Three and four doors for new Kia Rio

Kia's good-looking and well-equipped Rio hatchback will be available in local showrooms in sedan form next month (February). First shown at last year's New York International Auto Show, the booted Rio resembles bigger sibling Optima in looks and equipment, with distinct 'three-box' profile, six-speed automatic and push-button starting.

Kia's show Rio also had auto-start/stop but the feature is not on the agenda for local models "at this stage". The sedans will arrive with the brand's decent 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, rated at 100kW/166Nm.

Rio will be offered in three and four-door guise, starting from around $15K. Exact pricing will be confirmed at the model's launch next week.

Currently selling well in five-door hatchback form, the Rio sedan will serve the maker's interests in the fleet market, Kia Australia's National Public Relations Manager, Kevin Hepworth told motoring.com.au.

The hatchback will account for the majority of Rio sales in Australia, anticipates Hepworth, at around 85 per cent.

The three-door Rio hatch will be available in S or SLS trim (entry-level and top-spec) while the four-door is offered in mid-spec Si trim. Look to the hatchback's equipment levels for an indication of what to expect, or visit motoring.com.au again soon for our launch news and review of the new Kia Rio sedan.

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