The European B-segment is losing some of its oldest nameplates. The Ford Fiesta is dead and the Volkswagen Polo also faces an uncertain future as the upcoming Euro 7 emissions standard will make it too expensive for automakers to develop small cars. Turns out the Kia Rio is also going to be discontinued according to a new report from Coach.
The publication says the South Korean supermini will leave the European and UK markets later this year, with the closely related Kia Stonic serving as a direct replacement in showrooms. The small model is still available in some European countries, including the UK, although you can’t specify your own fitment as Kia only sells from dealer stock.
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The Korean automaker delivered just 32,506 Rios to Europe last year, down 9% from the previous year. Changing customer demand for crossovers also forced Kia to make the decision to drop the Rio. “In addition to Rio development, Kia remains fully committed to the A and B ‘small car’ segments,” the company said. Coach in a report. As a reminder, the company also sells the Picanto in Europe, which is an A-segment vehicle.
Meanwhile, Kia still has the Rio on sale in the United States. The Rio sedan is the least expensive model with a starting price of just $16,750, while the five-door Rio starts at $17,690. Just above the Rio is the Forte with a starting price of $19,690.
Turning to the European B-segment, it looks like if the Euro 7 emissions standard comes into force in its intended form, it could effectively spell the end of small combustion engine cars on the continent. Volkswagen CEO Thomas warned in a recent interview that a subcompact hatchback could cost €3,000-5,000 more than it does today. As a result, Ford decided to kill off the Fiesta and just keep the Puma crossover, which shares the same platform.
