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Sometimes it's nice to get back to the basics, which is exactly what a subcompact car like the Kia Rio is. The car is stable, even on the highway at higher speeds, although the 15-inch tires are no performance models and the steering is perhaps too loose to tackle a corner at genuine pace... this is not a Kia Stinger after all!
The Sport mode that comes into play via the "Sport" button does sharpen the car's reactions somewhat, but the gain is minimal. Finally, despite the small disc brakes, the Rio never gave any cause for worry in this regard; the weight of the car is probably a factor here.
And at the pump?
Given the alarming price of gas in recent weeks and months, small cars like the Rio prove their relevance. Granted, EV owners will tell you that charging at home reduces your annual fuel (or energy) bill even more, but still, the Rio is not too shabby for a car without any on-board electrification.
In fact, even though I wasn’t exactly tender with the vehicle, I averaged 7.5L/100 km, slightly higher than the Canadian EnerGuide city fuel consumption rating. The overall average for the Rio is 6.7L/100 km. In short, the CVT (or IVT for Intelligent Variable Transmission), for all its faults, does a nice job of reducing fuel use.
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The last word
There is still a place for subcompact cars on the market, at least for a few more years until EVs are made that budget-car buyers can afford. The SUV stampede continues, of course, placing ever greater threat on cars, but automakers like Kia are able to make their pitch to those motorists who don't necessarily need a large car or SUV with far less competition to deal with than before. The Kia Rio is a very viable option in an increasingly diverse automotive universe.
We like
The simplicity of a subcompact
Fuel economy
Reasonable price
We like less
Interior volume
Lots of hard plastic inside
Soundproofing
The competition
Chevrolet Spark
Mitsubishi Mirage
Nissan Versa
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