Kia just held the world debut of its new K3 sedan in Mexico City. This location was not a random choice because it will be produced in Kia’s plant in the northern state of Nuevo León.
The stakes for the new K3 are high, as this model replaces the Rio, which in 2022 had the distinction of being the top selling car in Mexico, leaving the Nissan Versa and Chevrolet Aveo in its wake.
Additionally, Kia has Chinese brands breathing down its neck in Mexico, mostly MG with its 5 sedan, so the new K3 will bear a heavy burden on its shoulders.
New look for a new car
The new K3 has an ambitious design that sets out to prove that small cars can be stylish, looking like the Mini-me version of the K5 that already sells in the U.S. The new K3 successfully averts the Dollar General design of some low-cost cars.
The roof slopes down rapidly, in a fastback fashion but it thankfully steers clear of the floating two-tone design cliché present in so many current models. The taillamps have a distinctive thin strip design and of course have LED illumination.
The design goodness continues in the K3´s interior, with a minimalist and high-tech look. The screens for the instruments and infotainment system merge into a single unit with no visor for an integrated and clean look.
Tech-wise, the K3 offers USB C and A charging points as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and dual zone air conditioning and 64-color ambient illumination.
More to love
As for safety, a suite of advanced driver assistance systems is available depending on the version, including Forward-Collision Assist, Lane-Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Collision Assist, Driver Attention Assist and Rear Cross-Collision Assist. It seems like the all the “Assist” family members are present and accounted for in the Kia K3.
As for engines, the new Kia K3 will offer the choice of a 1.6-liter 121 horsepower engine or a 2.0-liter 150 hp unit. The bigger engine will team with a 6-speed automatic, which is a good thing considering that it could have been a coma-inducing CVT.
Kia will hit dealers the new K3 in Mexico in October. No word yet about its availability for the U.S. but considering that affordable cars are few and far between it would be good to have this new model. However, the real question is would it replace the Rio in the U.S. or could it instead be swapped for the Forte.
The brand dumped the Optima for the K5. However, the name “K3” suggests the next vehicle down the “size” chain. In that case, it’s the Forte. However, any company replacing the top-selling anything in a segment is likely to keep that name across the board, i.e. the Rio is now the K3 in Mexico so it will likely be so.
Look for a K4 coming in the months ahead, if that’s the case.
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- Source: https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2023/08/new-stylish-kia-k3-debut-in-mexico-raising-questions/
