2019 Kia Rio review
Kia Rio highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Nimble, easy to park
- Upscale cabin for the price
- Long warranty
Cons
- Very basic base model
- Easygoing acceleration
- Small trunk (sedan)
Mileage (EPA estimate)
28 city, 37 highway, 32 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
Shop with your budget in mind
The Kia Rio is affordable, easy to drive, and good on gas
The Kia Rio is a value-conscious subcompact available as a practical small sedan or chirpy four-door hatchback. The latter of the two has more cargo space, though the hatch comes with a higher base price. That’s due to the sedan being offered in entry-level LX trim or upmarket S. If you choose the hatchback, the S trim is your only option. This means paying more up front, though the base LX sedan is austere with its wind-up windows and lack of any available option packages.
With the S trim, you get features like a seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay® and Android™ Auto, keyless entry, cruise control, and more. Every Rio is fitted with a 130-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that sends power to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. For the 2019 model year, a six-speed manual is no longer available in any Rio. Direct competitors include the Chevrolet Spark and Sonic, the Hyundai Accent, Honda Fit, Mitsubishi Mirage, and Nissan Versa.
All Kia Rio years
What is new for the 2019 Kia Rio?
- The EX trim has been discontinued for 2019.
- Rio trims have been upgraded with Parking Sensors as standard equipment this year.
- The LX trim now comes with Rear View Camera, Power Mirrors, Power Windows, and Bluetooth Technology as standard equipment.
- The S trim now comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard equipment.
2019 Kia Rio trims
LX:
- 130-hp, 119-lb-ft of torque 1.6L
- Rear View Camera
- Cloth Seats
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Mirrors
- Rear Defroster
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Automatic Transmission
S:
- Includes all features available on the LX
- Parking Sensors
- Cruise Control
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- View our Kia Rio S inventory
Kia Rio photos
5 reasons to buy the 2019 Kia Rio
What We Like
Affordable price: The loss of the manual gearbox nudges the price of the Rio up slightly, though this remains one of the least expensive new cars available. Even springing for the upmarket S trim keeps the Rio’s price within easy reach.
Quality cabin: The layout of the cabin is handsome and feels built to last. That’s not something you can say for many economy cars that are filled with chintzy plastics and mismatched trim pieces.
Stress-free driving manners: The Rio sedan and hatchback make for excellent, simple, and easy-to-use commuter vehicles. Light steering and their small footprints mean they’re agile enough to squeeze through heavy traffic without breaking a sweat (or bashing a bumper).
What Needs Improvement
Base trim is best avoided: Despite a temptingly low price, you’d be smart to skip the base LX trim. Its meager number of features is a constant reminder you could have had a whole lot more car for not much more money by opting for the S trim.
Shop with your budget in mind
Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Kia Rio an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Kia Rio 10th out of 27 among Subcompact Cars.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Kia RioKia Rio features and specs
S 2WD 4D Sedan
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Overhead Airbags
- Parking Sensors
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Cloth Seats
- Satellite Radio Ready
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
1.6L
Horsepower
130
Torque (ft-lbs)
119
Engine type
Gas
Fuel capacity
11.9
Wheelbase
101.6"
Overall length
172.6"
Width
67.9"
Height
57.1"
Leg room
F 42.1"/R 33.5"
Head room
F 38.9"/R 37.4"
Front tires
P185/65TR15
Rear tires
P185/65TR15
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Automatic
2019 Kia Rio FAQ
The 2019 Kia Rio is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- S: 28 MPG City and 37 MPG Highway
- LX: 28 MPG City and 37 MPG Highway
The Kia Rio received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks the Kia Rio as 9 out of 27 among Subcompact Car
The 2019 Kia Rio has received an average 3.8 out of 5 stars from our customers. If you're in the market for a 2019 Kia Rio, check out reviews from customers just like you. 2019 Kia Rio Reviews.
Here is what's new for the 2019 Kia Rio:
- Parking Sensors
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Rear View Camera
- Power Mirrors
Research other vehicles
We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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