Kia's sub-compacts promoted as the bottom-dollar cars in the country sport a feisty new engine and revamped styling inside and out. Rio is the four-door sedan, while the hatchback version is called Cinco -- a word in Spanish that translates into English as the number five, which happens to be the count of all doors on the wagon. Both models bear a new engine. With dual cams on top and a displacement of 1.6 liters, the four-pack delivers 105 hp and ties to either a manual five-speed or automatic four-speed transmission. Fresh styling points for Rio and Cinco extend to the grille, front fascia, bumper, hood, and side fenders. Inside, the cabin structure is tall so driver and passenger ride high in the two front buckets, followed by a rear bench with indentions for two. Seats, contoured to fit even a full-frame adult, feel supportive and firm. Both cars hold new features, such as heater ducts for the backseat, LATCH (Lower Anchor and Tethers for Children) anchors for mounting compatible child safety seats, headliner map light with sunglasses case, auto-off headlamps plus optional foglamps and power windows. Also, a new stereo sound system with CD deck is optional on the sedan but standard for Cinco.
