2018 Kia Rio: Efficient and Spacious Compact City Ride

Introduced as a hatch or Sedan, the redesigned 2018 Kia Rio is fun to ride subcompact car that keeps thing simple. It gets the all-new look for 2018. Inside, the Rio is well composed and relatively spacious taking its size into account. The reworked 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine produces 130hp, which is lesser than last year’s 138 hp. The new Kia Rio feels powerful at lower engine speeds in spite of reduced power output. The 2018 Kia Rio mpg is rated at 29 mpg in the city and 37 mpg highway.

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There are three trim levels on offer: base LX, midlevel S and top-level EX. The Kia Rio price starts at $15,300 for the Rio sedan and $16,400 for the Rio hatchback. Pricing for the entry-level Rio model is close to average in subcompact car class, but the top-level trim costs less than the highest trims of most rivals.

The base Rio LX comes powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission (a six-speed automatic is optional). The features include 15-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, air conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-only steering wheel, a trip computer, a rearview camera, and a four-speaker sound system with a 5-inch display, satellite radio, a USB port, and an auxiliary audio input jack.

The midlevel Rio S comes with standard equipment like keyless entry, heated power mirrors, power windows, cruise control, map lights, a sliding center console armrest and storage area, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, an extra USB port (charging only), a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity and a six-speaker audio system.

The top-of-the-line EX trim includes the Rio S” standard equipment and adds 15-inch alloy wheels, a chrome grille surround, foglights, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a forward collision warning system with automatic braking, upgraded cloth upholstery, dual illuminated vanity mirrors and an updated 7-inch center display with Kia”s Uvo infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto). The EX”s Launch Edition package includes red interior trim and partial leather accents.

Considering the 2018 Kia Rio review the interior has been upgraded, with few hard plastics around, it feels pretty good on the built part. The redesigned dashboard and gauge cluster upscale the interior look, therefore, this gives a premium look to the Kia Rio. The front seat gets a good head- and knee room, and it feels generous. The rear seat turns out to be tight from all corners, with less knee room and toeroom. Taller passengers might face problem in the rear.  As far as the cargo area is concerned, the Rio holds 17.4 cubic feet behind the seats, and folding its 60/40-split rear seat gives you as much as 32.8 cubic feet. Those measurements are decent for a hatch of this dimension, though some rivals offer bigger cargo spaces with the rear seats folded.

Overall, we”re happy with this compact Kia car. If you want to mix a little fun with your ride, you must definitely buy Kia Rio. The handling and cabin infrastructure makes the ride enjoyable. The car has scored good reliability ratings as well. If you seek similar rival cars, you may get a look around cars like Honda Fit or Chevy Sonic.