2022 Kia Rio review
Kia Rio highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Interior is nicer than rivals
- Comfortable ride quality
- Fuel-efficient
Cons
- Limited trunk space
- Steering wheel lacks adjustment
Mileage (EPA estimate)
33 city, 41 highway, 36 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
The 2022 Kia Rio stretches your dollar further
Sedan shoppers on a tight budget have fewer choices than ever as carmakers concentrate on more popular crossovers and SUVs. The 2022 Kia Rio remains a strong choice with the loss of rivals such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, and Hyundai Accent. With a very limited list of competitors, it perhaps makes sense why the 2022 Rio was unchanged from the previous model year.
The Rio has its charms, however. Technophiles will be pleased by the standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, surprising for an inexpensive entry-level car. Unfortunately that doesn’t apply to driver-assist features, which are basic in the Rio. Back in the “pro” column, the Rio has a comfortable ride and an interior constructed of durable and eye-pleasing shapes.
The Kia Rio is available as a sedan or a five-door hatchback, which is reviewed separately. If you have the chance, we suggest the hatchback over the sedan for its larger cargo space and added versatility. Both offer great estimated fuel economy and nicer interiors than the Mitsubishi Mirage. The Nissan Versa is also worth considering as it has several advantages of its own.
All Kia Rio years
What is new for the 2022 Kia Rio?
- Rio trims have been upgraded with Power Seat(s) as standard equipment this year.
- Parking Sensors, Smart Key, Lane Departure Warning, and Alloy Wheels features are now available as options on select trims.
2022 Kia Rio trims
LX:
- 120-hp, 112-lb-ft of torque 1.6L
- Rear View Camera
- Side Airbags
- Overhead Airbags
- Rear Defroster
- Cloth Seats
- Power Mirrors
- Traction Control
- Automatic Transmission
S:
- Includes all features available on the LX
- Cruise Control
- Power Seats
- View our Kia Rio S inventory
Kia Rio photos
5 reasons to buy the 2022 Kia Rio
What We Like
Interior is nicer than rivals: Every vehicle in the subcompact sedan class prioritizes affordability over all else. That means you shouldn’t expect the kind of interior refinement found in slightly more expensive cars. The Kia Rio is no different, but you won’t have to make as many sacrifices. Sure, there’s a lot of hard plastics inside, but they’re designed with more care and have a more substantial feel.
Good ride quality: Entry-level cars aren’t known for their comfortable ride, but the Kia Rio is an exception. Thanks to a soft suspension, it handily soaks up rough pavement and bumps in daily driving, and it exceeds expectations for the class.
Fuel-efficient: All of the Kia Rio’s rivals deliver similarly excellent fuel economy to its EPA-estimated 32 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined estimates.
What Needs Improvement
Limited trunk space: You can’t defy physics and win. A small car is going to have a small trunk and the Kia Rio is no different. Its trunk maxes out at only 13.7 cubic feet. That splits the difference between the smaller Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa. Hatchbacks are a better choice on this front, and the Rio 5-Door can hold up to 17.4 cubic feet.
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
LX 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
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Cloth Seats
- Parking Sensors
- Rear View Camera
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
1.6L
Horsepower
120
Torque (ft-lbs)
112
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
2022 Kia Rio FAQ
The 2022 Kia Rio is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- LX : 33 MPG City and 41 MPG Highway
- S : 33 MPG City and 41 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 2022 Kia Rio has received an average 5.0 out of 5 stars from our customers. If you're in the market for a 2022 Kia Rio, check out reviews from customers just like you. 2022 Kia Rio Reviews.
Here is what's new for the 2022 Kia Rio:
- Power Seat(s)
- Parking Sensors
- Smart Key
- Lane Departure Warning
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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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