Kia Ray: which version to buy and why
The Kia Ray is one first-generation microvan with two restyles, not three separate generations. The buying choice is therefore between three named versions — 1.0 AT, 1.0 MT, and 1.0 CVT — and between the original 2011–2017 cars and the 2018 and 2022 restyles of the same generation. Every figure below is from the catalogue data; where a value is missing it is written as not measured.
The Kia Ray is one first-generation microvan with two restyles, not three separate generations. The buying choice is therefore between three named versions — 1.0 AT, 1.0 MT, and 1.0 CVT — and between the original 2011–2017 cars and the 2018 and 2022 restyles of the same generation. Every figure below is from the catalogue data; where a value is missing it is written as not measured.
Kia Ray specs by version: what actually differs
Across all years the body is Microvan, the engine displacement is 998 cc, the layout is Inline 3 with 4 valves per cylinder, drive is FWD, ground clearance is 160 mm, front brakes are Ventilated disc, rear brakes are Disc, front suspension is Independent, spring, and rear suspension is Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem. Fuel is 95. 0–100 km/h, top speed, tank size, wheel size, and gross weight are not measured on every version.
The arithmetic that matters for a buyer is power, torque, kerb weight, gearbox, injection, and boost.
| Version | Years | hp (kW) @ rpm | Nm @ rpm | cc | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 AT | 2011–2017 | 78 (57) @ 6400 | 94 @ 3500 | 998 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
| 1.0 MT | 2011–2017 | 78 (57) @ 6400 | 94 @ 3500 | 998 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 1.0 CVT | 2011–2017 | 106 (78) @ 6000 | 137 @ 1600 | 998 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | Turbo | Variable | FWD |
| 1.0 AT | 2018– | 78 (57) @ 6400 | 94 @ 3500 | 998 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Automatic 4 | FWD |
| 1.0 MT | 2018– | 78 (57) @ 6400 | 94 @ 3500 | 998 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | No | Manual 5 | FWD |
| 1.0 CVT | 2018– | 106 (77) @ 6000 | 137 @ 1600 | 998 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | Turbo | Variable | FWD |
| 1.0 AT | 2022-09– | 76 (55) @ 6400 | 94 @ 3500 | 998 | Gasoline | 3 Inline | not measured | Automatic 4 | FWD |
Same names in different years are not the same car. The 2011–2017 1.0 AT and the 2018 1.0 AT both make 78 hp, but injection changes from Distributed injection (multi-point) to Direct injection (direct). The 2022 1.0 AT keeps Direct injection (direct) and 94 Nm, but power falls to 76 hp / 55 kW. The 2011–2017 1.0 CVT is listed at 78 kW; the 2018 1.0 CVT is listed at 77 kW with the same 106 hp.
Kia Ray engine and horsepower: 78 hp vs 106 hp vs 76 hp
Engine size does not change: every Ray in this catalogue is 998 cc. Specific output does.
- Naturally aspirated 1.0 AT and 1.0 MT (2011–2017 and 2018): 78 hp from 998 cc → 78.2 hp per litre. Torque 94 Nm arrives at 3500 rpm.
- Turbo 1.0 CVT (2011–2017 and 2018): 106 hp from 998 cc → 106.2 hp per litre. That is 28 hp more than the 78 hp cars (+35.9%). Torque is 137 Nm at 1600 rpm — 43 Nm more (+45.7%) and 1900 rpm earlier.
- 2022 1.0 AT: 76 hp from 998 cc → 76.2 hp per litre. Versus the earlier 1.0 AT that is −2 hp (−2.6%) and −2 kW (57 kW → 55 kW). Peak torque stays 94 Nm at 3500 rpm.
If the search is “Kia Ray horsepower” or “Kia Ray 2012 horsepower”, the answer for 2011–2017 1.0 AT and 1.0 MT is 78 hp. If the search is “Kia Ray 2023 specs”, the only listed version is 1.0 AT at 76 hp. There is no 2025-only engine in this data: the second restyle still lists 1.0 AT from 2022-09 with no stop date.
Boost is No on 2011–2017 and 2018 1.0 AT / 1.0 MT. Boost is Turbo on both 1.0 CVT cars. Boost on the 2022 1.0 AT is not measured — do not assume it is the same as the earlier 78 hp 1.0 AT.
Kia Ray weight: kg per horsepower
Kerb weight is measured; gross weight is not measured on any version.
- 1.0 AT and 1.0 MT, all years listed: 998 kg kerb. At 78 hp that is 12.79 kg per hp. At 76 hp (2022 1.0 AT) that is 13.13 kg per hp — 0.34 kg/hp heavier per unit of power with the same 998 kg.
- 1.0 CVT, both listed periods: 1070 kg kerb. That is 72 kg more than the 998 kg cars (+7.2%). At 106 hp it is 10.09 kg per hp — 2.70 kg/hp lighter per unit of power than the 78 hp 998 kg cars.
The extra 72 kg on 1.0 CVT is more than offset in power-to-weight by the extra 28 hp. The 2022 1.0 AT does not get a weight cut to match the 2 hp drop: mass stays 998 kg.
Ground clearance is 160 mm on every version. Tank size is not measured. Wheel sizes are not measured. Interior dimensions and exterior size are not measured in this dataset — a “Kia Ray dimensions” query cannot be answered with millimetres here.
Kia Ray mpg and fuel use: only 1.0 CVT is measured
City, highway, and mixed consumption are not measured on 1.0 AT or 1.0 MT in any year. They are measured only on 1.0 CVT:
- City 7.4
- Highway 6.9
- Mixed 7.2
Those three numbers are the same for 2011–2017 1.0 CVT and 2018 1.0 CVT. Mixed 7.2 is 0.2 above highway 6.9 and 0.2 below city 7.4. There is no mpg conversion in the source data; do not invent one. CO2 and eco class are not measured. Engine oil capacity is not measured.
Choosing 1.0 AT or 1.0 MT because they “must use less fuel” is not supported: those figures are not measured. Choosing 1.0 CVT because consumption is known is supported: 7.4 / 6.9 / 7.2 is the only economy set in the catalogue.
Gearbox: 4-speed Automatic vs 5-speed Manual vs Variable
The three names are the whole gearbox map.
- 1.0 AT: Automatic, 4 gears, every generation slice including 2022.
- 1.0 MT: Manual, 5 gears, 2011–2017 and 2018. Not listed after the second restyle.
- 1.0 CVT: Variable, gear count not measured, 2011–2017 and 2018. Not listed after the second restyle.
If the buyer wants a clutch, the only listed car is 1.0 MT at 78 hp / 94 Nm / 998 kg. If the buyer wants Automatic, 1.0 AT is the only Automatic; it is also the only version still listed from 2022-09. If the buyer wants the 106 hp Turbo engine, it is locked to Variable 1.0 CVT and is not in the second restyle list.
First generation vs restyling 1 vs restyling 2: what changed
2011–2017 (3 versions). Injection on all three is Distributed injection (multi-point). 1.0 AT and 1.0 MT share 78 hp / 57 kW / 94 Nm / No boost / 998 kg. 1.0 CVT is the outlier: Turbo, 106 hp / 78 kW, 137 Nm at 1600 rpm, 1070 kg, Variable, consumption 7.4 / 6.9 / 7.2.
2018 restyling 1 (still 3 versions). Power, torque, weight, clearance, and gearboxes match the first period except 1.0 CVT kilowatts: 78 kW → 77 kW (−1 kW) at the same 106 hp. The structural change is injection: all three 2018 versions use Direct injection (direct). For a used-car buyer comparing a 2017 1.0 AT with a 2018 1.0 AT, horsepower is identical (78); the labelled difference is multi-point versus Direct injection (direct).
2022-09 restyling 2 (1 version). Catalogue count drops from 3 to 1. Only 1.0 AT remains. Power 76 hp / 55 kW, torque still 94 Nm at 3500 rpm, Direct injection (direct), Automatic 4, FWD, 998 kg, 160 mm. 1.0 MT and 1.0 CVT are not listed. Relative to 2018 1.0 AT: −2 hp, −2 kW, same 94 Nm, same 998 kg, same 4-speed Automatic. Relative to 2018 1.0 CVT: −30 hp (106 → 76, −28.3%), −43 Nm (137 → 94, −31.4%), −72 kg (1070 → 998), and a switch from Variable Turbo to 4-speed Automatic.
A 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2017 specs search therefore points at the three-version first period. A 2023 specs search points at the single 76 hp 1.0 AT. There is no Ray EV, no USA-market split, and no Soul comparison table in this data.
Which Kia Ray version to choose
Choose 2011–2017 or 2018 1.0 CVT if the priority is power and measured consumption. It is the only Turbo Ray here. 106 hp vs 78 hp is +28 hp; 137 Nm vs 94 Nm is +43 Nm, available 1900 rpm sooner; kg/hp is 10.09 vs 12.79. Mixed use is measured at 7.2. Cost of that package in hardware: +72 kg kerb, Variable instead of a geared box, and this version disappears from the 2022 list. 2011–2017 1.0 CVT is 78 kW; 2018 1.0 CVT is 77 kW at the same 106 hp — if kilowatts are the tie-break, the earlier 1.0 CVT is 1 kW higher.
Choose 1.0 MT if the priority is a Manual and the lowest listed kerb among the 78 hp cars. Engine match with 1.0 AT: 78 hp, 57 kW, 94 Nm, 998 cc, No boost, 998 kg, 160 mm. Difference is gearbox only: Manual 5 vs Automatic 4. Injection is multi-point through 2017 and Direct injection (direct) from 2018. 1.0 MT is not in the 2022 restyle. Consumption, 0–100, and top speed are not measured.
Choose 1.0 AT if the priority is Automatic and the longest listed availability. It is the only Automatic Ray and the only version after 2022-09. 2011–2017 and 2018 1.0 AT: 78 hp / 57 kW / 94 Nm / 998 kg. 2022 1.0 AT: 76 hp / 55 kW / 94 Nm / 998 kg. Same 4 gears, same FWD, same 160 mm. The 2022 car is 2 hp and 2 kW down at unchanged mass, so 13.13 kg/hp instead of 12.79. Injection is multi-point to 2017, Direct injection (direct) from 2018 and 2022. Boost on the 2022 1.0 AT is not measured. Consumption, 0–100, top speed, tank, and wheels are not measured.
Do not choose between AT and MT on fuel or acceleration — those numbers are not measured on either. Do not choose the 2022 restyle for more power — it is the weakest listed 1.0 AT (76 vs 78 hp) and it drops 1.0 CVT. Do not treat the 2018 restyle as a new engine size — displacement stays 998 cc; the labelled change is Direct injection (direct).
Reliability and problems: what this catalogue does not measure
There is no failure-rate, oil-capacity, or service-interval field in the data. Engine oil capacity is not measured. A buyer comparing restyles can only use what is listed: injection type, kilowatts on 1.0 CVT (78 vs 77), and the 2 hp cut on 2022 1.0 AT. Claims about “Kia Ray problems” beyond those spec changes are outside this source.
Short rule from the numbers. Want 106 hp, 137 Nm, Turbo, and the only mpg-style figures (7.4 / 6.9 / 7.2): 1.0 CVT (2011–2017 or 2018). Want a clutch at 78 hp and 998 kg: 1.0 MT. Want Automatic and a car still listed after 2022-09: 1.0 AT, accepting 76 hp on the second restyle instead of 78 hp earlier.