Latest News
Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda32022 Kia Rio: Budget-Friendly and Value-Packed
The 2022 Kia Rio continues to make its mark on the subcompact class. See what our experts think as we look at powertrain, trim levels, safety options, and more.
What’s New for the 2022 Kia Rio?
There are no significant changes for the 2022 Kia Rio other than its donning of Kia’s new corporate logo.
2022 Kia Rio – kiamedia.com | Shop 2022 Kia Rio on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Excellent fuel economy
Standard smartphone integration
Unbeatable warranty coverage
Lack of standard driver-assist features
Loud engine at highway speeds
Cramped rear seat
You get what you pay for
2022 Rio Specs
- 120 horsepower from base engine
- 112 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 2 available trims
- 89.9 cu-ft of passenger volume
- Hatchback option
- Back up camera
- Smartphone integration
2022 Kia Rio Powertrain
The 2022 Kia Rio is powered by a 120-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. For a subcompact car the Rio performs well, but you will be better off keeping it on city streets. It will take all 120 horses to get the Rio up to speed on the highway and the engine gets pretty loud.
The 2022 Rios well-tuned suspension does soak up most of the bumps, and it has limited body roll in curves. Its small size and turning radius help to maneuver into tight spots, and the steering is nicely weighted and precise.
2022 Kia Rio Fuel Economy & MPG
The Kia Rio is one of the most efficient non-hybrid cars out there. It gets an estimated 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. This is identical to its rival the Hyundai Accent. Check out our head-to-head comparison of the Hyundai Accent vs. Kia Rio to see how they stack up in other categories.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
At this price point our expectations are pretty low, but the Rio pleasantly surprised us with its simple but sophisticated interior. There are nicely textured hard plastics throughout, and the dashboard controls are well placed and easy to use. The front seats provide plenty of room, but adults will find the rear seats to be cramped and not very accommodating for longer rides. The seats aren’t the worst we’ve sat in, but again, they’re not suited for anything more than your daily commute.
The hatchback model makes for easy loading and unloading and with the rear seats up you will get 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space. With the seats folded down (unfortunately they will not go completely flat), 32.8 cubic feet of space is available, which is decent for this class.
Needing more cargo space than the Rio can offer? Check out our review of the 2022 Nissan Kicks which hauls more than the Rio but has comparable fuel economy.
Entertainment & Technology
The Kia Rio has an intuitive infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen that is easy to navigate and positioned high enough for easy access by the driver. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are standard across the board, which is often a top-trim feature on subcompact budget cars. We like that you can also operate audio and climate functions through physical controls located on the dash, which allows for easier adjustments while driving.
Other standard features include a four-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, and a USB port. Additional standard features include an additional USB port and remote keyless entry, and the optional technology package on the S trim adds push-button start, automatic climate control, and an upgraded stereo system.
Safety Features
Despite its budget price, we feel the Rio should have more standard safety features like many of its rivals. See our comparison of the Nissan Versa and Toyota Corolla to see how they fared. Base models of the Rio only have a rearview camera, and available features on the S trim include forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and driver-attention warning.
If it’s been a few years since you’ve shopped for a car you might not know what you’re missing as far as the Rio’s driver-assist features. Check out our article, New Safety Tech Explained, to see what’s available on the newest models.
2022 Kia Rio Trims & Pricing
LX – $16,250
The LX sedan comes standard with cloth upholstery, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a four-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a rearview camera.
S – $16,890
The S sedan comes equipped with remote keyless entry, cruise control, split-folding rear seats, a sliding center armrest, and an additional USB port. A technology package is available on the S trim for $1,800 adds a lot more technology and safety equipment including push-button start, LED headlights, automatic climate control, an upgraded stereo system, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision mitigation, and driver attention warning.
The S trim is also available as a hatchback and starts at $17,090.
Warranties
Kia’s warranty coverage is among the best in the industry with a 10 year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 5 year/60,000-mile limited warranty. There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance.
What we think
2022 Kia Rio – kiamedia.com | Shop 2022 Kia Rio on Carsforsale.com
While the subcompact market is shrinking, we’re glad Kia still has a player in the game with the 2022 Rio. It offers an economical ride that still looks and acts smart. Going with the S trim is a no-brainer for us to gain more convenience features, and we’d also add the technology package to tap into all available active driver-assist technologies as well. We think the 2022 Kia Rio is worth a look for the budget-conscious and value-minded driver.
Most Popular
