2018 Kia RioReview & Road Test
As a spoiled automotive journalists I
drive a lot of fancy cars. The Kia Rio is not one of them. The subcompact Rio isn't filled with dazzling features, doesn't inspire envy in strangers, and it's not
a pioneer of automotive technology. But it is cheap transportation.
Judged as
such how does the Rio stack up? Much better than you'd think.
To start, it drives surprisingly well. Moving at a brisk pace, vague on-center
field means frequent steering corrections at higher speeds. But at
slower speeds or when cornering the steering provides decent feedback and
just the right amount of resistance...
Sound effects included. For a subcompact, ride quality is good. The Rio's handling abilities are well within the scope of
acceptability for all but the most obnoxiously scrutinizing drivers. See she
totally pushes at the limit.
The Rio's 1.6-Liter engine produces more
noise than acceleration but around town it moves just fine and I'm not filled
with fear when merging on the freeway, which is good because I need my fear for
things like killer bees and the fourth season the Fuller House. Given its modest power you might expect stellar fuel economy from the Rio. It is efficient but not
amazingly so, landing mid-pack among sub-compacts. For perspective, the mid-sized
Toyota Camry L trim is actually more efficient than the Rio according to the
EPA.
Strange, huh? Like most value-priced cars
the Kia Rio can be loud on the freeway, especially around the windshield region but the noise is never overwhelming. Beyond that, the Rio's small size makes
parking easy, the brakes deliver surprisingly good bite and feedback, the
automatic transmission shifts competently responding to throttle
inputs without delay, and the driver enjoys clear sight lines in all
directions. Focus your attention inward and the hard plastic-clad cabin sports a
simple, hip, pleasing design. Put another way, though inexpensive, the Rio doesn't
visually torment you with its cheapness.
Up front, comparative spaciousness and a generally comfortable driving position make the Rio a more than agreeable
commuter. I'm commuting. Wow! As you probably guessed the rear seats are less
welcoming. My head and knees barely clear but they do clear.
Thankfully there's
enough space under the front seat that my feet do not feel cramped and the seat
back is comfortably soft. As an average American male, I dub the Rio's rear
quarters 100% inhabitable. Okay, the middle spot is less inhabitable
and cramming three aboard is just a bad idea but once more, for the price, this
ain't half bad. Same deal with the trunk.
For a subcompact, 13.7 Cubic feet is good
but what's more impressive is how it's finished. Oftentimes car makers will
cheap-out in this area but the plastics and the materials all feel pretty good.
Primo trunk n'. For more serious cargo hauling choose the Rio hatchback, which
offers superior cargo volume and .6 Inches more rear seat headroom for a
four hundred dollar premium versus the sedan. For less than fifteen thousand dollars, including destination charges, a base Rio LX includes air conditioning, six airbags,
a USB port, a long 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a manual
transmission.
Budget an extra $1,100 if you'd like an automatic transmission on
your LX or, better yet, move up from the base trim and the automatic transmission
comes standard. Speaking of, choose the mid-level S trim
or higher if you'd like 60/40 split rear seats on the sedan. Go hatchback and
folding seats are standard across the board. The roughly $17,000 S trim also
ditches old-school cranks or properly civilized power windows and adds cruise
control, Bluetooth, a backup camera, a second USB port, and a center console
with a sliding armrest.
At the peak of Rio mountain sits the EX trim with its
15 inch alloy wheels, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, rear disc
brakes, automatic emergency braking, and excellent seven-inch touchscreen that
replaces the base car's 5-inch audio display. Once again, for a car this cheap
the Rio's UVO 3 infotainment system works great. The available Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto spring to life immediately when you connect your phone, the
touchscreen is super responsive, and the menus are essential to navigate. Spec a Rio EX sedan with leather-accented seats and the MSRP rings in a little less than $20,000.
That's not a
crazy sum but even at maximum swankiness the Rio still doesn't include power
seats or an exterior trunk release. More critically, for just a few hundred
dollars more you could buy a much roomier, more efficient, more
sophisticated Honda Civic LX with a continuously variable transmission,
adaptive cruise control, and Lane Keeping Assist. Stick with the proper competitive
set and though pricier than the Rio in base form the Honda Fit is notably
roomier and has better resale values, the Chevy Sonic has more standard airbags, 10 to be exact, and the Toyota Yaris has the notable claim of being a Toyota. If purchase price overshadows all the Ford Fiesta's base MSRP lands south of
$15,000, the Nissan Versa Sedan provides elemental travel for less than $13,000,
and the Mitsubishi Mirage is also a car.
Not everybody wants to drive something
that's small and cheap but for those who appreciate practicality and value a car
like the Kia Rio is awesome, especially since it consistently exceeds your
expectations. Times have changed. These days, if you want to make the
practical choice it doesn't have to hurt. .
drive a lot of fancy cars. The Kia Rio is not one of them. The subcompact Rio isn't filled with dazzling features, doesn't inspire envy in strangers, and it's not
a pioneer of automotive technology. But it is cheap transportation.
Judged as
such how does the Rio stack up? Much better than you'd think.
To start, it drives surprisingly well. Moving at a brisk pace, vague on-center
field means frequent steering corrections at higher speeds. But at
slower speeds or when cornering the steering provides decent feedback and
just the right amount of resistance...
Sound effects included. For a subcompact, ride quality is good. The Rio's handling abilities are well within the scope of
acceptability for all but the most obnoxiously scrutinizing drivers. See she
totally pushes at the limit.
The Rio's 1.6-Liter engine produces more
noise than acceleration but around town it moves just fine and I'm not filled
with fear when merging on the freeway, which is good because I need my fear for
things like killer bees and the fourth season the Fuller House. Given its modest power you might expect stellar fuel economy from the Rio. It is efficient but not
amazingly so, landing mid-pack among sub-compacts. For perspective, the mid-sized
Toyota Camry L trim is actually more efficient than the Rio according to the
EPA.
Strange, huh? Like most value-priced cars
the Kia Rio can be loud on the freeway, especially around the windshield region but the noise is never overwhelming. Beyond that, the Rio's small size makes
parking easy, the brakes deliver surprisingly good bite and feedback, the
automatic transmission shifts competently responding to throttle
inputs without delay, and the driver enjoys clear sight lines in all
directions. Focus your attention inward and the hard plastic-clad cabin sports a
simple, hip, pleasing design. Put another way, though inexpensive, the Rio doesn't
visually torment you with its cheapness.
Up front, comparative spaciousness and a generally comfortable driving position make the Rio a more than agreeable
commuter. I'm commuting. Wow! As you probably guessed the rear seats are less
welcoming. My head and knees barely clear but they do clear.
Thankfully there's
enough space under the front seat that my feet do not feel cramped and the seat
back is comfortably soft. As an average American male, I dub the Rio's rear
quarters 100% inhabitable. Okay, the middle spot is less inhabitable
and cramming three aboard is just a bad idea but once more, for the price, this
ain't half bad. Same deal with the trunk.
For a subcompact, 13.7 Cubic feet is good
but what's more impressive is how it's finished. Oftentimes car makers will
cheap-out in this area but the plastics and the materials all feel pretty good.
Primo trunk n'. For more serious cargo hauling choose the Rio hatchback, which
offers superior cargo volume and .6 Inches more rear seat headroom for a
four hundred dollar premium versus the sedan. For less than fifteen thousand dollars, including destination charges, a base Rio LX includes air conditioning, six airbags,
a USB port, a long 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a manual
transmission.
Budget an extra $1,100 if you'd like an automatic transmission on
your LX or, better yet, move up from the base trim and the automatic transmission
comes standard. Speaking of, choose the mid-level S trim
or higher if you'd like 60/40 split rear seats on the sedan. Go hatchback and
folding seats are standard across the board. The roughly $17,000 S trim also
ditches old-school cranks or properly civilized power windows and adds cruise
control, Bluetooth, a backup camera, a second USB port, and a center console
with a sliding armrest.
At the peak of Rio mountain sits the EX trim with its
15 inch alloy wheels, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, rear disc
brakes, automatic emergency braking, and excellent seven-inch touchscreen that
replaces the base car's 5-inch audio display. Once again, for a car this cheap
the Rio's UVO 3 infotainment system works great. The available Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto spring to life immediately when you connect your phone, the
touchscreen is super responsive, and the menus are essential to navigate. Spec a Rio EX sedan with leather-accented seats and the MSRP rings in a little less than $20,000.
That's not a
crazy sum but even at maximum swankiness the Rio still doesn't include power
seats or an exterior trunk release. More critically, for just a few hundred
dollars more you could buy a much roomier, more efficient, more
sophisticated Honda Civic LX with a continuously variable transmission,
adaptive cruise control, and Lane Keeping Assist. Stick with the proper competitive
set and though pricier than the Rio in base form the Honda Fit is notably
roomier and has better resale values, the Chevy Sonic has more standard airbags, 10 to be exact, and the Toyota Yaris has the notable claim of being a Toyota. If purchase price overshadows all the Ford Fiesta's base MSRP lands south of
$15,000, the Nissan Versa Sedan provides elemental travel for less than $13,000,
and the Mitsubishi Mirage is also a car.
Not everybody wants to drive something
that's small and cheap but for those who appreciate practicality and value a car
like the Kia Rio is awesome, especially since it consistently exceeds your
expectations. Times have changed. These days, if you want to make the
practical choice it doesn't have to hurt. .
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