If the moniker “K3” is unfamiliar to you, it is the name by which the Forte and Cerato are known in various regions. Reports indicate that the 2024 K3, rather than being a straight replacement for the smaller Rio Sedan, is a successor.
A single teaser photograph of the new model’s tail light has been released by Kia in the run-up to the release. We can see from the picture that it features Kia’s new design language, similar to the EV9 and Seltos SUV.
Since the fourth-generation model of the Rio has been available since 2016, and the third-generation K3, Forte, and Cerato were released in 2018, logic dictates that the Rio will be the first to be refreshed. Recently there have been reports circling the net with spy shots of a heavily camouflaged prototype of the four-door Rio being tested.
The timing seems to be ideal because Kia announced in April that the new Rio will make its appearance later in the year. Additionally, it was said that manufacturing will begin in Mexico in the fourth quarter, and given that the introduction would take place there, it appears that this new K3 is a Rio.
The teaser image was posted by Kia on its worldwide media website, possibly indicating that K3 will soon be introduced internationally. The current available Rio in the Malaysian market is the six-speed auto Kia Rio 1.4 EX hatchback which is priced at RM78,888. However, we did get a Rio Sedan X back in 2016, so we will have to wait and see if this refreshed sedan enters the Malaysian market.
