Used 2017 Kia Rio for sale 

The Kia Rio sedan comes in two trims: LX and EX. The Rio EX, the top trim level, has a significant price jump of $3590. The price jump is worth it if you prefer not to crank your windows or unlock each door individually by hand. The second trim level also adds Bluetooth, which is a fairly common standard feature in the class. The Rio EX also allows you to add features like a rearview camera and an infotainment system, which you can't get with the base model. If you want maximum cargo space, choose the Rio 5-door EX ($17,905), which comes with the same features as the EX sedan.

We Recommend

We would recommend you to buy the EX trim as it is loaded with premium features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 

The Kia Rio sedan has one of the strongest engines in the segment. The motor generates a healthy 138 horsepower delivered to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission. The power plant feels refined and smooth under daily driving conditions, as you would expect from a budget sedan. At highway speed though, the engine noise can be coarse and disturb the in-cabin ambiance.

Clearly, it's a fight for practicality, however, raw power still is accountable. The Rio delivers the most power while keeping the price down, something every buyer would appreciate. Other competitors may keep the price down but hamper the power output. 

Acceleration

Under daily driving scenarios, the Kia Rio will always reward you with smooth and refined power delivery. The 6-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly, which helps the Rio to accelerate to 60mph in 8.7 seconds. 

The Kia Rio is quicker than the Ford Fiesta, however, the Toyota Yaris can muster a similar acceleration prowess. While the Fiesta and Nissan Versa were lagging a split second in the quarter-mile run, the Rio managed the same in 16.6 seconds. The Yaris stayed back at a 17.1-second performance. 

Handling and Steering

The Rio has got a responsive handling, strong brakes, and a well-weighted steering wheel. Its body feels sturdy on the road, so the car won't quiver at higher speeds. But it is a different story when we talk about in-cabin comfort. The ride quality becomes harsh due to stiffer suspension tuning in the sportier versions. The steering is light enough for urban driving conditions but lacks feedback. Overall, the sedan is perfect to get you from point A to point B in the most ordinary way possible along with a decent ride quality.

Braking

Kia Rio offers satisfactory braking performance. The brake pedal provides a smooth and progressive response. Kia Rio (LX) takes just 127 feet to stop from a speed of 60mph.

The Ford Fiesta offers the best in segment braking performance, Fiesta decelerates from 60 mph to a standstill within 118 feet. Furthermore, the Toyota Yaris and Rio recorded a parallel performance. 

The Kia Rio sedan offers fuel efficiency of 27 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. Opting for the "Eco" version deletes exterior styling elements, swaps out alloys for steel wheels with covers, and removes the soft-touch dash cap, however, this has a near negligible impact on fuel economy rating that stands at: 27/36/31 mpg. Even base (LX) sedans with a manual transmission are rated the same.

The Toyota Yaris offers the best in the class combined fuel efficiency of 34 miles to the gallon. Yaris is closely followed by Kia Rio's 31 mpg of combined mileage. 

The 2017 Kia Rio sedan can accommodate 5 people, although the center rear seat is a little raised and would be a bit uncomfortable for adults during long journeys. The driver’s seat cushioning is on a stiffer side and doesn't provide much lateral support.

Still, at this price range, there isn't much to complain about. The interior is way behind from being flashy. The cabin is laden with low-cost but good quality materials and also comes with an option to upgrade to cloth upholstery and soft-touch trims.

Infotainment

Kia Rio is offered with a UVO infotainment system that comes with a 4.3- or 7-inch touchscreen. The audio department is handled by a six-speaker system. Overall, Kia Rio's UVO system is easy to use. The navigation system on offer is also easy to use and gives a detailed view of the map.

Some infotainment features are as follows:

• A six-speaker stereo system 
• Bluetooth 
• UVO infotainment system 
•  4.3- or 7-inch touch screen
•  Navigation 
• USB port
• Satellite radio
• HD Radio

Cargo

The Kia Rio offers 13.7 cu-ft. of rear cargo space yet the Rio's cargo capacity is second to 14.9 cu-ft. offered by the Nissan Versa. The trunk is good enough for a compact budget sedan and can hold a decent amount of luggage for 4 people or a week’s worth of groceries if you decide to take your Rio sedan at the supermarket.

The Rio's interior dimensions include 40 inches of headroom in the front seats and 37.6 inches in the rear. The legroom is measured at 43.8 inches in the front and 31.1 inches in the rear. The front seats have 53.1 inches of shoulder room, and the back seats have 52.1 inches.

Overall passenger volume measures 88.4 cubic feet. The exterior styling and design is quite attractive and impressive for an entry-level compact sedan. The fenders are bigger than average and the front fascia looks striking with Kia’s signature front grille design. From the side, the sedan looks a bit bulky for a compact sedan but the overall design language feels far from ordinary.

The Rio's wheelbase is 101.2 inches, and its overall length is 172 inches. The Rio is 57.3 inches tall and 67.7 inches wide. The rival cars feature similar dimensions and weight specifications. 

Exterior Features

Some of the exterior features offered by the Kia Rio as follows:

• 15" tires with w/steel wheels
• 15" tires w/alloy wheels (N/A w/EX Eco Package)
• Dual body-color power mirrors
• Heated outside mirrors
• Multi-reflector headlights
• Projection front fog lights (N/A w/EX Eco Package)
• Body-color exterior door handles
• The black mesh radiator grille
• Black mesh radiator grille w/chrome surround
• Heated rear glass w/timer
• Tinted windows

Kia vehicles are known to possess excellent safety ratings but unfortunately that is not the case with the Rio sedan. Even though the brand has loaded the car with almost all the basic and necessary safety aids, it is still performed in an average margin on all the crash tests conducted by the NHTSA and the IIHS. The former organization rated the sedan “4-stars” while the latter rated its safety as “marginal”.

Safety Features

Kia Rio is offered with standard safety features like anti-lock brakes, Stability Control, Traction Control, and more.

• 4-wheel antilock brakes
• Brake Assist, panic
• Electronic brake force distribution
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control system
• Electronic traction control
• LED Daytime Running Lamps
• Airbags, dual-stage, frontal, driver and right-front passenger includes Passenger Sensing System
• Door locks, rear child security
• LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Top tethers for CHildren), for child safety seats
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Optional safety features include:

• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality
• Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection
• Collision mitigation braking
• Lane departure warning
• Heads-up display
• Traffic sign information
• Automatic high beams

Kia Rio vs Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris ($15,250) beats the Rio when it comes to features. It offers more standard features than other cars in the class. In fact, even many luxury cars don't come with as many standard driver assistance features as the Yaris. Every Yaris comes with Toyota Safety Sense, which includes pre-collision braking, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams.

It also comes with Bluetooth and a touch-screen infotainment system, which the Rio only offers in its top trim. Both cars' infotainment systems are excellent and easy to operate. However, the Yaris' comes standard in the base model, while to get the Rio's you'll need to spend $18,355 to buy the Rio's second trim level and an option package. The Yaris also has more cargo space in both sedan and hatchback models.

Handling is dull in the Yaris but composed and comfortable. The Rio, on the other hand, has fairly fun driving dynamics. If you prefer a sporty ride over a comfortable one, Rio is the better choice. But if driver assistance features are important to you, the Yaris is the way to go.

Kia Rio vs Ford Fiesta

Though the Kia Rio features a reasonable price, the Fiesta takes it further. It features a reduced price but at the expense of power, as Rio's engine is way more powerful. However, the exterior might seem plain in front of the Fiesta. The rear seats are cramped and lack the necessary headroom on both cars. 

Rio is easy to handle and fun to drive, while the Fiesta's balky transmission ruins the fun. The Kia Rio is a feasible choice between the two, as you get more power, a reasonable price, and a better handling experience.

Kia Rio vs Nissan Versa

The Versa's suspension is tuned for comfort, and the result is a smooth ride that many subcompact models just can't equal. In a word, yes. Nissan gets praise for creating a vehicle that is economical and roomy, but it's hard to overlook a seriously underpowered engine. The tall sedan is also buffeted in high wind conditions.

The Rio is a subcompact packed with innovative features and excellent performance. It has overcome its past reputation as a cheap and unreliable subcompact. Its owners can also expect good fuel efficiency without giving up performance.

The 2017 Kia Rio is one of the few subcompact cars that combine a low base price with solid performance and a high-quality interior. You can get extra features in the Rio if you are willing to stretch your budget further for an entry-level sedan. Whereas other competitors allow the extra features in the same range. To get it, you have to upgrade to the second trim and add a package, again emphasizing if your pocket allows. Most cars in the class struggle on the highway, but the Rio moves rather quickly. The few competitors with eager acceleration cost significantly more than Rio. On the road, Rio has good steering feedback, agile handling, and composure, making it one of the sportiest cars in the class.