New 2021 Kia Rio Facelift Revealed For International Market

Kia Motors has revealed the new facelift variant of 2021 Rio for the international markets. The upgraded model features a range of enhancements to reinvigorate the car’s position within the highly competitive B-segment. 

The upgraded Rio pairs an updated exterior and interior design with ‘big car’ safety and infotainment technologies. The new model also offers drivers efficient new powertrains – including Kia’s first gasoline 48V mild-hybrid system, equipped with one of the first applications of the company’s new ‘clutch-by-wire’ intelligent manual transmission.

The updated Rio has a refreshed front design exuding style and sportiness. Other tweaks simplify the car’s design, creating a tasteful and uncluttered appearance. The refreshed design retains the car’s iconic ‘tiger-nose’ grille, narrowed for a more focused appearance and matched by a lower, wider front bumper and distinctive new fog lamp housing. These changes give the front of the car a smoother, yet more purposeful appearance, imbuing it with a more confident stance on the road. All models now feature new full LED headlamps with integral running lights. 

Two new exterior colours are also introduced with the upgraded model, Perennial Grey and Sporty Blue, bringing the total number of paint palette options to nine, depending on specification and market. The upgraded model is also offered with a new eight-spoke 16-inch alloy wheel design.

Inside, the Rio features a new larger 8.0-inch widescreen, and a higher-resolution 4.2-inch digital display in the driver’s instrument cluster. The Rio is also now available with a new interior customization option in the form of a new blue color pack, depending on vehicle specification and market.  

The Rio hatchback is the first car from Kia to source power from a gasoline mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) powertrain. This powertrain pairs company’s new ‘Smartstream’ 1.0-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) unit with Kia’s 48V MHEV system. It delivers the same 120 PS power output and a 16% higher 120 Nm as the previous ‘Kappa’-generation 1.0-litre T-GDi engine.

On the safety side, the upgraded Rio features several of Kia’s latest Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian, vehicle and newly introduced cyclist recognition, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW). 

Depending on specification, the Rio’s new ADAS range includes the latest version of Kia’s FCA system and is also available with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)*, Intelligent Speed Limit Warning (ISLW), Smart Cruise Control (SCC)*, and Lane Following Assist (LFA).

Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, says: “The Rio is an important car for Kia in Europe and worldwide, and is an entry point into the Kia brand for many drivers. The upgraded model builds on the car’s key strengths – practicality, quality and technology – with newly electrified powertrains, a refreshed design, and advanced safety and telematics features often found in cars many segments above."