Used 2022 Kia Rio for sale 

There are only two trim levels on sale for the 2022 Kia Rio sedan: LX and S. The base Rio LX starts at $16,150 and comes with cloth seats, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 15-inch steel wheels, a 3.5-inch driver information display, tilting steering wheel column, and heated side mirrors. However, it misses out on many safety features which are optional only on the Rio S models. Priced just $640 more than the base Rio, the S trim adds Rear-Seat Adjustable Headrests and 60/40 Split-Folding Rear Seat as standard amenities. 

The 2022 Kia Rio Sedan is live for booking. Contact your nearest dealership, or visit our inventory for exclusive deals. The 2022 Rio sedan offers a few driving thrills, but shoppers in this price range shouldn't mind that. It offers good value and efficiency. Speaking of the fuel economy, the Rio is rated at up to 41 mpg on the highway. The main contribution here is the standard CVT, unlike some rivals which offer manual transmission as well.

View and Compare Rio Specs and Configuration >>

We think that the Kia Rio S will give better value for money and it also adds many features which the base trim can’t have even as an option. Some of these optional features are a 4.2-inch driver information display, automatic temperature control, LED headlights, and high beam assist. 

Also Read:

• Check out the best deals and discounts on the new Kia Rio.
• Used Kia Rio starting at $9,990, Find the best discounts near you.

"Driving the 2022 Kia Rio provides few thrills, but drivers shopping for a car in this price range probably won’t mind. " kbb.com

The 2022 Kia Rio sedan uses a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre inline-4 gas engine paired with an efficient CVT. This four-cylinder engine churns out 120 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque which won't give you thrills but gets class-leading fuel economy ratings. For its price range, Rio is a comfortable and reliable drive. Front-wheel-drive comes standard on every Rio model.

With the above powertrain, the 2022 Rio sedan sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds which is the second-fastest record in the competition. If we talk about the driving performance, remember that the Rio has been made with a simple recipe that includes ingredients such as a cheap price tag, decently refined engine, and an acceptable transmission arrangement which is enough for you to cruise on the highway and move around the town leisurely.

With 9.7 seconds required by the Nissan Versa to cross the 60 mph mark from a standstill makes it the slowest sedan among the bunch. Though, it churns out 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. The Toyota Corolla puts out 139 and 126 lb-ft of torque which are leading power figures among the bunch and allows the Corolla to clear the 0-60 mph goal 1.2 seconds faster than the Nissan Versa. Meanwhile, despite sharing nearly the same engine output as the Kia Rio, the Hyundai Accent is the fastest one in the segment and reaches 60 mph from a state of rest in just 7.5 seconds.

Surprisingly, the Rio is pretty comfortable and remains quiet. For an entry-level vehicle of this size, Rio is good for families. Though the steering doesn’t give much feedback, it is precise and inspires confidence in daily city-wide driving. The standard brakes are decent but we recommend going for the rear disc brakes that come with the S Technology Package.

Also Read:

• 2022 Kia Rio retuns 41 MPG on the Highway, Compare Fuel Economy Ratings.
• Compare side by side: Kia Rio Vs Nissan Versa.

The 2022 Kia Rio sedan returns an excellent fuel economy of 33 MPG in the city, 41 MPG on the highway, and 36 MPG combined. With these figures, the Kia Rio becomes the most fuel-efficient sedan in the subcompact segment. Additionally, its 11.9-gallon fuel tank will get a range of 393 miles in the city, 488 on the highway, and 428 combined. 

The Kia sibling, Hyundai Accent shares the same fuel economy figures as the Rio. Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla has the thirstiest engine among the bunch, but in absolute terms it's good. It returns 30/38/33 MPG in the city/highway/combined respectively but since it has the biggest fuel tank in the segment, it has a leading combined range of 436 miles. Lastly, the Nissan Versa has decent fuel economy but it has the smallest fuel tank which results in the poor range. 

"It’s not too quiet under full acceleration, but the Rio seems well-assembled, with a solid grade of interior plastic trim and durable upholstery. " TheCarConnection.com

The interior of the Kia Rio can’t be crowned as the class-leading but it is sophisticated and well-organized. With such a low price tag, we can’t expect high-quality materials to decorate the cabin. The Rio's cabin boasts cheap plastic all around but the interior design is simple and the texture of the hard plastic is not a bother at all. The seats are covered in cloth upholstery and the steering wheel has audio control plus a cruise control button for the S trim only.

If we talk about the interior space, the Kia has been generous with the headroom and legroom in the front row but it is not the same case for the second row where the legroom is disappointing and the long journeys in the back seats won’t be as fun as you would want them to be. The driver seat has a 6-way manual adjustment whereas the front passenger seat only gets a 4-way manual. There are no heated front seats even on the S trim. So that’s a bum since the higher trims on other rivals do offer it. That aside, 60/40 split-folding rear seat is only given on the upper trim.

Meanwhile, a manual tilt steering column, Day-Night Rearview Mirror, one 12V DC power outlet, and manual air conditioning are offered on the base trim but the remote keyless entry with alarm and trunk opener, smart key with push-button start, and automatic air conditioning is optional and only given on the S trim. 

Among all the sedans, the Hyundai Accent has the roomiest cabin. It leads the competition with a total passenger volume of 90.2 cu-ft and is followed by the Kia Rio which has a passenger volume of 89.9 cu-ft. Next in line is the Nissan Versa with a passenger volume of 88.9 cu-ft. Last and yes the least, the Toyota Corolla has the least spacious cabin. It offers 88.6 cu-ft of passenger volume. Additionally, it also has the least rear legroom among the bunch. That said, the biggest trunk is offered on the Nissan Versa and the smallest one is sticking with the Toyota Corolla. Highlights of the interior features are:

• Cloth upholstery
• Automatic air conditioning
• Push-button start
• Remote keyless entry
• 60/40 split-folding rear seat

How intuitive is the 2022 Kia Rio’s infotainment unit?

An 8-inch touchscreen is standard on the 2022 Kia Rio. Moreover, Bluetooth, a 6-speaker sound system, Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Siri eyes-free, AM/FM/MP3 audio system, and a USB port are also some standard features.

However, SiriusXM and two charging USB ports are optional only on the S trim. Highlights of the infotainment features are:

• 8.0-inch touchscreen
• 6-speaker sound system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Siri eyes-free

Also Read:

• Check out what the owners of Kia Rio say about the car.
• How reliable is the Kia Rio?

"The styling of the Kia Rio won’t turn a lot of heads, but it’s a nice-looking car. " - Kbb.com

The exterior design of the 2022 Kia Rio sedan won’t make you drool over it but it is still attractive and athletic. All that has changed for 2022, is the new Kia logo upfront. At the front, a black mesh tiger-nose grille with halogen headlights tries to keep things simple. However, the hatchback looks better than the two available body styles. If you want an upscale look on the Rio, opt for the S Technology Package which along with tech features adds alloy wheels, chrome door handles and LED headlights.

On the hood, it is pressed on each side a little away from the headlights which make the front side more prominent. Come to the side profile, it is pushed slightly inside on the lower half which allows the Rio to possess a more compact look and there is no flat black on the fenders. Colour-keyed handles mingle with the exterior but Chrome Door Handles are also available to stand out on the Rio S.

On the backside, there is no drama either. Nearly half portion of the taillights is part of the liftgate and the overall design on the back is rather simple. That aside, solar control glass, power heated side mirrors, heated rear glass, and auto on/off headlight control are standard on the base Rio while High Beam Assist is optional on the S trim. The Kia Rio runs on 15-inch steel wheels which can be replaced with the optional 15-inch alloy wheels. 

By being the biggest and heaviest sedan in the competition, the Toyota Corolla’s performance is certainly affected. On the other hand, the smallest one in terms of exterior dimensions is the Kia Rio. On the same note, the Hyundai Accent is the lightest which allows it better acceleration on the road. And since the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent have the shortest wheelbase, it bestows them with agility and easy parking compared to other sedans.

Meanwhile, the highest amount of ground clearance and the largest wheelbase is given to the rival from the Nissan which results in a much calmer ride and road bumps are not much of a concern for the Versa. Highlights of the exterior features are:

• 15-inch steel wheels
• Power heated side mirrors
• Halogen headlights
• LED positioning lights 
• High beam assist

The 2022 Kia Rio sedan’s safety ratings are still not out yet but the IIHS has given the ‘Good’ overall safety ratings to the 2021 Rio model in its crashworthiness tests. Furthermore, the 2021 Kia Rio has not been tested by the NHTSA. As for the safety features, a very limited number of driver-assist features are standard on the base trim, and you'll have to pay extra for driver-assist technologies.

Some of these optional driver-assist technologies features include forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, lane departure warning, driver attention warning, rear-occupant alert, high line tire-pressure monitoring. That aside, cruise control is standard on the S trim while the LX trim does get tire-pressure monitoring, hill-start assist, and rear child-safety door locks. Highlights of the safety features are:

• Cruise control
• Hill-start assist
• Lane-departure warning 
• Pedestrian detection
• Forward collision avoidance assist
• Backup camera

2022 Kia Rio vs 2022 Hyundai Accent

There are a number of similarities between the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent. Both have the same engine, both deliver the same fuel efficiency and when it comes to the fuel tank and trunk space, both sedans have the same values. But in the end, the Hyundai Accent has the edge since its performance is better than the Kia Rio’s and it also has more interior space in comparison to the Kia Rio. 

2022 Kia Rio vs 2022 Nissan Versa

Having just two more horses than the Kia Rio does not affect its performance. It is still sluggish and less fuel-efficient. Then we have the practicality where the Versa does have slightly bigger cargo space but it loses out on the passenger volume by a very low margin. Plus, the IIHS has not conducted as many crashworthiness tests on the Versa as on the Rio. 

2022 Kia Rio vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

More expensive than the Kia Rio. So, is it worth going for the Toyota Corolla? Well yes, as long as you are considering the number of features and trim range which is wider than the Kia Rio but in terms of performance and practicality, the Kia Rio gets more points. However, the 2021 Toyota Corolla has been given the ‘top safety pick award from the IIHS which is not the case for the Kia Rio. 

The new Kia Rio is a small, modest, entry-level car. For the young drivers shopping for their first new car on a modest budget or someone looking for an affordable car that has a low running cost and offers a good warranty, Kia Rio should be on the list. Though it is not a luxury car but offers good comfort and a decent standard features list including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

However, we recommend the Hyundai Accent as well. Unlike the Kia Rio, the Hyundai Accent has more trims to choose from and it also does not have any problem with the availability of features. If you still can’t make up your mind then here is a little tip. If it’s comfort you are seeking along with decent entertainment try the most reliable Toyota Corolla sedan.