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THE COMPACT SUV PREMIER RIOPremier Rio is a compact SUV and by far the cheapest SUV in India. The 5 seater SUV has many goodies like air conditioning, alloy wheels, electrically adjustable ORVMs, remote central locking, ABS, Split fold rear seats, etc despite its affordable price range. The rugged off-roader with high ground clearance has no competitor as such, but car honchos like Ford, Mahindra and Renault are gearing up to throw their cards which can excite the compact SUV segment.
Premier Automobile which sold Premier Padmini taxi exited the industry long back. However, the company bounced back in 2011 with its Rio SUV. Rio is not a result of extensive research or manufacturing capabilities of Premier Auto, but a product developed jointly by Chinese firm Zotye and Premier. Nomad, a SUV popular in China, was rebranded as Rio and put on shelves for Indian customers. However, people’s reaction towards this new entrant was relatively feeble. Actually, spectators noticed Chinese elements in the design of Rio which could not allow Rio to garner much sale. Therefore Premier revamped its Sports Utility Vehicle with few design changes in 2012. New variants in the name of Premier Rio+ have been introduced in the market which boasts of beige interiors whole new front face, etc. Rio + was first displayed at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi.
Premier Rio SUV is now available in petrol and diesel variants to rule across the rugged terrains. The diesel unit is packed with a 1.5L, 1489cc, Turbo diesel engine that produces 65PS of maximum power at 4000rpm with 152Nm of maximum torque at 2250rpm. While Premier Rio petrol SUV has a four cylinder 1173cc, 77 PS power engine under the hood. Both the engines deliver high performance. The diesel 1.5L, 1489cc Turbo diesel engine makes Premier Rio able to deliver great acceleration with excellent fuel efficiency. Premier Rio petrol runs freely in Tier 1 cities because of its compliance to BSIV emission norms while the diesel Rio finds customers only in Tier 2 and 3 cities.
Premier Rio is a small SUV model which is powered by comparatively lesser powered engines in comparison to the other available SUVs so it also lacks in terms of acceleration and overall engine performance but its highly competitive price tag attracts many customers as it is the cheapest SUV in Indian auto market. The maximum power that Premier Rio delivers and its overall acceleration seem like any hatchback car. Premier Rio is a compact SUV and its overall size is much less than other SUVs. It is 3.9 meters in length and its total width is 1.55 meters which is much less for any vehicle that comes under SUV segment but still it appeals to many customers who have to run more in city as its compact size will surely offer comfortable driving experience in city traffic. The 15 inch alloy wheels help the SUV to stick to the road, however harsh it is. The interior design of Premier Rio is impressive and its flexible interiors offer good luggage space inside the vehicle.
The dealers and service centres for Rio are different from those dealers who currently sell Premier commercial vehicles – Premier Roadstar and Premier Sigma.
Premier Rio Models
Premier Rio Petrol Models
| This is the petrol driven Premier Rio. It has 77PS, 1173cc naturally aspirated engine. This is BSIV compliant. It measures 1080 kg in weight and is equipped with steel wheels, seat belts, child locks, brake assist, FM, etc. | |
| This is again the petrol driven variant of Premier Rio and has all the features similar to Premier Rio LX (diesel). This is also BSIV compliant and comes with keyless entry, ABS with EBD, FM/CD player and alloy wheels. | |
| This is the new model with new elements at exteriors like turn indicators on ORVMs, new headlights, bumper, etc and beige interiors with new steering. | |
| This is the top end model with beige interiors and changes like new double barrel headlamps with bulges, alloy wheels, new front grill with a little chrome, a fresh front bumper, a chin spoiler and new fog lamps, etc. | |
Premier Rio Diesel Models
| This base diesel variant offers some additional features like Leather Seats, Rear Washer and Wiper, headlamp leveling device, electrically operated ORVMs, tinted glass windows, etc. It is powered by a 1489 cc 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine compliant to BSIII emission norms. | |
| It is the base variant of Premier Rio which is powered by the same capacity diesel engine as its other siblings but it lacks when we talk about luxuries. | |
| It is the top end variant of Premier Rio diesel that comes with some additional features that are alloy wheels, FM/CD Player, advanced Music System, Fog Lamps, ABS and EBD. | |
| Rio plus is the newly introduced variant with features like body colored side cladding and wheel arches, turn indicators on ORVMs, rear sporty spoiler, spare wheel with cover, etc | |
| This is also the diesel variant with same 1489 cc engine that coincide with Premier Rio Plus LX except alloy wheels which come as extra fitment. |
Premier Rio Mileage
Seeking mileage delivery from any SUV would be unjust but in this aspect Premier Rio SUV drives past most of its rivals in the segment. With BSIII technology powered engine, we can very well expect that it has to be frugal. With the 4 cylinder petrol engine the Premier Rio SUV delivers a fuel efficiency of 12.5 kmpl. As per ARAI, the mileage of the Premier Rio petrol is 16 kmpl. The 1489cc diesel engine offers a mileage of 12 kmpl. The SUV is mated with 5-speed manual gearbox to provide the enough power on every gearshift. The diesel powered Premier Rio is BSIII compliant while the petrol Rio is BSIV compliant.Power of Premier Rio
Premier Rio is available in petrol and diesel variants. The petrol variant of Premier Rio is packed with a 4 cylinder engine which has a displacement of 1173cc. The engine is capable of generating maximum power of 77 PS @ 5800 rpm and a peak torque of 104 Nm @ 3500-4000 rpm.On the other hand the Premier Rio diesel is powered by a 4 cylinder engine that has a displacement of 1489cc. This diesel engine is has fixed geometry turbo charger air charging system. The diesel engine is capable of producing peak power of 65 PS @ 4000 rpm and maximum torque of 152 Nm at 2250-3000 rpm.
Premier Rio Colours
These colors are available with all variants of Premier Rio
Brick Red
Royal Black
Tefeta White
Sleek Silver
Cool Blue
Brick Red
Royal Black
Tefeta White
Sleek Silver
Cool Blue
Acceleration & Pick-Up
As far as acceleration of Premier Rio is concerned, both the petrol and diesel variants are blessed with a five speed manual gearbox. The petrol variant of the SUV has an acceleration that crosses the speed of 100 kmph from zero in 18 seconds. The Premier Rio petrol is powered by a 4 cylinder engine which has a displacement of 1173cc whereas thediesel variant accelerates to 100kmph in just 19 secondswith its 4 cylinder 1489cc engine. Premier Rio SUV reaches a top speed of 145 kmph.Premier Rio Exteriors
View
With simple looks, new Premier Rio misses on its X-Factor. Still, many buyers will take home this car for its exterior looks but yes, pricing is also a plus. On the front view, simple flat headlamps with a leveling device are given with new Premier Rio. Internally adjustable ORVMs make their way to the compact SUV. Three-spoke alloy wheels with tubeless radial tyres are provided in Premier Rio with dimensions 205 / 70 R15. Windscreen wiper with 2-speed and 1 speed intermittent is present in Premier Rio. Body color bumpers are missing with a happening grille but no chrome makes it look like an affordable and commoner SUV.
On the sides, the 5-seater SUV looks elongated. Indicator lights are placed below the impact line. Tinted glass windows can be seen on sides. Side view mirrors share their color with the body but new Premier Rio is devoid of body color door handles. Black colored B-Pillars are present-again which takes out sheen from the SUV.
The rear space is occupied by tailgate with key type opening. Large thin combined tail lamps are there with side claddings. For comfortable ride in unfavorable weather, rear fog lamps and rear demister are provided. New Premier Rio has rear wiper with rear washer. There is not much difference in the front track and rear track of the SUV i.e. 1305 and 1310 mm respectively suggesting that overall the Premier Rio looks same from front to rear. All in all okay exteriors with rear of Premier Rio looking better than front end.
Since the company received bad response from audience about exteriors of Premier Rio, the company added a facelift of Rio which is far better looking than normal Rio. New bulging double barrel headlamps, new front grill with a tinch of chrome, a fresh front bumper, a chin spoiler and new fog lamps. On the side profile, Premier has upgraded the jazzy plastic side body cladding and wheel arches with body colored ones. The turn indicators are fitted on the ORVMs. No side step is given on Rio+ making entry difficult. The rear side is also full of changes like fully covered spare wheel and sporty spoiler with integrated brake lights. The Rio+ will is offered along with Rio in market.
Exterior Measurements
Premier Rio is a five-seater compact SUV and accommodates 5 adults comfortably. Measuring 3970 mm in length, Rio draws the tax benefits of being less than four meter. Premier Rio width is 1570 mm and it has a height of 1730 mm. The Premier Rio diesel car has a Kerb weight of 1145 kg while the petrol variant is a little lighter and weighs 1080 kg. Rio has a wheelbase of 2420 mm and turning circle radius is 4.7 m. It has a high ground clearance of 200mm that is enough to take on the challenges of any road of off road conditions. It has a fuel tank capacity of 46 litres.
On the sides, the 5-seater SUV looks elongated. Indicator lights are placed below the impact line. Tinted glass windows can be seen on sides. Side view mirrors share their color with the body but new Premier Rio is devoid of body color door handles. Black colored B-Pillars are present-again which takes out sheen from the SUV.
The rear space is occupied by tailgate with key type opening. Large thin combined tail lamps are there with side claddings. For comfortable ride in unfavorable weather, rear fog lamps and rear demister are provided. New Premier Rio has rear wiper with rear washer. There is not much difference in the front track and rear track of the SUV i.e. 1305 and 1310 mm respectively suggesting that overall the Premier Rio looks same from front to rear. All in all okay exteriors with rear of Premier Rio looking better than front end.
Since the company received bad response from audience about exteriors of Premier Rio, the company added a facelift of Rio which is far better looking than normal Rio. New bulging double barrel headlamps, new front grill with a tinch of chrome, a fresh front bumper, a chin spoiler and new fog lamps. On the side profile, Premier has upgraded the jazzy plastic side body cladding and wheel arches with body colored ones. The turn indicators are fitted on the ORVMs. No side step is given on Rio+ making entry difficult. The rear side is also full of changes like fully covered spare wheel and sporty spoiler with integrated brake lights. The Rio+ will is offered along with Rio in market.
Exterior Measurements
Premier Rio is a five-seater compact SUV and accommodates 5 adults comfortably. Measuring 3970 mm in length, Rio draws the tax benefits of being less than four meter. Premier Rio width is 1570 mm and it has a height of 1730 mm. The Premier Rio diesel car has a Kerb weight of 1145 kg while the petrol variant is a little lighter and weighs 1080 kg. Rio has a wheelbase of 2420 mm and turning circle radius is 4.7 m. It has a high ground clearance of 200mm that is enough to take on the challenges of any road of off road conditions. It has a fuel tank capacity of 46 litres.
Premier Rio Interior
View
The Premium Rio SUV despite compact size is endowed with spacious interiors with adjustable seating layout to provide roomier cargo space. The car interiors are refurbished with gray interiors and fabric upholstery that provides a seating arrangement for 5 passengers. The instrument panel find its way behind the three spoke power steering and four AC vents - two on each side and another two in the center to provide a fair flow of air in all directions for occupants’ comfort. An MP3 player with AM/FM radio occupies the central position to soothe the users with melodious music.
In Premier Rio+, the car maker has played with the color theme of the SUV. The style quotient is high in these variants with beige interiors and a fresh steering wheel with chrome touch on it. The dashboard however is made of same gray plastic. Steering wheel has extra padding for palms at the 10 and 2 positions. The ORVMs are electrically adjusted in Premier Rio+. It has Nippon aftermarket stereo with USB and USB compatibility.
Interior Comfort
The SUV offers supreme comfort and can easily accommodate five passengers with split foldable rear seats to provide more boot space for luggage. The leather seat covers are offered in the DX variant of the SUV. The front seats and the rear seats are provided with the adjustable head restraints and tinted glasses to provide maximum comfort during long drives. The other features include front door trim pockets, a cup holder and removable ashtray. The high seats are provided for better road visibility and a door-ajar warning lamp to ensure safety while driving along with electric OVRMs. The digital clock, speaker with MP3 player and radio are mounted on the central console panel. However, front power windows can be operated from a switch which is mounted on the door and not on the armrest which is not very usual. Thus, using the switch does take time to get used to.
Interior Measurements
Being a compact SUV, Premier Rio does not have a lot of space inside. The compact SUV has handsome legroom, shoulder room and elbow room at the front and being an SUV it has high headroom. The rear passengers also have enough head and legroom even after the compact size of the SUV. The boot space is quite ample at the rear of the car and because the rear seats fold flat, it can be further increased. A small light in the luggage space makes loading and searching simple when it is dark.
Premier Rio Engine and Performance
The Premium brand’s compact SUV Premium Rio is now available in petrol and diesel engine variants. However, Premium Rio with most economic price does not house as powerful engine as any other SUVs in the market.
The petrol variant of Premium Rio has a 1.2 L 1173 cc 4-cylinder MPFI engine under the hood to churn a top power of 77 Bhp @ 5000 rpm and top torque of 104 Nm @ 3500-4000 rpm. The 5-speed manual gearbox enables smooth transmission of gears in high traffic zones. The compact SUV’s petrol avatar provides an ARAI certified decent mileage of 16 kmpl. The SUV is capable of accelerating to 100 kmph in 18 sec.
The Diesel variant of Premium Rio is powered by a 1.5L 1489 cc turbo diesel engine to produce a peak power of 65 PS @ 4000 rpm and 152 Nm 2250-3000 rpm. The diesel variant also comes well mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox to provide a mileage of 12 kmpl on urban roads and 16 kmpl on the highways. The diesel variant can reach 0-100km in 19 sec at a top speed of 145 kmph.
The petrol variant of Premium Rio has a 1.2 L 1173 cc 4-cylinder MPFI engine under the hood to churn a top power of 77 Bhp @ 5000 rpm and top torque of 104 Nm @ 3500-4000 rpm. The 5-speed manual gearbox enables smooth transmission of gears in high traffic zones. The compact SUV’s petrol avatar provides an ARAI certified decent mileage of 16 kmpl. The SUV is capable of accelerating to 100 kmph in 18 sec.
The Diesel variant of Premium Rio is powered by a 1.5L 1489 cc turbo diesel engine to produce a peak power of 65 PS @ 4000 rpm and 152 Nm 2250-3000 rpm. The diesel variant also comes well mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox to provide a mileage of 12 kmpl on urban roads and 16 kmpl on the highways. The diesel variant can reach 0-100km in 19 sec at a top speed of 145 kmph.
Wheels
The all new Premier Rio has a wheelbase in both diesel and petrol variants measuring 2420 mm. The car is rear wheel driven and is equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels. The tyres size measures up to 205/70 R15 in both variants. There are tubeless Radial tyres on Premier Rio to give it the perfect grip on and off-road. Added to it the turning radius is 4.7 m and Rio has 200 mm of ground clearance.Braking & Handling
Similar to the diesel variant already in market, Premium Rio petrol is also loaded with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) which will avoid the wheels from locking up and thus preventing skidding. Adding to the technology, disc brakes are there on the front wheels. Unlike front, Drum type brakes are there at the rear wheels since most of the stopping force is generated by the front brakes of the vehicle and therefore the heat generated in the rear is significantly less. Premium Rio petrol comes equipped with Brake Assist that helps maintain the intensity of braking and assists in halting the car in times of panic braking. Overall, Premium Rio petrol displays descent braking system and performs pretty well during application of emergency brakes.With Mc Pherson Strut and coil spring front suspension and 5 rod system as rear suspension Premium Rio exhibits good handling like any reputable car does. Premium Rio has good ground clearance and turning circle radius of 4.7 m which will provide the driver with ease in handling the SUV during sharp turns also.
Handling & Safety
Handling Premier Rio is quite easy. Power steering and good suspension makes handling effortless. Albeit with a price tag of Rs 4.7 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), Premier Rio has not compromised much with the safety of the car. Although much importance is not given to safety in Indian cars, an SUV ought to have safety features because of its huge size. Realizing this, new Premier Rio comes with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) coupled with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) for emergency braking. Standard seat belts with even rear seat belts and 3-point ELR in front with pretensioners are present. These features were present in diesel variant also and the company has included them in petrol versions now. Rear door child lock sounds interesting with new Premier Rio. High mounted stop lamps and side impact beams helps to prevent collisions in new Premier Rio. The compact SUV comes with brake assist feature. Last but not the least new Premier Rio features keyless entry, now becoming a very important and time-saving concept for Indians.
Stereo & Accessories in Premier Rio
Premier Rio DX and GX have factory fitted music system with AM/FM radio player and four speakers. While Premier Rio LX and Premier Rio GLX have an audio player that plays FM as well as CDs. The new Rio Plus comes with an aftermarket stereo from Nippon which has USB and AUX compatibility. Roof Rails are optional on Premier Rio Lx and Premier Rio GLX.
You can now buy . Great discounts available.
Pros & Cons
Premier Rio Pros :
Compact size to offer comfortable driving experience in urban traffic, price.
Compact size to offer comfortable driving experience in urban traffic, price.
Premier Rio Cons :
Might be maintenance
Might be maintenance
Premier Rio Specifications
Premier Rio Variants
| Variants | Transmission | Engine Description | Mileage | Power | AC | Power Steering | Central Locking | |
| City | Highway | |||||||
| (Petrol) | Manual | 1173cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 13.0 | 15.0 | 76.6 ps(56.3 kW) @ 5800 rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Petrol) | Manual | 1173cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 13.0 | 15.0 | 76.6 ps(56.3 kW) @ 5800 rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Petrol) | Manual | 1173cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 13.0 | 15.0 | 76.6 ps(56.3 kW) @ 5800 rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Petrol) | Manual | 1173cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 13.0 | 15.0 | 76.6 ps(56.3 kW) @ 5800 rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Petrol) | Manual | 1173cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 13.0 | 15.0 | 76.6 ps(56.3 kW) @ 5800 rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Petrol) | Manual | 1173cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 13.0 | 15.0 | 76.6 ps(56.3 kW) @ 5800 rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Diesel) | Manual | 1489cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 12.0 | 16.0 | 64.8PS @ 4000rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Diesel) | Manual | 1489cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 12.0 | 16.0 | 64.8PS @ 4000rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Diesel) | Manual | 1489cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 12.0 | 16.0 | 64.8PS @ 4000rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Diesel) | Manual | 1489cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 12.0 | 16.0 | 65PS @ 4000rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| (Diesel) | Manual | 1489cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve | 12.0 | 16.0 | 65PS @ 4000rpm | Standard | Standard | Standard |
Premier Rio Price
Premier Rio Variants Price
| Variants | New Delhi | Bangalore | Mumbai | Chennai | Pune | Hyderabad | Kolkata | |
| (Petrol) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| (Petrol) | 5,00,000 | 4,97,000 | 5,06,000 | 5,12,000 | 4,79,000 | 5,07,000 | 5,12,000 | |
| (Petrol) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| (Diesel) | 5,61,234 | - | 5,68,623 | - | 5,25,000 | 5,75,000 | - | |
| (Petrol) | 5,47,000 | 5,44,000 | 5,55,000 | 5,59,000 | 5,25,000 | 5,54,000 | 5,60,000 | |
| (Diesel) | 6,33,979 | - | 6,43,639 | - | 5,95,000 | 6,49,000 | - | |
| (Diesel) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| (Diesel) | 5,87,215 | - | 5,95,415 | - | 5,50,000 | 6,01,000 | - | |
| (Diesel) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| (Petrol) | 6,31,000 | 6,27,000 | 6,41,000 | 6,45,000 | 6,07,000 | 6,40,000 | 6,44,000 | |
| (Petrol) | 6,59,000 | 6,55,000 | 6,70,000 | 6,73,000 | 6,35,000 | 6,68,000 | 6,72,000 |
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