New Kia Rio

[2o6]

I kind of really like the old model better, but this still looks pretty good.


However, if it's a HK product it will probably be trash to drive if you're looking for anything resolved or sporty.


http://www.autoblog.com/2016/09/01/2017-kia-rio-redesign-paris-motor-show/

[12,000 RPM]

Looks good, but looks are about all that's changed. I know an IRS and the 1.6T are too much to ask, but that's what I would want. Hopefully a GT version is coming, otherwise the Forte5 SX is still my pick of the Kia range.

Looking at it more, I'm not crazy about the C pillar. That area looks a bit old, and they needlessly cut room. I think they could have went with a more upright rear window and made it more interesting.

[2o6]

Torsion beams are independent enough. Pretty much every small car ever has a twist-axle/torsion beam. No one cares. They drive fine. Many great cars have twist axles. (Fiesta ST, pretty much every GTI until the Golf V, Volvo 850, FWD A6's) My car has a torsion beam and it drives great.


That makes me groan; the beam connecting the two wheels really acts as an anti-sway bar primarily; the two sides are pretty independent.


It's not a solid axle where the two sides are connected by a damn beam directly. Those aren't very independent setups. (basically any minivan until like 2007, and any Chrysler van until.....basically now)

[12,000 RPM]

If torsion beam were independent, there would be no other kinds of "independent" suspensions

You are probably right that it would work fine though.

[MX793]

If torsion beam were independent, there would be no other kinds of "independent" suspensions

You are probably right that it would work fine though.

Any suspension with a sway or anti-roll bar is no longer fully independent.  Torsion beam basically has a rear sway bar built into the design.

[2o6]

If torsion beam were independent, there would be no other kinds of "independent" suspensions

You are probably right that it would work fine though.

It is independent. That's the reason why VW used it on the Golf I; it's independent and compact and better than the strut or solid axle designs everyone else was using.

[Soup DeVille]

Any suspension with a sway or anti-roll bar is no longer fully independent.  Torsion beam basically has a rear sway bar built into the design.

That's a bit of a stretch I think. Maybe not technically incorrect, but I doubt you'll find any suspension engineer that considers a sway bar to be incompatible with an independant suspension.

[2o6]

US-spec.


I think the old one looked better. This one looks blocky, and that C-pillar treatment on the sedan looks bad.


http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2018-kia-rio-photos-and-info-news-1

[ifcar]

I didn't like the outgoing car's blobby front end, but the new model is plainer. Maybe just accepting this car's role as basic transportation really was the best approach.

[2o6]

The old one was a sharp looking car

[Payman]

The old one was a sharp looking car

I'm with you. I like the look of the last Rio.

[Payman]

Also, using a stupid amount of black plastic in the C-pillar is lazy design. Tells me they said "good enough".

[2o6]

Also, using a stupid amount of black plastic in the C-pillar is lazy design. Tells me they said "good enough".

I think the sedan rear doors are the same as the hatch

[12,000 RPM]

Old one had the 1.8 GDI too right? Could be a low key fun ride

[2o6]

Old one had the 1.8 GDI too right? Could be a low key fun ride

No. And it's not.

[Payman]

Old one had the 1.8 GDI too right? Could be a low key fun ride

1.6, 138 hp. And yes, it compared well in its segment. It's also a popular race car in SCCA.

[2o6]

I passed on it because of the lame steering and mediocre shift quality and clutch relationship.

[FoMoJo]

Much improved grille design.  The previous model, including all previous Kia models had the tackiest looking grille ever to be seen on a vehicle, imo.

[MX793]

US-spec.


I think the old one looked better. This one looks blocky, and that C-pillar treatment on the sedan looks bad.


http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2018-kia-rio-photos-and-info-news-1

Something about that reminds of the North American "2nd generation" (really just a heavily facelifted first generation) Focus.

[MexicoCityM3]

Mostly harmless.