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2022 Kia Rio review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
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Kia Rio highlights

Customer rating

RepairPal reliability 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

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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

Curious how Kia Rio trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

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:

Kia Rio photos

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.

The Rio and its related Hyundai Accent sibling gain an advantage for how easy it is to meet or exceed those estimates. Real-world testing revealed an impressive 43 mpg combined result for the Rio sedan.

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.

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

5 out of 5

4 customer reviews

RepairPal reliability rating

4
Excellent

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 Rio

Kia Rio features and specs

Curious how Kia Rio trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

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

Optional Features

  • 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

Kia Rio articles

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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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