For all of those American buyers looking for the supreme bargain car, there’s a new choice showing up on American lots. The 2012 Kia Rio five-door subcompact is likely to turn heads, not just for its efficient engineering, but for another low price tag that could help Kia dominate this segment. Kia Motors announced September 26 that pricing for this trim of the popular subcompact will begin under $14,000. A Kia Rio with an additional feature package will start at $14,700. These prices are reduced from the last set of Kia Rio vehicles. Since last year’s models came out, the three LX, EX and SX Kia Rio trims have been re-engineered for 2012 to offer style changes, more modern features, and a lot of miles per gallon. This car is estimated to get up to 40 miles per gallon on highway, meeting the guidelines of the American government and saving customers a lot at the fuel pumps.

Fuel economy is just one part of what’s been put into the competitive 2012 Kia Rio, which features a lot of good technology for its market segment. Gasoline direct injection and Idle Stop and Go (ISG) features will contribute to the high mpg that this vehicle offers. 138 hp will move this small frame vehicle. Air-conditioning will be standard, along with items like electric power steering, CD/MP3 audio, and other conveniences for the road. Standard safety features include electronic stability control, antilock brakes and hill start assist.

With all of this packed into a low-priced, efficient package, the 2012 Kia Rio is likely to be one of many attractive choices that customers have as they ponder a new vehicle purchase on the 2012 market. For quite a while, this division of Korean auto maker Hyundai has been setting its sights on the competition, with cars that are popular not only with individual drivers but in rental fleets and business vehicle purchases. The new Rio is a small car with style, and one that offers its own unique combination of new technologies for the road. Look at how to get either the base or more tricked-out trims for this subcompact as it hits dealer’s lots, assessing the kinds of incentives and financing offers that Kia will throw out to attract more customers to its product line.