burlapp car

New front end for the Kia Rio

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And it’s not really an improvement. It’s always amazing to see manufacturers force some front end design on all of their line up, wether it fits or not.
Like Mazda, Audi etc…
In this case, the cheap and simple Rio was just fine without a Chrome grille. This makes it look like a model from a few years ago…

(The blue car is the new one, by the way..)

Conversation 16 comments

  5. I disagree. The front looks more Euro and a tad sportier. The wheels also give the Rio a fresher appeal. You can tell the old and new model apart. I leave the grill criticism alone, it can go both ways. If the grill is used on all models, then so be it. I don't think it makes it look upscale or anything.

  7. 100% Improvement to something that wasn't really needed, but I think they pulled the new corporate front end off beautifully without overdoing it (like Mitsubishi in regards to the outlander).

  12. I think the new one look much cleaner than the old one. Removing the black body cladding is also an improvement.
    I hope it will come to Europe in this form. Fits nicer into the lineup with other models like Picanto or cee'd (which will get the Schreyer grille in Fall, too) where the old Rio looks a bit dated in the current form.

  13. I like the new one better. Removing the black boddy cladding, the blacked out headlights and new bumper and grille makes wonder. Fits also nicer into the model lineup with the new Schreyer grille.

    The old one looks dated compared to other superminis here in Europe. The new does not meet the level of the new Polo of course but it looks more upscale compared to the old one.

  14. I'm surprised that the grill texture in the low-hole is the same as the upper-one just scaled-up. CHEESY!

  15. I think it looks great.

    "Anonymous said…
    I'm surprised that the grill texture in the low-hole is the same as the upper-one just scaled-up. CHEESY!

    July 21, 2009 1:37 PM"

    It is a sub 15K vehicle. What in the hell do you expect???

  16. "It is a sub 15K vehicle. What in the hell do you expect???"

    I expect a lot more. Having a different, tasteful texture that is complimentary to the other cost NO MORE than a hack-job of simply scaling up an existing geometry.

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