s grows from 89 cubic feet to 90.5 cubic feet. While the official numbers aren’t out, passengers will notice this roomier cabin when checking out the Rio’s rear shoulder room and legroom. In terms of cargo room, the sedan stays the same at 13.7 cubic feet, while the hatchback makes a huge jump from 15 cubes to 17.4 cubes with the seats up.

In terms of style, the Rio’s cabin won’t be premium by any stretch, but it will get some upgrades. Namely, these enhancements will be in the form of a more modern instrument panel, upgraded materials, more horizontal lines for a roomier look, and a bi-level tray in the center console for portable device storage. There will also be plenty of available tech, including Bluetooth connectivity, a six-speaker audio system, a rearview camera, a 7-inch floating touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2018 Rio continues to feature a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, but its fuel efficiency, responsiveness, and low-speed driving dynamics are updated. The engine’s output is down 8 ponies to 130 horsepower, but that’s more than enough for this tiny hatchback.

Models with the six-speed automatic transmission see their fuel economy increase by 1 mpg city, 1 mpg highway, and 2 mpg combined to 28 mpg city, 37 highway, and 32 combined. The manual-equipped models see their economy jump by 1 mpg across the board, putting them at 29 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined.

2018 Kia Rio (Credit: © Kia)

Pricing isn’t available yet, but we should learn more on this as we near its fourth-quarter arrival this year. Stay tuned for updates.