Kia has announced the limited availability of the 2013 Rio 5-door SX with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Kia has announced the limited availability of the 2013 Rio 5-door SX with a 6-speed manual transmission. Previously buyers that chose the top Kia Rio SX trim could only get it with an automatic transmission, but now Kia is offering it in limited quantities with a manual transmission.
“The Kia Rio 5-door SX M/T is perfect for driving enthusiasts who simply won’t compromise when it comes to certain features,” said Orth Hedrick, Director of Product Planning at Kia Motors America (KMA). “Our customers and the automotive press have been asking for the Rio 5-door SX with a manual transmission, and we’ve listened. As the Kia brand becomes more and more relevant to enthusiasts, we’ll continue to evaluate consumer demand and consider bringing other high-spec manuals to market.”
The Kia Rio 5-door SX M/T is powered by a 138 horsepower 4-cylinder engine and is rated at 30/40 mpg. The Rio 5-door SX M/T is available in Signal Red and Electronic Blue and comes with LED taillights, front LED accent lights, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Rio SX M/T adds a seven-inch navigation touch screen with a SiriusXM Traffic system and push-button start with Smart Key. Other standard SX features include a sport-tuned suspension, rear camera display, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, Bluetooth, and an AM/FM/CD/ MP3 SiriusXM audio system.
Only 500 Rio SX M/Ts will be initially offered for sale during the 2013 model year starting at $17,900.
