Used 2013 Kia Rio

Among the more well-established subcompacts like the Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent comes another contender: the 2013 Kia Rio sedan and Rio 5 hatchback. All new last year, the Rio takes subcompact styling and content to new levels. The Rio’s exterior looks sturdy and aggressive while its interior is filled with features normally reserved for larger, more expensive cars. With an eye toward economy, Kia equips the 5-passenger Rio with a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine that uses the latest in fuel-injection technology. The Rio is rated to attain up to 37 mpg yet still delivers fairly quick acceleration.

The lion’s share of our time in the 2013 Kia Rio was spent stretching its legs on long highway expanses. We were impressed not only by the Rio’s stable ride, quiet cabin and direct steering, but by the willingness of its little 1.6-liter engine. With 134 horsepower on tap, the eager 4-cylinder provided more than enough power for passing slower trucks, although most of the power can be felt in the higher-rpm range. Kia says it benchmarked Ford’s Fiesta when tuning the Rio’s suspension. While we found the Rio to be agile and confident in the turns, we wouldn’t equate it to the same athletic feel as the Ford Fiesta or Mazda Mazda2. As for comfort, we found the Rio’s seats to be fairly supportive, and only minimal road noise could be detected inside the cabin.

Aesthetics aside, what really sets the 2013 Kia Rio apart from the competition is its impressive list of standard and available features. The Rio incorporates a 3-cylinder instrument panel and wraparound dash design that is simple and user-friendly. Some of the more notable available features include Bluetooth, a 7-inch navigation system with a rearview camera, push-button start, a UVO ("your voice" in Kia-speak) voice-activated infotainment system and leather seating surfaces.

Our time with the 2013 Kia Rio was limited to the 5-door variant, which shares the same features and mechanical details with its 4-door sibling. Kia’s design engineers wedged the Rio’s edges, sloped its shoulder lines and sculpted a look using design elements from its Optima and Sportage brethren. For 2013, the Rio incorporates Kia’s signature grille flanked by slanted headlights and a large air dam. The base Rio sits on 15-inch steel wheel or alloys, but stepping to the up-level SX brings more stylish 17-inch alloys. All things said, it looks like the product of some serious Optima and Sportage canoodling.

IDLE STOP AND GO (ISG) TECHNOLOGY
It’s a little disconcerting at first but, once we got used to the sound of the car starting after every stop, we took comfort in the added fuel savings that the feature entails.

ONBOARD NAVIGATION
Factory navigation systems are uncommon at this price point and we like that the Kia Rio blazes the trail by offering this feature.

The 2013 Kia Rio LX comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission (a 6-speed automatic is available), air conditioning, a radio with auxiliary/USB input, steering-wheel audio controls and four speakers and that’s about it. Power windows and door locks are optional. Stepping up to the EX and SX trims includes the power accessories and adds many other features: cruise control, UVO audio and rearview camera, AM/FM/CD/MP3/SiriusXM audio, Bluetooth, power door locks, power windows and other visual and convenience upgrades to the interior and exterior.

Options for the 2013 Kia Rio come in the forms of packages. For example, notable features in the SX Premium Package include push-button start with Smart Key, a navigation system, leather seating surfaces, heated front seats and a moonroof. The EX Convenience Package adds 15-inch alloy wheels, power folding side mirrors, fog lights, rearview camera and the UVO infotainment system. The ECO package includes the ISG (Idle Stop and Go) technology and Active ECO system for optimal fuel-efficient driving.

Regardless of trim, motivation for the 2013 Kia Rio comes from a 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Bolstering fuel savings on Rio models with an automatic transmission is the optional Eco package that includes ISG technology. The acronym stands for "Idle Stop and Go," which is a fuel-saving system that turns off the engine when the car is stopped and seamlessly turns it on again when the brake pedal is released. This eco-smart mechanism is good for approximately one more mpg across the board, according to Kia.

1.6-liter inline-4
138 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
123 lb-ft of torque @ 4,850 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 29/37 (manual), 28/36 (automatic), 30/36 (automatic with Eco package)