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The 2006 Kia Rio
With all of the media coverage on redesigned muscle cars and award-winning full-size sedans and SUVs, it would seem that little attention has been paid to the compact and subcompact market. But for Kia, the small car segment is it's bread and butter, and it will not be ignored. With the recently overhauled Spectra, new Spectra5, and now the redesigned 2006 Rio, Kia is serious about serving the entry-level customer.
According to Kia Motors America's President and CEO, Peter Butterfield, when describing the redesigned 2006 Kia Rio: "The only thing we didn't change was the name." Wider, taller, and longer, the new Rio provides more of what Kia believes subcompact car shoppers desire: room. Thanks in part to its longer wheelbase, passenger space now registers 92.2 cubic feet, and trunk volume has increased to 11.9 cubic feet. Safety also continues to be a priority for the company, so the five-passenger 2006 Kia Rio is equipped with front-, side-, and side-curtain airbags; and three-point seatbelts for all passengers. Peace of mind is addressed by Kia's popular five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and its 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, with five years of roadside assistance thrown in, too.
Built in South Korea, the 2006 Kia Rio is offered in two trims: Base and LX. Both models come with eight-way manually adjustable front seats; a rear window defroster; variable intermittent wipers; 14-inch wheels; a MacPherson strut front suspension; a semi-independent rear suspension with a torsion beam axle; and front and rear stabilizer bars. The LX model adds a bit more refinement with standard air conditioning; a four-speaker sound system with a CD player; a 60/40 split folding rear seat; power steering; and a tilt steering wheel. For shoppers who want additional creature comforts, the 2006 Kia Rio LX can be outfitted with the Power Package, consisting of power windows and door locks; a keyless entry system; power, heated mirrors; additional tweeters for the sound system; and an overhead console with map lights. And for those who crave some sport in their subcompact, there's the LX Sport Package with its 15-inch alloy wheels and 195/55 tires; four-wheel-disc antilock brakes; fog lights; rear spoiler; metallic interior trim; and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. That shift knob is connected to a five-speed manual transmission; a four-speed automatic is optional. Power comes from a 110-horsepower, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing. Torque is rated at 107 lb.-ft.
Kia is a company that has become a major player in the North American market on the strength of its small cars and SUVs. With the redesigned Rio, Kia pays respect to the segment and the consumers who led the company to success. Destined for dealers' lots during the summer of 2005, the 2006 Kia Rio, with its versatile packaging and respectable powertrain, promises to put a new face on the compact car.
by Staff
Photo Credit: Kia
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