Kia has unveiled facelifted versions of its Rio supermini and Picanto city car, both of which are on sale now.
The major addition to the Rio range is a mild hybrid petrol engine, with a 48V battery assisting the 1.0-litre, 119hp engine.
This powertrain is also available with ‘intelligent’ manual transmission, featuring an electronic clutch, which can switch off the engine earlier than the car’s stop-start system, further improving efficiency.
CO2 emissions with this powertrain are from 122g/km, with fuel economy of up to 52.3mpg.
Conventional 84hp and 100hp petrol engines are also available, as are conventional five-speed manual and seven-speed DCT auto gearboxes.
Changes to the Rio’s exterior styling include a narrower front grille and a lower, wider front bumper, while inside there’s a larger 8in touchscreen on higher-spec models, and a higher-resolution 4.2in driver information display.
The Rio also gains Kia’s latest ‘phase two’ UVO Connect telematics system, with access to onboard services such as live traffic and parking information, and online voice recognition, along with remote services via the UVO app.
Prices for the revised Rio start at £13,395 for an 84hp five-speed manual in the entry-level 1 equipment grade, and rise as high as £20,895 for a mild hybrid auto in range-topping GT-Line S spec.
The Picanto also gains new engines – 1.0-litre petrols with 67hp and 99hp, which Kia says offer improved efficiency and emissions compared with their predecessors, and are paired with either five-speed manual or five-speed ‘automated manual’ transmission.
Exterior changes have been made for the higher-spec GT-Line and X-Line equipment grades, with a tweaked front grille, and redesigned headlights and rear lights.
New equipment to the range includes the same 8in touchscreen seen on the Rio, along with the UVO Connect package.
Autonomous emergency braking is standard on all but entry-level cars.
Prices for the facelifted Picanto start at £10,745 for a 67hp 1 manual, and rise as high as £15,795 for a GT-Line S 100hp manual.