2019 Kia Rio Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What's new

Top-level EX trim has been discontinuedRevised feature availability for remaining LX and S trimsPart of the fourth Rio generation introduced for 2018

　　As the price of new vehicles continues to climb, the subcompact market remains a bastion of affordability. It's also, at times, a bastion of mediocrity. But you only need to look at the 2019 Kia Rio to find a reasonably priced car that's also enjoyable to drive.

　　Redesigned just last year, the Rio differentiates itself from its competition with mature styling and a sophisticated and compliant ride. Even with the standard automatic transmission and relatively small 1.6-liter engine, the Rio doesn't come across as underpowered or buzzy at highway speeds. Inside, the Rio continues to impress. It's free of gimmicky styling and clutter, and it has easy-to-use controls and a solid feel to the cabin.

　　The Rio does lack a bit when it comes to space. There's not a whole lot of rear-seat room, and trunk space is average at best. But if either of those shortcomings isn't terribly important, the 2019 Kia Rio will impress you with its excellent warranty, generous feature content and fairly low price, even when it's fully equipped.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.7 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Kia Rio EX (1.6L inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | FWD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2018, Kia has discontinued the EX trim. In terms of features, it was equivalent to this year's S trim with the Technology package.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.7 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.5
Technology	7.0

　　

Driving

7.5

　　The Rio delivers more sophisticated handling than its competitors and some welcome steering feedback. The economy-oriented tires and strained-sounding engine keep it from being truly fun to drive. Even though performance is average, the car feels better on the road than competitors.

　　

Acceleration

6.5

　　Our as-tested 0-60 mph time of 9.1 seconds is average for this segment, and that's also the best description for this powertrain. The throttle response is linear, and the Rio feels zippy enough around town but runs out of grunt quickly. When pushed, the engine is noisy and sounds strained.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　The brakes feel solid and responsive and are easy to modulate. Under hard braking the car tracks straight, but the brakes are let down by the economy-oriented tires. In our testing the Rio stopped from 60 mph in 126 feet, which isn't bad for the class, but it feels as if the Rio could do better.

　　

Steering

8.5

　　The steering effort is relatively light and builds naturally. There's even some welcome feedback from the front wheels, which sets the Rio apart from most competitors. But it is a bit darty, so you wind up making more corrections during turns and even while driving straight.

　　

Handling

8.0

　　There's a lot of body roll on initial turn-in, but the Rio settles and feels controlled through most of its range. Handling is predictable, but the economy tires protest loudly and understeer shows up early. Still, the car's predictability and steering feel are confidence-inspiring.

　　

Drivability

7.0

　　The shifts are smooth, but the six-speed automatic has its work cut out for it. Unlike some CVT automatic-fettled competitors, it has to shift frequently. It will hold gears but upshift when you let off the throttle. Although revs are matched for smoother downshifts, they aren't executed particularly quickly.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　The manually adjustable seats are firm but supportive. The climate controls are straightforward, and the system is more than up to the task of regulating the temp in the cabin. The Rio is quieter than many rivals, and the ride is more refined, if a bit firmer than subcompact buyers are accustomed to.

　　

Seat comfort

7.0

　　The seats are firm but well-formed and supportive with some bolstering. The lack of lumbar adjustment makes the seat a little less comfortable on longer drives. The headrest is aggressively forward, but it has enough vertical adjustability that most drivers will be able to work around it.

　　

Ride comfort

7.5

　　The Rio's best trick is smoothing out smaller road imperfections that make most cars in this class feel busy. The suspension feels sophisticated, but this is a firmer ride than most. And while it takes the edges off bigger bumps, it's buttoned-down and you definitely feel more of the road.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.0

　　Outside of engine noise, the Rio is quiet around town. In most road conditions, road and tire noise sounds more distant than in competitors. But wind noise is noticeable on the freeway, and some conditions bring the tire noise up. Even when cruising, you can still hear the engine.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　The Rio uses a simple three-dial system that's easy to read and understand. It's capable of blowing very cold and very warm, so it should keep up with any climate. The rear defrosters are a bit slow, but otherwise this is a super-functional basic climate system.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　The solidly built interior looks more mature and upscale than those of rivals. The range of driving position adjustability gives the feel of a larger sedan. Still, the back seat is cramped, and entry can be tricky. The excellent touchscreen interface and straightforward controls are a pleasure.

　　

Ease of use

9.0

　　The buttons are clearly labeled, and the controls are easy to find. We especially like the dedicated hard buttons for infotainment features and menus that let you bypass navigating the touchscreen system. That said, this is a well-thought-out touchscreen interface that outclasses competitors.

　　

Getting in/getting out

6.0

　　The Rio's relatively low roof means you have to duck a bit even to get in the front. Limited rear-seat head- and kneeroom combined with a small rear door opening force some adults to contort in the back seat. It's nearly impossible to enter in tight spaces where the door can't be opened wide.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　The Rio has a lower, more sophisticated midsize-car seating position compared to the very upright position in most subcompacts. There's plenty of seat adjustment both forward and back and for height, and the steering wheel telescopes quite far, which taller drivers will appreciate.

　　

Roominess

6.5

　　The front seat offers good head- and kneeroom, and it feels pretty open. The rear seat is tight in almost every dimension, with less kneeroom and toe room behind taller drivers than something like the Honda Fit. Rear headroom is similarly tight.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　The roof pillars are thick all around, but they are positioned in front so they don't create problematic blind spots. The good side mirrors help with the side view. Rear visibility is quite good, but the beefy rear roof pillars create a big blind spot when you're looking over your shoulder.

　　

Quality

8.5

　　Plastics abound, but they're handled well: Many are textured, and they all feel solidly built. This interior isn't hollow or tinny, and the overall design makes it look mature, especially for this class.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　A decently sized trunk with a wide, flat floor and quite a few interior storage options for small items make the Kia a practical little car. It can't really touch the class-leading Honda Fit, but its strengths lie elsewhere.

　　

Small-item storage

8.0

　　Again, the Honda Fit is king in this category, but the Rio incorporates several cubbies in the center console, a small armrest box, a good-size glovebox, and door pockets that can hold water bottles in both the front and rear. You shouldn't have any trouble finding places to stash your stuff.

　　

Cargo space

7.5

　　The 13.7-cubic-foot sedan trunk is average, but Kia worked hard to create a wide, flat load floor so it's very usable. The seats fold down for longer items. The hatchback's 32.8 cubic feet (with the seats folded) can't touch space in the Honda Fit, but in practice it's quite accommodating.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

6.0

　　The LATCH points are clearly marked, but they are stuck between the cushions. They're close to the surface, so you don't have to dig around to find them, but they're still not as easy to get at compared to those in cars with ports or flaps.

　　

Technology

7.0

　　The Kia's technology is well-thought-out, with an excellent touchscreen infotainment system, a surprisingly good stereo and competent voice controls. Still, competitors offer more active safety features and driver aids across more of their range.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.0

　　Kia figured drivers would rather use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto than pay for a nav subscription, so nav isn't available. Audio quality is better than most of the class, with good clarity and depth but not much bass response. You can specify which sources the mode button will cycle through.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work smoothly and come standard on the S trim level. For the base LX, you'll have to get by with just Bluetooth. Our test Rio came with two USB ports (the rear port is charge-only) as well as a 12-volt outlet and auxiliary jack up front.

　　

Driver aids

6.0

　　The forward collision warning system is unobtrusive and returned no false alarms in our time with the car. We also appreciated the animated guidelines in the rearview camera. That said, a few competitors offer more active safety features and driver aids.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　The range of controls is relatively limited, but they work well with minimal misunderstandings when changing radio stations or dialing phone numbers. There are guides on-screen and voice prompts, and you can switch to shorter voice prompts once you get the hang of the system.

　　

Which Rio does zzdcar recommend?

　　With the EX trim gone, we recommend the now top-of-the-line S. For a small price increase over the base LX, you get desirable features such as a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, keyless entry and cruise control. The S also makes available the optional Technology package, which comes with LED headlights, forward collision warning and assist, and Kia's Uvo telematics system.

　　

2019 Kia Rio models

　　The 2019 Kia Rio is a subcompact car available either as a sedan or a hatchback (Kia calls it the 5-Door). The sedan has a choice of two trim levels, LX and S, while the hatchback is only sold in S trim. The once top-of-the-line EX has been discontinued for 2019.

　　The LX comes standard with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (130 horsepower, 119 lb-ft of torque) and a six-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. Also standard are 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, power and heated exterior mirrors, air conditioning, full power accessories, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a rearview camera, a 5-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a four-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

　　The S adds remote keyless entry with a trunk opener, a 7-inch touchscreen display, a six-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, an additional USB port, cruise control, a center console with a sliding armrest, and a 60/40-split folding rear seats with adjustable headrests.

　　The Technology package is available once the S trim has been selected and offers LED headlights, forward collision warning and emergency braking, Kia's Uvo eServices communications, and an upgraded driver information display.

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2019 Rio Highlights

Type: HatchbackSedanSedan

　　Trim: LXSLX

　　

Base MSRP	$15,390
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	32 MPG
Cost to Drive	$119/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles