Kia Rio 2021

Kia Rio 2021

2021 Kia Rio The 2021 Kia Rio sedan and hatchback are classified as sub-economy cars — we used to call these cars “econoboxes” — but they’re surprisingly more complex than that. The Kia couple share an interior design that exudes elegant simplicity thanks to smart design and exhilarating materials.

On the flip side, both rear seats in the Rios suffer from limited passenger space and neither body model has a cargo area or luggage compartment in particular. However, we appreciate that it’s one of the smallest compact cars that offer standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We’re even willing to forgive the dearth of co-driver assistance, because the Chevy Spark and Nissan Versa are the only competitors that offer more advanced safety features. The 2021 Rios shines with improved ride quality and composite handling, helping to eliminate any stereotypes about cheap transportation.

Kia Rio 2021

Facing less competition than last year — due to the deaths of the Chevy Sonic, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris — the 2021 Rio lineup is getting a moderate update. Building on updates to the European-spec model, Kia sedans and hatchbacks should wear subtly redesigned front and rear ends and benefit from an improved infotainment system.

We think the several hundred dollars separating the base Rio LX and Model S is worth the price increase. The latter adds a central armrest, cruise control, a rear USB port, a foldable rear seat with adjustable headrests, and keyless entry. The S also has desirable options like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, SiriusXM satellite radio, LED headlights and more. Since the hatchback adds more cargo space and slightly better passenger volume, we recommend choosing the five-door Rio.

The Rio’s only drivetrain is a four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). We didn’t drive the Rio with this engine and transmission, but it should be more than enough to get the compact car on the road. The well-rated suspension gives the Rio pleasant road behavior,

Which provides a good blend of comfort and agility along with a great feel. The latest hatchback version we tested bumps well for such a small car thanks to its solid chassis and good suspension. It also does a good job of controlling body roll in corners. The psychedelic steering doesn’t communicate as much as we’d like, but it’s subtle and subtle.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the Rio sedan and hatchback will gain 33 mpg in the city and 41 on the highway. These numbers are identical to the Hyundai Accent and slightly better than the Nissan Versa. We haven’t had a chance to run a Kia sedan or hatchback on highway fuel economy at 75mph, which is part of our comprehensive testing regime, so we can’t rate real-world mpg.

Simplicity is the name of the game within Rio, and it’s no small feat. In fact, it offers a clean and easy-to-use control panel with climate and sound controls. There is a lot of hard plastic, but it is well textured, and the overall interior appearance is mature and sophisticated for a secondary compaction. The space in the front seats of the Kia is more than enough, but the rear passengers will not be nearly as happy due to the limited legroom. The Rio hatchback offers more trunk space than a sedan, but the Kia isn’t a good choice if you plan on carrying a lot of cargo. We were disappointed to find that the folded seats didn’t flatten the loading floor in the slot. Its center console is competitively sized, as are the door pockets.

We expect Rio’s touchscreen infotainment system to continue to appear standard with SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity and charging ports as well as SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Rio 2021 has not been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Although it doesn’t have as much driver assistance technology as some competitors, the Rio is available with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. However, basic models are absent from this equipment. Key safety features include:

  Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are available

Warranty and maintenance coverage

Kia has a solid reputation for impressive warranty coverage, and the Rio almost matches its cousin – the Accent – at the top of this segment. However, it does not offer any free maintenance.

  The limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles

  Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles

  No free scheduled maintenance