Kia Rio: 2018 Motor Trend Car of the Year Finalist

We Like: Ride quality, interior fit and finish, features for the price

We Don’t Like: Ho-hum exterior styling, lack of torque, limited practicality

It might seem surprising to see a budget subcompact hatchback reach the finals in our Car of the Year competition. But every one of our judges walked away from the Kia Rio impressed with how much car you get for well less than $20,000. After all, it’s a lot harder to build a great car for $20,000 than for $50,000.

“The Kia Rio is a great value: good looks, great interior, spritely, quiet, and can be fun to drive,” Chris Theodore noted. Alisa Priddle was similarly impressed. “This might be the sleeper of the group,” she said. “It’s fun and jaunty-looking on the outside, and the interior seals the deal.” Of note was the color selection of interior trim pieces. No longer merely cheap and cheerful, it’s now refined and sharp.

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As impressed as we were, though, we had a few criticisms. “The biggest miss for me on the Rio is its styling,” Christian Seabaugh noted. “The exterior is just underwhelming.” He also thought the engine could use more grunt: “I’d love to have just a smidge more torque (or a turboed engine) on this car.”

Angus MacKenzie might have summed it up best: “The Kia Rio is a worthy finalist. Not car of the year, but it’s a great value and a well-rounded small car.”

2018 Kia Rio EX
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT	Front-engine, FWD
ENGINE TYPE	I-4, alum block/head
VALVETRAIN	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT	97.1 cu in/1,591 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO	11.0:1
POWER (SAE NET)	130 hp @ 6,300 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET)	119 lb-ft @ 4,850 rpm
REDLINE	6,500 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER	19.9 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION	6-speed automatic
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO	3.07:1/2.37:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR	Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; torsion beam, coil springs anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO	14.9:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK	2.8
BRAKES, F; R	11.0-in vented disc; 10.3-in disc, ABS
WHEELS	5.5 x 15-in cast aluminum
TIRES	185/65R15 88H (M+S) Continental ProContact TX
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE	101.6 in
TRACK, F/R	60.0/60.2 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	172.6 x 67.9 x 57.1 in
TURNING CIRCLE	33.5 ft
CURB WEIGHT	2,589 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R	62/38%
SEATING CAPACITY	5
HEADROOM, F/R	38.9/37.4 in
LEGROOM, F/R	42.1/33.5 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/R	54.1/53.3 in
CARGO VOLUME	32.8/13.7 cu ft
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30	3.0 sec
0-40	4.6
0-50	6.4
0-60	8.7
0-70	11.5
0-80	14.7
0-90	—
0-100	—
PASSING, 45-65 MPH	4.6
QUARTER MILE	16.6 sec @ 84.6 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	127 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.79 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	27.9 sec @ 0.60 g (avg)
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH	2,000 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE	$19,595
PRICE AS TESTED	$20,225
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL	Yes/Yes
AIRBAGS	6: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain
BASIC WARRANTY	5 yrs/60,000 miles
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY	10 yrs/100,000 miles
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE	5 yrs/60,000 miles
FUEL CAPACITY	11.9 gal
REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB	25.2/38.0/29.7 mpg
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON	28/37/32 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	120/91 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.62 lb/mile
RECOMMENDED FUEL	Unleaded regular

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