Now in its 12th year and third generation, the 2012 Kia Rio subcompact debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in March and is just now appearing regularly around the country since its dealership unveiling in the fall of 2011.
The South Korean 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback features either a 5 or 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic matched with a 138-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine.
For 2012, the Kia Rio and Kia Rio SX, both priced lower than 2011 models, are available in three levels: the base LX trim, the midlevel EX, and top-of-the-line SX. All have electric power steering, air conditioning and satellite radio as standard equipment.
Likewise, standard safety features include four-wheel ABS brakes, Hill Start Assist Control, and Electronic Stability and Vehicle Stability Control systems.
Key Takeaways
- Test car: the Rio SX with a 1.6-liter, 138-horsepower four-cylinder, 17-inch alloy wheels and a sport-tuned suspension.
- About $18,000 for the SX; the Rio LX and SX are both priced lower than the 2011 models.
- Lineup: LX, EX and SX trims, with a 5 or 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.
- 28.29 mpg over 268.8 miles of mostly freeway driving, from an 11.4-gallon tank.
- Verdict: With the exception of occasionally sluggish efforts on short, steep climbs, the 2012 Kia Rio excelled.
- Wheels: Attractive sport wheels. Adds classy touch to entry-level car.
The Weekly Driver Test Drive
Since The Weekly Driver began in 2003, a few dozen vehicles have been tested during a round-trip route from Sacramento to the Monterey Peninsula. Discounting small excursions from Monterey to Carmel or Pacific Grove, the round trip is 400 miles.
It’s a solid amount of miles to test a car and the trip also includes several driving scenarios. There are stretches of fast-paced Interstate driving when the flow of traffic often exceeds the speed limit. Likewise, two-lane highways, frontage roads and a hilly, oddly cambered stretch that climbs to the San Luis Reservoir then descents and winds its way to Gilroy are all part of the trek.
This time, I drove the Kia Rio SX, which like its siblings has a 1.6-liter engine and 138 horsepower. There’s an impressive list of features for an entry level, $18,000 car: 17-inch alloy wheels, twin chrome exhausts, a sport-tuned suspension and LED accents for the head and taillamps, among other equipment.
With the exception of occasionally sluggish efforts on short, steep climbs, the 2012 Kia Rio excelled. Will it win a drag race? No. Does it perform well compared with vehicles in its class? Yes.
Fuel Economy
As a compact, the Rio’s smaller gas tank provided a slight inconvenience. I filled the tank after four days with the car. It has an 11.4 gallon gas tank, which I refilled just when the gas light first went on. I purchased 9.5 gallons after driving the car 268.8 miles. At $3.83 per gallon, the fill-up cost was $36.50.
There were just under two gallons left in the tank, making my predominantly freeway-driving mpg average 28.29. That’s just slightly above the car’s listed EPA mpg average in city driving.
Likes and Dislikes
Likes
Attractive sport wheels. Adds classy touch to entry-level car.
Small front corner windows. Adds a wider viewing range.
Electric side mirrors retract with a button on the driver’s interior door panel. It’s an unexpected standard feature on an entry-level car.
Rear window defogger and wiper.
Dislikes
Rear spoiler. What’s the point?
Facts & Figures: 2012 Kia Rio
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Trim Driven | Rio SX |
| Price | About $18,000 |
| Engine | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 138 hp |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| Wheels | 17-inch alloy |
| Fuel Economy (EPA, restated) | 28 city / 36 highway / 31 combined mpg (automatic); 29 / 37 / 32 (manual) |
| Fuel Economy (observed) | 28.29 mpg over 268.8 miles, mostly freeway |
| Fuel Type | Regular |
| Fuel Tank | 11.4 gallons |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
