Kia Rio

Kia recently revealed their first product for our market – the Seltos SUV, which will be launched in August this year. However, Kia has other models in mind for India as well, such as the Carnival, Sportage and of course, the Rio hatchback.

The Kia Rio looks quite sporty, and is based on the Hyundai i20. Up-front, it boasts of the signature 'Tiger nose' grille. The headlamps feature DRLs, and it gets cornering lamps too. There are round fog lamps set at the bottom. Looked at from the side, the Rio sports a sloping roofline, but the 17-inch wheels are unlikely to make it to India. At the rear, the Rio gets simple yet stylish LED tail lights.

The all-black theme inside the cabin looks classy, and you get comfortable faux-leather seats. Expect plush and well built interiors, typical of the Koreans. There's a leather-wrapped steering wheel too, along with cruise control and MID functions. Features include a sunroof, automatic wipers, keyless entry, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, start-stop ignition and traction control.

Expect to see a 1.2 litre petrol engine under the hood of the Rio for India. Transmission options should include a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic.

When launched, the Rio will rival the likes of the Maruti Baleno, Hyundai i20 and the upcoming Tata Altroz.