Prior to the Paris Auto Show at the end of the month, Kia lifted the veils off its latest-generation Rio hatchback. Complete with a host of upgrades and styling changes, the new model promises to be better than the outgoing model in every way.

At this stage, the automaker has only revealed the Rio in its run-of-the-mill five door guise but down the road, it’s inevitable that a three-door Rio will be offered in some markets. As imagined here by Theophilus Chin, it could look quite good.

Compared to the outgoing car, the new Rio is 15 mm longer, 5 mm wider and 5 mm shorter. Thanks to these changes as well as the 10 mm stretch in the vehicle’s wheelbase, interior room has improved slightly.

For the three-door model, passenger room at the rear would decrease slightly but we think the styling of the new Rio lends itself better to a three-door shape. It’s then a matter of whether you prefer styling or practicality.

When the car will launch is anyone’s guess, but the 2017 Geneva Auto Show is a (very) likely candidate if you ask us.

PHOTO GALLERY