Kia Rio dead; order book already closed

The Kia Rio has drawn its last breath in Australia, where representatives of the Korean brand have confirmed to carsales that order books for the popular model have already closed – for good – in the lead-up to its retirement later this year.

The news comes just a few months after the flagship GT-Line variant was axed locally amid a shortage of its 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and delivery wait times of up to 12 months.

Kia Australia product planning general manager Roland Rivero said demand for the remaining Kia Rio variants also exceeds the remaining supply pipeline for the fourth-generation light hatch.

Unlike other sales pauses for various in-demand models – including the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, Mercedes-AMG G 63, Suzuki Jimny auto and Hyundai i30 N – this isn’t just a temporary measure to try and get back on top of demand.

This is the end of line for both the current-generation and indeed the Rio nameplate Down Under following confirmation the next-generation model will only be produced in left-hand drive.

“The award-winning Rio has been a tremendous car for Kia in the Australian market with 162,494 sold since its debut in mid-2000,” a Kia Australia spokesperson said in a statement.

“While the Rio nameplate will not continue locally, Kia does continue to offer its popular Picanto and Cerato ranges, with new models across various segments currently under study for our market.”

carsales understands production of the current Rio will cease by the middle of 2023, thereby leaving dealers scrambling to secure as many units as they can to fulfill several months worth of outstanding orders.

While the Rio’s axing may come as something of a shock given its popularity both within the Kia portfolio and the wider light-car segment, it’s just the latest big-name compact car to disappear from Australia’s shrinking passenger car market following the Ford Fiesta and Focus, Honda Jazz and City, the garden-variety Hyundai i20, Mitsubishi Mirage and Toyota’s three-model Prius line.

There are of course a few sub-$25,000 micro and light models still available – namely the Fiat 500, MG 3, Mazda2, Suzuki Baleno and Swift, and Toyota Yaris – but that number will shrink to four when stocks of the current Baleno and Fiat 500 are exhausted, following news that the new battery-powered Fiat 500e is set to cost more than $52,000.

And only two will start at under $20,000 (the Picanto and the aged MG3) when the current Rio, Baleno and 500 disappear from showrooms.

From a Kia perspective, the Stonic light SUV is the closest match both in terms of size and price to the Rio, given it starts from $22,290 plus on-road costs in S manual form compared to the equivalent Rio’s $19,690 opening figure.

The smaller Picanto is predictably cheaper (from $16,290) but loses out on space and power, whereas the significantly bigger Cerato small hatch and sedan starts from $26,290 but can’t be had with a manual.

Kia delivered 499 Rios last month, making it the third most popular model in the sub-$25K light class behind the 12-year-old MG3 (1348), which start from $18,990 drive-away but lacks an ANCAP safety rating, and the recently-updated Mazda2 (660).

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