Premier Launches BS IV Compliant Rio at 4.9 Lakhs

Published: Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 15:00 [IST]

Premier, the Indian carmaker famous for cars such as the premier Padmini is now building the Rio compact SUV. The SUV was launched last year with a diesel engine. Rio launched the cheaper petrol variant in September. However the petrol engine was only BS III compliant and hence a BS IV variant has now been launched at a price of RS.4.9 lakhs.

The new petrol engine is a 1.2-litre motor that is capable of generating 75.5bhp and 103.9Nm of torque. Premier has claimed the Rio petrol will offer a mileage of 15kmpl which is one kilometre lower than the diesel variant's mileage of 16kmpl. The Rio petrol has all the equipments that are available in the diesel variant.

While Chinese carmaker's are famous for copying designs of European and American car designs, premier appears to be following the Chinese as the Rio appears to be a copy of a Chinese SUV called Zotye. The Rio is a proper SUV with its high ground clearance. However its length of less than four metres makes it an inexpensive SUV. Its tall look also makes it sporty.

The interiors are also done up well and the instrument cluster and layout is very easy to comprehend. The Rio will be available with four interior colour schemes. The front seats are spacious for two but the leg room seems a little cramped. The rear cabin is strictly for two adults. Anything more will be uncomfortable.

Premier has made the top end variants of the Rio a little more safer by adding ABS and EBD as standard. The Rio is one of the most affordable small SUVs in India but its sales are limited by the low number of dealers. Please find below the price list of the entire Rio petrol range.

Premier Rio Petrol GX (Grey interior) GLX (Grey interior) GX ( Beige interior) GLX (Beige interior)
Delhi Rs. 4.90 lakh Rs. 5.36 lakh Rs. 5.24 lakh Rs. 5.79 lakh
Mumbai Rs. 4.95 lakh Rs. 5.42 lakh Rs. 5.29 lakh Rs. 5.86 lakh
Chennai Rs. 5.02 lakh Rs. 5.49 lakh Rs. 5.36 lakh Rs. 5.92 lakh
Gurgaon Rs. 4.97 lakh Rs. 5.42 lakh Rs. 5.30 lakh Rs. 5.82 lakh

Article Published On: Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 15:00 [IST]

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