Kia Rio

The Kia Rio is a survivor. Most subcompact sedans this size have long since been discontinued — even the Toyota Yaris that earned our top-rated ranking in 2020 got the boot — but the Rio has been in production since it debuted for the 2001 model year. Just sing along to the lyrics of Destiny's Child's Survivor as you drive along in your Rio: I'm a survivor/I'm not going to give up/I'm not going to stop/I'm going to work harder.

This small car has remained popular over the years for its inexpensive base price, high fuel economy and long warranty. For 2021, the Rio gets new styling on its front and rear bumpers plus a standard 8-inch touchscreen to make it more enticing. There's also wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you no longer have to use a USB cord to activate these smartphone connection systems.

Remaining rivals on the market include the Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa and Mitsubishi Mirage G4. The Rio is a solid pick here and delivers on everything we expect for an entry-level sedan or hatchback.

Which Rio does MatoCar recommend?

Our pick is the loaded S trim due to its relative low cost and impressive value. We would also add the S Technology package for its comprehensive set of driver safety aids.

The 2021 Kia Rio can be equipped as a four-door sedan or a hatchback, which Kia calls the 5-Door. The sedan is available in two trim levels: the base LX and the S. The 5-Door is only sold in S trim. All Rios are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (120 horsepower, 112 lb-ft of torque) mated to a continuously variable transmission. All Rios are front-wheel-drive.

LX The standard Rio keeps costs low but includes these necessities as standard:

Heated exterior mirrors
15-inch steel wheels
Adjustable tilting steering wheel
3.5-inch driver information display
8-inch center touchscreen
Air conditioning
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
Front USB port
Cloth seats
Height-adjustable driver's seat
Four-speaker stereo system

S A more fully equipped model comes with:

Remote keyless entry
Cruise control
Sliding center armrest
Rear USB port
60/40-split folding rear seat

S Technology package This jam-packed collection of optional features for the S trim drastically increases available technology and safety equipment with:

LED headlights
15-inch alloy wheels
Push-button start
4.2-inch driver information display
Automatic climate control
Upgraded stereo system
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Rio back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Lane following assist (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)