Used 2023 Kia Rio

The 2023 Kia Rio comes as a subcompact sedan or hatchback. For someone who needs a new car that’s cheap to buy and run, with a great warranty, here’s a strong possibility.

With a particular appeal for new drivers, the 2023 Kia Rio is perfect for trundling around college towns or just handling the commute with a minimum of fuss and expense. And the engine’s modest power won’t get them into trouble.

It would be even better if driver assistance features were standard, at least at the higher trim level. But the Kia Rio does come with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and a class-best 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

During a Kia test drive, potential buyers of a new Rio should pay attention to the driving position. The steering wheel adjusts for height, but not reach, so make sure a comfortable and efficient setup is achievable.

Not that the Rio will be delivering a white-knuckle experience, with only 120 horsepower generated from its 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. Instead, it’s an easy drive on the comfortable side. And there will be more going past gas stations than cars, since what the Rio lacks in punch it makes up for in fuel economy.

There are many reasons to buy the S trim and the Technology package offered with it, one being the rear disc brakes replacing the standard drums. They provide that extra degree of confidence.

For what is a low-budget new car, the 2023 Rio at least makes a decent attempt to provide a nicely ergonomic cabin. And if the plastics are a bit hard and cheap in places, they’re enlivened with some pleasant textures. The cloth upholstery is similarly fashioned to look quite swish.

The S trim brings 60/40 split/folding rear seats. Rear legroom is the same in both body styles: 33.5 inches. That’s the same as the Hyundai Accent and a little better than the Nissan Versa. The 5-door hatchback Kia Rio has a touch more rear headroom than the sedan — 38.0 inches, compared with 37.4.

The sedan’s trunk space isn’t that impressive at 13.7 cubic feet. The Nissan Versa has 14.7 cubic feet. With the Rio 5-door hatchback’s rear seats in place, there’s a luggage area of 17.4 cubic feet. That expands to 32.8 cubic feet when those seats are folded down.

Each beholder can discern the beauty or otherwise of the 2023 Kia Rio. The hatchback version seems kind of European, since that body style is generally preferred over there.

It could be argued that the Rio 5-door looks better than its sedan sibling, but it’s undoubtedly more practical. And not just from a cargo-carrying perspective. It’s about a foot shorter than the sedan overall, making it easier to squeak into tight parking spaces, be that on the street or in an untidy garage.

One little extra in the S version’s Technology package is that it brings chrome-finished door handles. Other additions are 15-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights.

WIRELESS APPLE CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO
While we’ve all come to expect smartphone integration in new cars, it’s still remarkable for this feature to be wireless. It helps keep the cabin tidy by not having cables lying around and the phone can remain in a pocket or purse.

TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE
It’s an option only with the S trim, but includes a forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high beams, LED headlights, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It also includes 15-inch alloy wheels and a smart key with a push-button starter.

LX trim is the most affordable new Kia Rio, coming solely as a sedan. It has 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, heated side mirrors, power windows/locks, and cloth upholstery.

An 8-inch touchscreen controls the infotainment system that includes wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth, and a USB port.

There’s the mandatory safety stuff like airbags, stability control, and anti-lock brakes. But things like a forward collision warning system and lane-keeping assistance are available only as options on the Rio S.

The only major option for the 2023 Rio sedan in LX trim is a self-dimming rearview mirror with a garage door opener.

Really, the S trim isn’t equipped much better. It has an extra USB port, front center armrest, and folding rear seats with adjustable headrests in the sedan. Big whoop.

But the Kia Rio S is eligible for more options, such as 15-inch alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, automatic emergency braking, LED headlights, automatic high beams, push-button start, satellite radio, and a set of basic driver aids. All these features are bundled together into the Technology Package.

The same equipment and options apply to the Kia Rio 5-door, which comes only in S trim.

Small sedan or hatchback, both versions of the 2023 Kia Rio are propelled by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine making a timid 120 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque. A continuously variable automatic transmission and front-wheel drive complete the picture.

The upside to such mild output numbers is great fuel economy. In a combination of city and highway driving, the Rio averages 36 mpg.

1.6-liter inline-4
120 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
112 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 32/41 mpg