Just because the 2016 Kia Rio and Rio 5-door have bargain basement pricing doesn’t mean you’re going to get stuck with a boring, no-frills econobox. The Rio’s strength is its ability to deliver the styling, ride and handling expected of a larger, more expensive import in a vehicle that starts under $15,000 (2016 msrp). Loaded with standard and optional features, the Rio and Rio 5-door offer horsepower and fuel economy near the top of their class and come with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty at no charge. The Rio is a 4-door sedan and the Rio 5-door is a 5-door hatchback, and even the most basic trims include cool features such as a 4-speaker stereo with a USB/iPod port, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, air conditioning and a 6-way adjustable driver’s seat. Even more impressive than the Rio’s low price is the technology packed under the hood. Kia has equipped the Rio with a gasoline direct-injection engine and an advanced 6-speed automatic transmission (a 6-speed manual is standard). The Rio and Rio 5-door’s advanced designs, impressive fuel economy and low prices aren’t just getting attention from us. The resale value guidebooks have noticed too, elevating the Rio’s resale values to fairly respectable levels (they’re still not as good as those for the Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta, however). For 2016, the Kia Rio and Rio 5-door get freshened front and rear styling, some interior enhancements and an upgraded UVO eServices package. The 6-speed manual transmission is no longer offered on the Rio 5-door, while the contents of last year’s Premium package are made standard on the SX trim.
Autotrader’s Advice:
The choice between the Rio sedan and Rio 5-door hatchback is up to you. Visually, we like the sedan’s proportions, but for functionality, the 5-door hatchback is the more logical choice. Whichever model you pick, we’d opt for the EX trim, which has all the features you’ll need. With the $1,000 Convenience package, which adds the SX’s UVO eServices, power-folding mirrors and a backup camera, the price is still well under $20,000 (when new).
What We Like:
Impressive standard and optional equipment; good on gas; reasonable sticker price; advanced engine technology; long standard warranty.
What We Don’t:
Only base model offers manual transmission; not very quick; resale value getting better but still not at the Honda or Toyota level.
Original MSRP:
$14,990-$22,000 (when new).
MPG:
Both the Kia Rio and Rio 5-door are powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injection 4-cylinder engine that makes 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. The engine is very willing, but it’s also loud at full throttle. The Rio with the automatic transmission gets 37 miles per gallon, with around-town figures slightly lower at around 27 mpg. The manual gets 27 mpg city/38 mpg highway. With the Eco package, Kia’s Idle, Stop & Go technology is standard equipment; this feature shuts the engine off at idle and restarts it when the accelerator is depressed, helping to raise the fuel economy to 28 mpg city/37 mpg hwy.
Standard Features & Options:
Both the 2016 Kia Rio and Rio 5-door come in three trims: LX, EX and SX. Only the LX sedan offers a choice between a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Options for the LX are limited to a 6-speed automatic transmission, power windows, power locks and keyless entry. The EX Eco Package adds Idle Stop/Go, UVO, a rear backup camera and auto headlights. The Designer Package adds black and grey cloth and leather seating with contrasting stitching, a rearview camera, a 4.3-inch color touchscreen and automatic headlights.
The
2016 Kia Rio LX ($14,990 sedan, when new; $16,320 5-door, when new) includes a 6-speed manual transmission (sedan), 15-inch steel wheels with covers, heated power side mirrors, a rear defroster, a rear wiper/washer (on the 5-door), an AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with satellite radio and USB/auxiliary inputs, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, a tilt steering column, air conditioning, a 60/40-split folding rear seat and cloth seating. The Rio 5-door LX comes standard with a 6-speed automatic.
The
2016 Kia Rio EX ($18,580 sedan, when new; $18,730 5-door, when new) gains a 6-speed automatic transmission, power windows, power locks, keyless remote entry, Bluetooth, cruise control, A-pillar-mounted tweeters, a tilt-telescopic steering column and premium cloth seats.
The
2016 Kia Rio SX ($21,580 sedan, when new; $21,730 5-door, when new) adds a sport-tuned suspension, navigation with SiriusXM Traffic, push-button starting with a smart key, a power moonroof, heated front seats and leather seating surfaces. Also standard are ventilated front disc brakes, 17-in alloy wheels, power-folding side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, fog lights, LED taillights, UVO eServices, a rear backup camera, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, auto on/off headlights and a soft-touch dash pad.
Safety:
Every Rio and Rio 5-door comes standard with front, front side-impact, and front and rear side-curtain airbags. Also standard are a 4-wheel anti-lock braking system, electronic traction control and stability control. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates both the Rio and Rio 5-door with a 4-star safety rating. It’s important to note, however, that while the Rio earned five stars in its side-impact test, the rear-seat passenger dummy suffered what would be considered a high lower-spine acceleration event, causing NHTSA to place a warning for possible thoracic rib injury to the rear-seat occupant.
Behind the Wheel:
Keeping in mind that the Rio is a small commuter car, we’re impressed by the way it rides and handles. The LX and EX versions have smaller 15-in wheel and tire packages that help keep the cabin quieter and certainly deliver a softer ride than the SX trim’s 17-in wheels, but the smaller wheel-and-tire combo also delivers only average cornering ability, with lots of squealing when the tires are pushed hard and an almost constant need for stability control. The SX does better, delivering more grip and a more stable driving experience. No Rio is particularly quick, but we do like the LX’s 6-speed manual and wish it was available on the sporty SX. Since it’s not, most will find the 6-speed automatic with manual shift control to be almost as fun and certainly as efficient, since both manual and automatic versions achieve identical fuel economy ratings.
Learn more
Learn more
