Mundane exterior color selection; manual transmission unavailable on upper trims
The Kia Rio is totally redesigned for 2018.See the 2018Kia Rio models for sale near you
What We Like
Sporty styling of the hatchback; quality of the cabin; base grade with manual transmission; Bluetooth standard in all but entry-level grade; affordable pricing
The Rio is all about affordability. If all you need or all your budget will allow is the S or even the LX, you will wind up with a decent ride. Because Kia doesn't offer any options on those two grades, to get some of today's more popular features requires moving up to the EX. We think that adding goodies like the tilt-telescopic steering wheel, UVO3 infotainment system and automatic emergency braking is well worth the extra couple of grand.Find a Kia Rio for sale
To keep things simple and pricing under control, Kia chose not to offer factory options on any grade of Rio, save the automatic transmission on the base trim and a leather seating package on the top EX trim. Regardless of the trim, opting for the 5-door hatchback adds $300 to the sedan prices below. Content for both configurations is the same.
The LX ($14,795) includes a 6-speed manual transmission, 15-inch steel wheels, auto headlight control, dual manual outboard mirrors, a tilt steering wheel, a trip computer, a 12-volt power outlet, cloth seats, a 6-way manually adjusted driver's seat, a rear bench seat, air conditioning, power door locks, six airbags, hill-start assist and a 4-speaker audio system with a 5-in display, satellite radio capability and USB/auxiliary input jacks. A 6-speed automatic transmission is optional.
The S ($16,995) builds on the LX features with 6-speed automatic transmission, power/heated outboard mirrors, power windows, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, a center console with a sliding armrest, two additional tweeter speakers, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera and remote keyless entry.
The EX ($19,295) adds to the S with 15-in alloy wheels, fog lights, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel, a supervision meter cluster with a 3.5-in display, lighted vanity mirrors, upgraded seat cloth, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a 7-in audio display, a UVO3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and automatic emergency braking. The only option is the EX Launch Edition package with red-accented leather seating.
| Hatchback | Original MSRP / Price | Engine | Horsepower | City MPG / Hwy MPG | Transmission | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio 5-Door EX Auto | $18,700 / $17,915 | 4 Cylinder | 130 | 28 / 37 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD |
| Rio 5-Door LX Auto | $15,290 / $14,849 | 4 Cylinder | 130 | 28 / 37 | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD |
| Rio 5-Door LX Manual | $14,200 / $13,949 | 4 Cylinder | 130 | N/A | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD |
| Rio 5-Door S Auto | $16,400 / $15,916 | 4 Cylinder | 130 | 28 / 37 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD |
| Sedan | Original MSRP / Price | Engine | Horsepower | City MPG / Hwy MPG | Transmission | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio EX Auto | $18,400 / $17,627 | 4 Cylinder | 130 | 28 / 37 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD |
| Rio LX Auto | $14,990 / $14,558 | 4 Cylinder | 130 | 28 / 37 | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD |
| Rio LX Manual | $13,900 / $13,654 | 4 Cylinder | 130 | N/A | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD |
| Rio S Auto | $16,100 / $15,625 | 4 Cylinder | 130 | 28 / 37 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD |
Neither the government nor IIHS has crash tested the 2018 Rio. Every Rio comes with six airbags, hill-start assist and the LATCH child-seat system. In the EX trim, the Rio also has automatic emergency forward braking.
| Basic | 5 Years/60,000 Miles |
| Drivetrain | 10 Years/100,000 Miles |
| Corrosion | 5 Years/100,000 Miles |
| Roadside Assistance | 5 Years/60,000 Miles |
2018 Chevrolet Sonic -- Available as a sedan or hatchback in most grades, the Sonic stands apart from others in the segment thanks to its standard advanced infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Every Sonic comes with built-in 4G LTE and an available Wi-Fi hotspot.
2018 Honda Fit -- Honda only offers the Fit as a 5-door hatchback. Although the base trim doesn't include many of the standard features in upper trim levels, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Honda makes available on all models driver-assist features, such as forward-collision warning and mitigation, lane-departure warning, forward emergency braking and road-departure mitigation.
2018 Toyota Yaris -- Offered as a sedan or hatchback, the Yaris has a little less get-up-and-go than the Rio, but an array of driver-assist technologies like lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning and mitigation and automatic high breams are available.
What they lack in size, subcompacts make up for in maneuverability and efficiency.