With all of the recent media coverage on redesigned muscle cars and award-winning full-size sedans and SUVs, it would seem that little attention has been paid to the compact and subcompact market. But for Kia, the small car segment is it's bread and butter, and it will not be ignored. "The only thing we didn't change was the name." Those were the words spoken by Kia Motors America's President and CEO, Peter Butterfield, when describing the redesigned 2006 Kia Rio that debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto show in Detroit. Wider, taller, and longer, the new Rio provides more of what Kia believes subcompact car shoppers desire. Thanks in part to its longer wheelbase, passenger room now registers 92.2 cubic feet, and trunk volume has increased to 11.9 cubic feet. Safety continues to be a priority for the company, so the five-passenger 2006 Kia Rio is equipped with front, side and curtain airbags; front disc brakes; and three-point seatbelts for all passengers. Peace of mind is addressed by Kia's popular five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and its 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, with five years of roadside assistance thrown in, as well. Built in South Korea, the 2006 Kia Rio is offered as two models: Base and LX. Both models come with standard features including eight-way manually adjustable seats; a rear window defroster; variable intermittent wipers; 14-inch wheels; a MacPherson strut front suspension; a semi-independent rear suspension with a torsion beam axle; and front and rear stabilizer bars. The LX model adds a bit more refinement with standard air conditioning; a four-speaker sound system with a CD player; a 60/40 split folding rear seat; power rack and pinion steering; and a tilt steering wheel. For shoppers who wish to have a few more creature comforts, the 2006 Kia Rio LX offers the Power Package, comprised of power windows and door locks; a keyless entry system; power, heated mirrors; additional tweeters for the sound system; and an overhead console with map lights. And for those who crave some sport in their subcompact, there's the LX Sport Package with its 15-inch alloy wheels and 195/55 tires; four-wheel disc brakes and anti-lock brakes; fog lights; rear spoiler; metallic interior trim; and leather steering wheel and shift knob. That shift knob is connected to a five-speed manual transmission; a four-speed automatic is optional. Power comes from a 110-horsepower, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing. Torque is rated at 107 lb.-ft. Destined for dealers' lots this summer, the 2006 Kia Rio, with its versatile packaging and respectable powertrain, promises to put a new face on the subcompact car. By Thom Blackett Photos By Erik Hanson
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