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SEOUL – Chalk up another win for Kia with the ’12 Rio subcompact, one of the last models to be restyled under a product renaissance that has seen the brand transformed from cheap to chic in just 2.5 years.

Starting with the quirky Soul in 2009 through the Sorento and Sportage cross/utility vehicles in 2010 and this year’s launch of the Optima midsize sedan, Kia has been on fire.

The auto maker claims the Rio leads the segment in many categories, albeit some shared with its Hyundai sister-brand’s Accent, including class-leading horsepower and torque, fuel economy and interior quality.

The differences between the two subcompacts are more pronounced today than in the past, each with its own sheetmetal, interior styling and on-road demeanor.

The Rio has an uncluttered European look, reflecting the influence of chief designer Peter Schreyer, most recently with Audi/Volkswagen.

Where the Accent has vertical taillights, the Rio’s are horizontal, emphasizing the width of the vehicle. Stepping up to the Rio’s SX sport grade nets buyers dual chrome exhaust tips. A spoiler is standard across all grades, including the base LX.

The new Rio sports Kia’s signature tiger-nose grille, now found on all models except the aging Sedona minivan. The nose is small and thin, with the large lower grille the visual focus in front. Notched headlamps are trapezoidal – quickly becoming the shape du jour for that component – and contributes nicely to the styling.

The Korean auto makers appear to be taking a page from Volkswagen’s old playbook by swathing all interior surfaces with soft-touch material.