2021 Kia Rio Hatchback Automatic Review

2021 Kia Rio Hatchback Automatic Review - When you hear somebody claim "Kia Rio," certain assumptions adhere to, primary among them a tiny size as well as a low price. The newest version of the Rio, upgraded for its fourth generation in the United States, hits those marks with a below-$ 15,000 starting cost as well as tidy measurements. What you could not expect to discover is refinement, refinement, and a generous helping of features. That's where the 2018 Rio supplies on the Kia brand's tagline, "The Power to Shock." Just as when it debuted in the early 2000s, the subcompact Rio stays the tiniest Kia you could acquire in the States. It's readily available as a car or as the four-door hatchback examined below, and it flights on a system shown the Europe-market Hyundai i20 as well as the upcoming Kia Stonic and Hyundai Kona subcompact crossovers.

Unlike earlier Rios, however, the latest ranks among the far better cars and trucks to drive in its section. While its standard chassis setup of a strut-type front suspension and a torsion-beam rear axle hasn't already changed, the new Rio's damper tuning brings a newly found calmness to the flight top quality, while a stiffer framework assists the Kia soak up impacts like a much more pricey car. There is not much enthusiasm to be discovered in the numb steering, however, and the Rio isn't quite as sprightly as competitors such as the Honda Fit. But the Kia is substantially extra poised compared to the tinny and buzzy Honda; we 'd select it over a Fit for a lengthy trip.

This more refined attitude matches perfectly with the Kia's freshly upmarket styling. Style flair is not new to the nameplate, as the previous-generation Rio was distinct enough, but the new one makes strides in its maturation. Its outside is possibly much less vibrant, yet it is handsomely proportioned as well as perfectly described, with a stylish quantity of chrome trim on the top-level EX. There's something Germanic concerning the brand-new Rio's deliberate, squared-off lines, as well as the thick C-pillar seems like a clear nod to that paragon of hatchback style, the Volkswagen Golf.

2021 Kia Rio Hatchback Automatic Review

The Rio's interior also is a practical, high-quality affair. Our EX test car was furnished with the $500 Introduce Edition package that included fancy red accents to the control panel and also seats, but besides that, the cockpit console and dashboard prioritize function over kind. The tachometer and speedometer flank a central LCD display presenting trip-computer info, while a large 7.0-inch touchscreen dominates the facility stack. Apple CarPlay and also Android Vehicle are consisted of on the EX model, although they're out reduced trim levels with their 5.0-inch screens. The EX-SPOUSE additionally is the only Rio that includes automated emergency braking, a security attribute found on simply a select couple of subcompacts.




Aft of the pleasurable front cabin, things go downhill. The back seat is tight on legroom as well as clearance; although livable by two adults, the Rio's rear cannot compare the rear quarters discovered in the Fit, which is a master of room performance. The Honda likewise reproaches the Kia's cargo-hauling capacity-- and that of nearly all various other subcompact hatchbacks-- with its capacious cargo hold (approximately 53 cubic feet of space) and flat-folding rear seats. The Kia uses the same 17 cubic feet of room aft of the rear seats as the Honda, however folding the Rio's seat increases that to only 33 cubes, as well as the 60/40 split seatbacks don't lie level.

2021 Kia Rio Hatchback Automatic Review

The Rio's 1.6-liter direct-injected inline-four is mostly the same as the engine found in the previous model. Whatever tuning updates Kia has actually made to the engine and the six-speed automatic transmission are certainly functioning, though, as the little four-banger pushed the new Rio to 60 miles per hour in 8.5 secs-- a full 2nd quicker compared to the last automatic-transmission Rio hatchback we evaluated. That's despite the fact that the engine is rated at 8 fewer horse power as well as 4 fewer lb-ft of torque than before, for overalls of 130 hp and 119 lb-ft.


Kia also claims greater fuel economic climate from this changed engine, and also the Rio hit a remarkable 39 mpg in our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, outshining its EPA estimate by 2 mpg. Taking into consideration how hefty our ideal feet are around right here, our total standard of 28 mpg with the Rio is in a similar way respectable.

We do desire Kia would certainly make the base Rio's six-speed manual transmission available in other trim levels. It's offered only on the removed LX model, which abandons so many animal comforts that it is among minority new automobiles still sold with crank windows. The mid-level Rio S occupies a more habitable room with its reasonable tons of tools, consisting of a backup video camera, keyless entry, cruise ship control, and Bluetooth. And the S sets you back $17,295, which is a lot less expensive compared to our crammed $20,225 Ex Lover test vehicle. (The much less preferable sedan is $300 cheaper than the comparable hatchback.).

The Rio begins to shed some allure once it becomes part of that greater cost array, as numerous significantly bigger and much more enticing hatchbacks-- such as the Honda Civic (base cost $20,775) and the Mazda 3 ($ 20,220)-- are readily available for comparable loan. But, particularly in its even more budget friendly reduced trim degrees, the new Rio presents an appealing total bundle that thrills with its adept driving dynamics and also perhaps one of the most refined flight discovered in the subcompact section. It's time to connect some originalities with the Kia Rio.

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