Kia Rio dead in Australia when current model reaches end of line


The Kia Rio joins the exodus of affordable city cars, with confirmation the name will depart Australian showrooms after the current model is phased out.


Kia has confirmed the next generation of the Kia Rio city car will not come to Australia – and the name will be discontinued here after the current model reaches the end of the line in the coming years – amid shrinking sales of city cars here and overseas.

In a media statement this afternoon, Kia Australia confirmed the next-generation Rio will not be built in right-hand drive – confirming the nameplate’s exit from the Australian market after a circa-25-year run.

It is believed the Kia Rio will live on overseas as a more affordable vehicle for Eastern Europe, China and other developing markets with less stringent safety and emissions standards.



However, it will be phased out in Australia, as well as the UK and Europe, according to UK magazine Autocar.

No date has been given for the discontinuation of the current Kia Rio in Australia, however in the UK it is due to be axed before the end of 2023.

Examples for Australia are built in the same South Korean factory as UK cars, which would indicate the last Australian deliveries are not likely to be far behind.



“The next (seventh) generation Rio will not be produced in [right-hand drive],” a Kia Australia spokesperson said in a statement to Drive.

“The award-winning Rio has been a tremendous car for Kia in the Australian market with 162,494 sold since its debut in mid-2000.”

The Kia Rio is one of the last new cars available locally for less than $25,000 drive-away – amid declines in city-car sales globally that have killed off models, as well as the costs associated with both new safety technology, and manufacturing vehicles in the wake of the pandemic.



Kia Australia has confirmed the smaller Picanto and larger Cerato hatchbacks will remain on sale. The former is due to receive a facelift later this year, while the latter is due for an all-new generation in the next two years.

The Rio’s SUV sibling, the Stonic, will also remain on sale.

The company says there are “new models across various segments currently under study for our market,” which could include future electric cars with similar footprints to today’s Rio.



News of the demise of the Kia Rio in Europe and Australia means it joins the list of affordable city cars on the chopping block.

Production of the Ford Fiesta is due to end this June, and the Volkswagen Polo may not see another generation. The future of the larger Hyundai i30 hatchback is also bleak.

Kia is one of two car companies remaining with a new vehicle on sale for less than $20,000 drive-away in Australia – with its Picanto, priced from $18,890 drive-away – alongside China’s MG.



Ben Zachariah

Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than 15 years. Ben was previously an interstate truck driver and completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021. He is considered an expert in the area of classic car investment.

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