Wednesday, August 12, 2015

2015 Kia Rio: New Car Review

The price tags of the 2015 Kia Rio and Rio 5-door prove that both vehicles are among the most affordable subcompact cars on the market, but you would never guess their budget prices by simply driving them. From their bold exteriors to their well-appointed interiors, the Rio twins elevate the meaning of subcompact economy car and challenge other automakers to play catch-up.

Loaded with standard and optional features, the Rio and Rio 5-door offer horsepower and fuel economy near the top of their class and come with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty at no charge. The Rio is a 4-door sedan and the Rio 5-door is a 5-door hatchback, and even the most basic trims include cool features such as a 4-speaker stereo with a USB/iPod port, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, air conditioning and a 6-way adjustable driver's seat -- all for less than $15,000.

Even more impressive than the Rio's low price is the technology packed under the hood. Kia has equipped the Rio with a gasoline direct-injection engine and an advanced 6-speed automatic transmission (a 6-speed manual is standard). The Rio and Rio 5-door's advanced designs, impressive fuel economy and low prices aren't just getting attention from us. The resale value guidebooks have noticed too, elevating the Rio's resale values to fairly respectable levels (they're still not as good as those for the Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta, however).

What's New for 2015?

There are no major changes to the 2015 Kia Rio and Rio 5-door.

What We Like

Impressive standard and optional equipment; good on gas; reasonable sticker price; advanced engine technology; long standard warranty

What We Don't

Only base model offers manual transmission; not very quick; resale value getting better but still not at the Honda or Toyota level

How Much?

$14,700-$22,000

Fuel Economy

Both the Kia Rio and Rio 5-door are powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injection 4-cylinder engine that makes 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. The engine is very willing, but it's also loud at full throttle. The Rio gets 37 miles per gallon, with around-town figures slightly lower at around 27 mpg. With the Eco package, Kia's ISG (Idle Stop & Go) is standard equipment; this feature shuts the engine off at idle and restarts it when the accelerator is depressed, helping to raise the fuel economy to 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

Standard Features & Options

Both the 2015 Kia Rio and Rio 5-door come in three trims: LX, EX and SX. Only the LX offers a choice between a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Rio LX ($14,700 sedan; $14,790 5-door) includes a 6-speed manual transmission, 15-inch steel wheels with covers, heated power side mirrors, a rear defroster, a rear wiper/washer (on the 5-door), an AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with satellite radio and USB/auxiliary inputs, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, a tilt steering column, air conditioning, a 60/40-split folding rear seat and cloth seating.

The Rio EX ($17,740 sedan; $17,940 5-door) gains a 6-speed automatic transmission, power windows, power locks, keyless remote entry, Bluetooth, cruise control, A-pillar-mounted tweeters, a tilt-telescopic steering column and premium cloth seats.

The Rio SX ($18,840 sedan; $19,040 5-door) adds a sport-tuned suspension, ventilated front disc brakes, 17-in alloy wheels, power-folding side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, fog lights, LED taillights, the UVO infotainment system, a rear backup camera, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, auto on/off headlights and a soft-touch dash pad.

Options for the LX are limited to a 6-speed automatic transmission, power windows, power locks and keyless entry. The EX can be equipped with the Convenience package that adds UVO, front fog lights, power-folding side mirrors, a touchscreen monitor with a rear backup camera, auto on/off headlights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and alloy wheels. The top-of-the-line SX trim can be equipped with the Premium package, which features navigation with SiriusXM Traffic, push-button starting with a smart key, a power moonroof, heated front seats and leather seating surfaces.

Safety

Every Rio and Rio 5-door comes standard with front, front side-impact, and front and rear side-curtain airbags. Also standard are a 4-wheel anti-lock braking system, electronic traction control and electronic vehicle-stability control. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates both the Rio and Rio 5-door with a 4-star safety rating. It's important to note, however, that while the Rio earned five stars in its side-impact test, the rear-seat passenger dummy suffered what would be considered a high lower-spine acceleration event, causing NHTSA to place a warning for possible thoracic rib injury to the rear-seat occupant.

Behind the Wheel

Keeping in mind that the Rio is a small commuter car, we're impressed by the way it rides and handles. The LX and EX versions have smaller 15-in wheel and tire packages that help keep the cabin quieter and certainly deliver a softer ride than the SX trim's 17-in wheels, but the smaller wheel-and-tire combo also delivers only average cornering ability, with lots of squealing when the tires are pushed hard and an almost constant need for stability control. The SX does better, delivering more grip and a more stable driving experience. No Rio is particularly quick, but we do like the LX's 6-speed manual and wish it was available on the sporty SX. Since it's not, most will find the 6-speed automatic with manual shift control to be almost as fun and certainly as efficient, since both manual and automatic versions achieve identical fuel economy ratings.


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