Used 2019 Kia Rio

The Kia Rio, completely redesigned in 2018, carries over unchanged into 2019. That means it continues to be available as a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback, both nicely packaged models that offer more interior space than their compact overall size would suggest. The Rio, equipped with a generous amount of tech-savvy features, also is a more substantial car than its low price would suggest. In addition to a handsome interior, this affordable little Kia has a comfortable ride and generous safety features. The subcompact Kia Rio competes with the Honda Fit, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Versa, Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris.

With its recently updated chassis, the longer, lower and wider 2019 Kia Rio corners with confidence and displays a composed overall demeanor, especially considering its entry-level price category. The 5-seat Rio cabin is roomier than expected, and the one available powertrain for 2019 is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. With 130 peak horsepower and 119 lb-ft of torque, the Rio merges with ease onto the expressway but is by no means a powerhouse. That stated, we like the Rio’s blend of performance and economy (28-mpg city, 37-mpg highway). We also appreciate how quiet the Rio is at highway speeds.

Kia does interiors well, and the Rio’s is no exception. It’s roomier and more upscale inside than you might expect, and even the base LX model has several appealing convenience and tech features. The infotainment screen is well placed near the top of the dash, and the controls for the stereo and air conditioning are logically placed and easy to reach. The LX has a 5-inch touch screen; the S goes one better with a 7-inch touch screen. Additionally, the 2019 Kia Rio boasts lots of handy controls on the steering wheel.

Both the 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback versions of the 2019 Kia Rio are attractive cars with Euro-influenced styling and a mature look that’s uncommon in its class. Even though the sedan and hatch share the same wheelbase, the sedan is almost 13 inches longer. All Kia Rios are fitted with 15-inch steel wheels featuring wheel covers.

TECH-FRIENDLY INTERIOR
It’s easy to stay connected in the Rio, with available features such as a 7-inch display and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Sirius satellite radio, Bluetooth and a rearview camera are standard, as are a USB port and charger.

SAFETY FEATURES
The Kia Rio remains one of the least expensive cars with Autonomous Emergency Braking, which will apply the brakes automatically if the car senses an accident is imminent. Other safety features on the 2019 Kia Rio include six airbags, stability control and tire-pressure monitoring.

Notable standard equipment on the LX includes a tilt steering wheel, a trip computer, air conditioning and Sirius satellite radio with Bluetooth. The S sedan adds a front center armrest, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, a 7-inch info screen, a USB charger and cruise control. The 5-door Rio hatchback, available only as an S model, is equipped similarly to the S sedan, but remember that its handy cargo area expands to 32.8 cubic feet when the rear seat is folded.

While there aren’t many options on the base LX sedan (other than Aurora Black Pearl paint, for $195), the 2019 Kia Rio S is available with LED headlights, forward-collision assist and a 7-inch touch screen with UVO telematics.

The sole Rio engine is a direct-injected 1.6-liter 4-cylinder with 130 horsepower. It runs on regular unleaded gasoline, as before, but last year’s available 6-speed manual transmission has been dropped from the lineup, leaving the Rio with only one transmission: a 6-speed automatic.

1.6-liter inline-4
130 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
119 lb-ft of torque @ 4,850 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/37 mpg