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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