Kia’s smallest model is a great value and usually comes with incentives. Often overlooked because of its size, the Kia Rio supplies a roomy interior, excellent fuel economy, and an overall low cost of ownership. You also have a choice of sedan and five-door hatchback body styles.
What's New for 2017
Following a significant update in 2016, the 2017 Rio returns largely unchanged. New red and black color choices are available with the LX trim.
Choosing Your Kia Rio
Kia offers the sedan in LX ($14,165) and EX ($17,755) trims. The hatchback is available in LX ($15,495), EX ($17,905), and SX ($20,905) trims.
All 2017 Rios are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. Base sedan models are equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. The EX sedan and all hatchback models come paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This model makes an estimated 27 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.
Both models sit on a 101.2-inch wheelbase. However, the sedan measures 172 inches long overall to the hatchback’s 159.4 inches. The sedan has a 13.7 cubic foot trunk. The hatchback offers 15 cubic feet of standard storage space, expandable to 49.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.
The Rio 5-Door SX is our choice for this small model as it offers such amenities uncommon to the segment, including heated side mirrors with turn signal indicators, leather seats, and sporty embellishments. Incentives should lower your final cost to $20,000.