What is it?
2002 Kia Rio Wagon
What's special about it?
Kia will offer the lowest-priced station wagon in the world when the 2002 Rio Wagon goes on sale in the summer of 2001. Offered in one trim level, the new Rio Wagon is expected to start at a price slightly higher than an equivalently equipped Rio Sedan, but will undercut the next cheapest wagon on the market, the Suzuki Esteem Wagon, which costs $13,699.
Of course, the Rio Wagon will be covered by Kia's Long Haul warranty, which offers 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain repair protection, five-year/60,000-mile basic coverage, and an anti-perforation rust warranty running five years or 100,000 miles. This warranty, introduced last year, is credited with causing a surge in sales for the company, and is cited by buyers as the No. 1 reason they chose a Kia.
Standard equipment on the Rio Wagon will include a height-adjustable driver's seat with fold-down armrest, rear window defroster, cloth upholstery and a center console. Power steering, tilt steering wheel, dual visor vanity mirrors, full wheel covers and body-color side moldings are also a part of the deal, along with an AM/FM/cassette stereo, rear wiper with washer, and even a 12-volt power outlet in the cargo area. Options include attractive spoked alloy wheels, antilock brakes, air conditioning, four-speed automatic transmission and a CD player.
Powering the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, a 96-horsepower 1.5-liter engine does duty under the hood. Kumho Touring Plus tires manage handling, along with a front independent/rear torsion beam suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. Brakes are ventilated discs up front, but the rears are old-fashioned drums.
With the rear seat raised, the Rio Wagon offers a paltry 10.5 cubic feet of cargo space, likely due to the radically curved rear hatch and roofline -- this is more a five-door hatchback than a true station wagon, in our opinion. The rear 60/40 split folding seat can be dropped for more room.
Why should you care?
The 2002 Kia Rio Wagon is an attractive, inexpensive, utilitarian car with a killer warranty. Lots of people need something like this, and with the Rio Wagon, Kia's got the bottom end of the market cornered with a car that is anything but bottom end. All it needs is more space behind the rear seats.
2002 Kia Rio Wagon
What's special about it?
Kia will offer the lowest-priced station wagon in the world when the 2002 Rio Wagon goes on sale in the summer of 2001. Offered in one trim level, the new Rio Wagon is expected to start at a price slightly higher than an equivalently equipped Rio Sedan, but will undercut the next cheapest wagon on the market, the Suzuki Esteem Wagon, which costs $13,699.
Of course, the Rio Wagon will be covered by Kia's Long Haul warranty, which offers 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain repair protection, five-year/60,000-mile basic coverage, and an anti-perforation rust warranty running five years or 100,000 miles. This warranty, introduced last year, is credited with causing a surge in sales for the company, and is cited by buyers as the No. 1 reason they chose a Kia.
Standard equipment on the Rio Wagon will include a height-adjustable driver's seat with fold-down armrest, rear window defroster, cloth upholstery and a center console. Power steering, tilt steering wheel, dual visor vanity mirrors, full wheel covers and body-color side moldings are also a part of the deal, along with an AM/FM/cassette stereo, rear wiper with washer, and even a 12-volt power outlet in the cargo area. Options include attractive spoked alloy wheels, antilock brakes, air conditioning, four-speed automatic transmission and a CD player.
Powering the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, a 96-horsepower 1.5-liter engine does duty under the hood. Kumho Touring Plus tires manage handling, along with a front independent/rear torsion beam suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. Brakes are ventilated discs up front, but the rears are old-fashioned drums.
With the rear seat raised, the Rio Wagon offers a paltry 10.5 cubic feet of cargo space, likely due to the radically curved rear hatch and roofline -- this is more a five-door hatchback than a true station wagon, in our opinion. The rear 60/40 split folding seat can be dropped for more room.
Why should you care?
The 2002 Kia Rio Wagon is an attractive, inexpensive, utilitarian car with a killer warranty. Lots of people need something like this, and with the Rio Wagon, Kia's got the bottom end of the market cornered with a car that is anything but bottom end. All it needs is more space behind the rear seats.
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