2018 Kia Rio: Montreal Debut

There’s a good reason why Kia is holding its Rio five-door’s North-American premiere at the Montreal Auto Show. The Canadian market, and Quebec in particular, loves small hatchbacks.

The subcompact benefits from a total redesign for 2018, with fresh new styling that’s more substantial and dynamic. The car’s wheelbase is stretched by 10 mm, allowing for a more spacious cockpit, especially in regards to front legroom and rear shoulder room.

• Also: The 2017 Montreal International Auto Show
• Also: 2017 Kia Niro: We’re Driving it This Week

With a stiffer structure as well as reworked suspension and steering, the car will be both safer and offer a more dynamic driving experience. The new Rio will keep its direct-injected, 1.6-litre engine, but it’s been revised for improved fuel economy and greater mid-range torque, the latter providing livelier performance. The engine will develop 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque.

The 2018 Kia Rio will be assembled in Mexico and will be on sale in the spring of 2017.