Kia has made it official. The refreshed 2012 Kia Rio5 will cost almost $1,500 less compared to the outgoing generation, when it goes on sale in October. Talk about approachable!

Perhaps more compelling - the cost savings aren't just limited to the MSRP. That's right, while the price of the Rio5 has dropped year over year, the features and high-tech are trending upward. Take start-stop technology, for example. Part of the $400 Eco option, and typically a feature available only on luxury cars, it delivers a generous increase in fuel economy.

The 2012 Kia Rio5 will still be available in two trims: the LX and SX. The LX features power steering, tilting steering wheel, AC, a CD player and a split, folding rear seat. The higher-level SX stands out with available 15-inch wheels, metal pedals, sporty rear spoiler, fog lights and leather-wrapped steering wheel.

What about performance and power? For the 2012 model year, the Kia Rio5 is based on a four-wheel drive powertain. It features a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine and driver's choice of a five-speed manual transmission or an automatic.

Equipped with a manual transmission, the new Kia Rio5 promises 35 mpg highway, 32 mpg city. With an automatic, it promises even more: 38 mpg highway/32 mpg city.

Grand Buick GMC Kia expects the Kia Rio5 to arrive this fall and the Rio four-door sedan to hit a little later - in January, at the latest.  For more details on either model, please contact Grand Buick GMC Kia today. Or, visit us in person at 2000 W 104th Ave Denver/Thornton, CO. We're happy to share complete specs, compare models, and arrange for test drives.