More equipment for new Kia Rio supermini

With the new Hyundai i20, Mazda2 and Skoda Fabia winging their way to UK showrooms, Kia has given its supermini – the Kia Rio – a quick nip and tuck, and some extra equipment to help it perform against the revitalised competition.

There was nothing wrong with the way the old Kia Rio looked – it was one of the first Kias to feature European styling – but the 2015 model has added presence thanks to restyled front and rear bumpers. Kia has also treated the Rio to a new shade of paint called Urban Blue (replacing Electric Blue) while there's also a revised range of 16 and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the new model keeps the old car's instrument cluster, red backlighting and toggle switches, but the plastics now feel more expensive to keep up with this class’ steadily increasing quality standards.

The Rio is offered in five trim levels: 1, 1 Air, 2, 3 and 4. For 2015, the Rio 1 has been given new interior upholstery as well as electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors. The 1 Air adds air-conditioning, while the 2's wing mirrors fold away electrically and the car's seats are finished in premium cloth. But it's the 3 that looks like the best bet thanks to its standard sat nav with an integrated reversing camera. Choose the top-of-the-range Rio 4 and you can also enjoy luxurious leather seats.

Despite the exterior and interior upgrades, the Rio is mechanically unchanged from the old model and is available with the same four engines equally split between petrol and diesel. The line-up includes Kia's 1.1-litre diesel engine, which remains the most frugal non-electric car on sale in the UK today, thanks to its fuel economy of up to 88.3mpg.

Although prices for the new Rio have yet to be confirmed, expect them to closely mirror the outgoing model, which costs from £12,000.

The new Rio has been launched alongside a revised version of the Kia Venga mini-MPV.

For all our reviews of the Kia range, visit the Carbuyer Kia reviews page.