2015 Kia Rio Gets Slight Update
New 2015 Kia Rio five-door hatchback
Not too many changes to report for the 2015 edition of the Kia Rio, in either five-door or sedan form.
Available in three trims – LX, EX and SX – the new five-door hatchback has not deviated a lot from the 2014 model, which saw improved aerodynamics through a redesign of the body and rear bumper. The 1.6-liter, 138-horsepower Gasoline Direction Injection four-cylinder engine that was introduced last year is still present, managing an efficient 27 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.
The only thing that’s new for the 2015 model is that Kia now offers entry-level LX customers the option of a more efficient six-speed automatic transmission with Kia’s Active ECO system, which works to optimize fuel efficiency when activated. Previously, this feature was only available to EX and SX drivers.
That’s the same change that has come to the 2015 Kia Rio sedan, which has the same four-cylinder GDI engine, fuel efficiency and trim levels as the five-door, though in a slightly more stylish four-door vehicle.
The new Kia Rio sedan
One of the major selling points for the Kia Rio is the mileage you get, so making the ECO system available in all trims is probably a wise move. Along those lines, both the five-door and the sedan offer an available ECO Package that can be added to the EX trim, which provides Idle, Stop and Go (ISG) technology for enhanced fuel efficiency.
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