2015 Kia Rio Sedan Facelilft Unveiled At The Chicago Auto Show

Following its update of the hatchback we saw at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Kia Motors America has now taken off the covers of its latest iteration of the Kia Rio Sedan at the on-going Chicago Auto Show.

Refreshed inside and out for its global debut here, the new Rio Sedan (and its hatchback cousin) will go on sale in the US by the first quarter of this year.

Externally, the Rio’s updates include new front- and rear-end designs for what Kia believes adds “more visual width and stronger presence.” Like the new front bumper that stretches across the face of the car? Apart from that, a lot of what’s visible here has been featured on the updated hatchback model from the Paris Motor Show.

Inside, Kia engineers have worked on better insulating the cabin from exterior noises by increasing the use of high-density foam in the A- and B-pillars, while new tech features also make their way in to the car. At the top of the range, Kia Rio SX Sedan owners will soon enjoy a sports tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, 11-inch ventilated front disc brakes, steering column-mounted paddle shifters, reverse camera, upgraded navigation and more.

Unlike the Malaysian-available 1.4-litre petrol engine, the US-market will carry forward its 1.6-litre petrol four-pot and six-speed manual or auto transmission. The hatchback will be offered with a six-speed auto as standard, saying bye-bye entirely to the option of a manual transmission.

Could the Honda City, Toyota Vios and Mazda 2 Sedan use a new competitor in Malaysia? Would you want the option? Tell us what you think!