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2008 Kia Rio exterior.
2008 Kia Rio Subcompact Economy Sedan - enlargeComplete 2008 Kia Rio New Car Reviews listed below
The 2008 Kia Rio subcompact economy sedan (MSRP: $11,515 - $15,090, Invoice price: $11,090 - $14,355) comes in Base, LX, and SX trim levels. This model competes with the Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Focus, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mazda Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Versa, Saturn Astra, Scion XD, Smart Fortwo, Suzuki Forenza, Toyota Yaris, and Volkswagen Golf. The Kia Rio is a subcompact car produced by the South Korean automaker Kia Motors and introduced in August 2000 for the 2001 model year.1 In the company's lineup, it replaced the Kia Pride, which was much smaller and whose production ceased in 2000; and the Sephia as Kia's entry-level car.2 It is currently in its second generation and is assembled in Hwasung, South Korea. The Rio is available with a 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter I4 engine and a front-wheel drive system. Both a five-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic transmission are available.
The 2008 Kia Rio sedan has a front independent suspension, a front stabilizer bar, a MacPherson strut front suspension, and a torsion beam rear suspension.
Exterior features on the Rio include 14 x 5.0 inch steel wheels, all season tires, a temporary spare tire, a steel spare wheel, and partial wheel covers. This sedan has an inside-mounted spare tire, variable-intermittent wipers, and a rear defogger. A tachometer and low fuel level warning serves as its basic instrumentation features.
Seats and trim features for the 2008 Kia Rio sedan are a five-person total seating capacity, bucket front seats, cloth upholstery, and a height-adjustable driver seat. It is also equipped with a driver’s seat with manual adjustable lumbar support and a bench rear seat.
Comfort and convenience features on the Rio sedan include remote driver and passenger exterior mirrors, front cupholders, front door pockets, and front seat-back storage. It has a 12V front power outlet, a front console with storage, dual vanity mirrors, a trunk light, and a mast antenna.
The 2008 Kia Rio sedan has the following safety and security features: ventilated front disc and rear drum brakes, dual front side-mounted airbags, front and rear head airbags, and a passenger airbag occupant-sensing deactivation. It is equipped with front seatbelt pretensioners, rear door child safety locks, child seat anchors, and an emergency interior trunk release. More safety features on the Rio are a rear center 3-point belt, two front and two rear height-adjustable headrests, tire pressure monitoring, and auto delay off headlamps.
Additional/alternative features on the LX level include a clock, 14 x 5.5 inch wheels, full wheel covers, air conditioning, and speed-proportional power steering. Also featured are a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, an AM/FM in-dash single CD player stereo, four total speakers, and an auxiliary MP3 audio input. An upgrade to the LX Power Package gets you full power features, keyless entry, and tweeter speakers.
More features available on 2008 Kia Rio sedan SX trim level are fog lights, 15-inch alloy wheels, an inside-mounted spare tire, and a rear spoiler. It also has front fog/driving lights, metallic interior accents, drilled metal pedals, leather trim on shift knob, and a black-with-red-accents cabin theme. An upgrade to the SX Power Package gets you 16-inch alloy wheels.
A safety and crash test report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that the 2008 Kia Rio sedan received four stars out of five (driver) and five stars out of five (passenger) in frontal crash tests; five stars out of five (front seat) and three stars out of five (rear seat) in side crash tests; and four stars out of five in rollover tests.
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That number attached to the nameplate denotes a tail-side fifth door added for accessing the aft cargo compartment on a hatchback variation of Kia's redesigned Rio sedan.
•2006 Kia Rio Sub-Compact Sedan
The 1.6-liter four-cylinder CVVT plant produces 110 hp and employs a five-speed manual transmission or optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic.
•2006 Kia Rio Sub-Compact Economy Station Wagon
The body on Kia's new Rio economy car looks OK except for the big, ugly strips of black plastic that adorn the sides and bumpers. It's like a magazine cover model dressed in Hefty trash bags. Materials and construction seem below par in the Rio's cabin, but what can you expect with a $10,500 base price? You get what you pay for.
•2006 Kia Rio Compact Sedan and Wagon
Kia from South Korea, now grouped beneath the corporate wing of the larger Korean automaker Hyundai, continues to update its portfolio of products. A make-over design for Rio arrives in 2006 riding on a longer wheelbase with a wider track plus an engine pushing boosted horsepower.
•2005 Kia Rio Compact Sedan and 2005 Kia Cinco Hatchback Sedan
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•2004 Kia Rio and Rio Cinco Sub-Compact Sedan and Wagon
Best-selling sub-compacts from Kia are promoted as bottom-dollar cars with feisty power and cool styling inside and out. Rio is a four-door sedan, while the hatchback version is called Cinco -- a word in Spanish that translates into English as the number five, which happens to be the count for all doors.
•2003 Kia Rio Sub-Compact Sedan, Coupe and Wagon
Kia's sub-compacts promoted as the bottom-dollar cars in the country sport a feisty new engine and revamped styling inside and out.
