2018 Kia Rio | Road Test

[@willcallaway8783]

That hatchback looks very smart. Looks a bit Golf-ish, but a tad different. And, that interior is wonderful, for a car, at that price point, hands down. The styling is safe, but very attractive, at least to me. I remember the 1St Rio. As a matter of fact, I remember that there was this one dealer who did a buy one, get one free Rio. No lie. I thought it was the craziest thing I have ever heard of, but, they were that bad. They have come a long way.

[@siseesan3147]

Will Callaway yes they have come a long way it’s a very attractive and fun to drive car

[@303nitzubishi4]

Omg I remember that there were alot of dealers that picked up Kia as a side brand when they first started out here early/mid 90s. They didn't have BOGO here in Colorado but I specifically remember a back to school special buy a Tahoe get a Rio for your kid type of thing. I'd bet those commercials are still on a VHS tape somewhere at my mom's house

[@willcallaway8783]

@@303nitzubishi4 Omg, you remember, too? 😂 I knew I wasn't crazy.

[@CFG39]

It’s as fast as a 5.3L V12 XJS from 1992. Wow.

[@fiiv3s]

I really love the look.

[@alexyoungberg5232]

You really should see a VW golf

[@user-ch5ij5yd2g]

Alex Youngberg you should see the price first

[@AngelHernandez-ls5wr]

Is ugly and it is for girls.

[@travisp11]

Hey, what happened to the dude that would run up to the driver after the braking test! Bring him back!

[@JoesGoldenGarage]

travisp11 and the lady that would walk off the feet required to stop

[@gtrzdaddy]

been binge watching the retro motorweek. those stats of 2018 rio are that of some super cars in the 80s. my things have improved so much..

[@jakesmith2984]

Grant H Lee No buddy.Super cars in the 80s didnt have a measily 130 hp. Think you need a dictionary or some car facts books.

[@kippaseo8027]

My neighbor traded in her 2001 Kia Rio Cinco or as we called it stinko for a brand new 2019 Kia Rio. She was terrified and how many things move, flash, deep xcetera on the dashboard. Her old one was a tiny little shoebox with manual windows and a 5-speed stick.

[@davidaubin3902]

3:55 Ben Davis Thumbs up! LOL

[@RedStaryPuu]

such a good little car.

[@loveitorscrapit6673]

Great little car. Thumbs up.

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

They would sell even more if they offered an optional turbo 240 hp engine with upgraded suspension and brakes. With Kia reliability it might replace some other hot hatches.

[@Ieatpeople2]

Rio-N would be amazing. i have this exact car, but with the 6spd manual. 130hp does not quite cut it. i dont think it needs the 2.0T from the sonata, but the 1.6T from the veloster would be very very much appreciated! The handling is actually impressive once you put a decent set of tires on it! I have been doing some track events with mine, and it's gotten me a couple trophies.

[@victorvandyke9898]

Love your show! Keep up the good work.

[@SulikTrucker95]

i bought the sedan model with automatic climate control and front/back heated seats.

[@theKevronHarris]

My family friend, former coach and driver's ed instructor, who I go to church with him and his family, got a metallic fruit punch red 2013 Kia Rio 5-door LX since new. He transformed the Rio into a driver's ed vehicle since his 2003 Chevrolet Malibu fell apart with lots of problems like a child's Christmas list. I drove his Rio twice in October and rode in it numerous times. It was nice car to drive!💖💖💖💖

[@amruthamurali1588]

When launching in India?

[@modmatt1]

Seems OK and like the "Golf-like" styling on the 5 door that should look good for years to come, but for what the EX costs, it would be hard to choose this over an Corolla iM - it's also a hatch and can be had with 6 speed manual with higher feature set for more fun and less cost. Also it's a Toyota, so reliability should be better and should have much better resale.

[@jasonschwartz8507]

MSRP wise yes Corolla Hatch is better value, but in actuality you can get Rio EX Hatch for $15k while the Corolla Hatch is at least $21k

[@modmatt1]

Interesting though when I use truecar and current ('18) iM vs. Rio EX, I get within $100 of each other for my local area - ~$18.7k, which when you throw in better resale for the Toyota makes the iM the better longer term deal IMO. If you can really pick up an Rio EX for $15k, that would be an excellent deal and definitely worth considering.

[@Ieatpeople2]

i got the rio LX. its a 2018 and has roll-up windows lol, not even power. but it has that sweet 6spd manual!

[@ruzzelladrian907]

There's plenty of us that need small efficient cars here in America that are affordable.

[@ncvwrx2759]

why is a 1.6 direct injection engine so weak?? wasn't mazda making 116 hp from a 1.6 L engine in 1990?? Honda was making 160 hp from 1.6L in the Civic Si too about 20 yrs ago.

[@DoSum4Me]

Naren V my Accent has 138 hp and it’s more then adequate.

[@ncvwrx2759]

i get all that, but my point just was that in 28 yrs of ICE progress, KIA is making 130 hp from a 1.6L, The Protege also had the BP engine in higher trims making 130 hp from 1.8L, no fancy variable valve timing, direct injection etc etc.

[@decafam3410]

Without looking at graphs from a dyno I would be willing to bet that the Mazda engine made 130 at 6000rpm and the Kia motor gets its peak power much lower in the rev range resulting in a car that feels great in traffic. That's 20 years of progress

[@SilverScarletSpider]

I see what you mean Naren because if you look at the Late 90’s Acura Integra’s and Honda Prelude’s NA engines and compare it to the last NA Civic Si from 2015 all three made around 200 hp. However emissions regulations and safety requirements from American, Japanese, and European governments all have influence on how cars are not only built and designed. For example modern cars have way more weight/mass to ca carry around with airbags and computerized transmission/braking systems. If you tried to put an older engine and swap it into a modern car, you would get nowhere near the power nor fuel economy as the new engine. HP output is far from everything.

[@asifehmad7733]

Naren V, that is because of fuel economy requirements. This Rio almost gets 40 mpg on the hwy. Also, the honda engine you are referring to had DOHC which was more expensive to make and the fuel economy wasn't very good for a small displacement motor. Not worth it in an econo-box

[@kennyj204]

Volt Pressure Gauge

[@noseefood1943]

best value compact 4dr

[@porkfat8109]

I like it, and no CVT. Stuff you need none you don't. Will this car last 200K ?

[@dragon81heart]

Nice looking little car Actually looks more expensive then it really is! And thank the transmission gods!! And real manual transmission, and a regular automatic!!! No shitty CVT or clunky dual clutch auto! That is a HUGE win in my book!

[@tsomeone950]

What about the Polo then???? And y are people so ignorant about small cars that are efficient in the comments section?

[@imtheonehero9305]

the new corolla gr looks justlike this car lmao

[@mercmanwon]

Such a nice car, too bad the stripes are not nearly as nicely done.

[@supercooled]

hub caps? On a 2018 car?

[@vj5225]

3:54, really? Ok, man lol

[@operamatthew]

how can such a new car look so old already

[@decafam3410]

I disagree, to me this is well styled and will age well unlike other recent offerings from Acura and Toyota

[@theKevronHarris]

I disagree. The 2012-18 Rio looks like a combination of a Volkswagen and SEAT(Spain carmaker that's owned by Volkswagen). It's gr8 looking BTW.

[@volnutt1609]

See what you mean. If you hadn’t looked at previous version’s than you really see nothing new if not old. I agree, it looks old. But it did change. Doesn’t change my opinion that it looks old.

[@Alisters_Adventures]

Because it’s a cheapo car.

[@GlossaME]

Well, buy a "modern" VW and enjoy the endless repair costs.

[@jimmyjimjims7483]

John Davis, the legend. Screw the Kia we need a review of John lol

[@vj5225]

3:55, Really dude? Lol. It's a Kia.

[@Michael_Page]

2007 Honda fit manual is just as quick and fuel efficient while being roomier and also fun to drive. It also has a bunch of air bags. Buying a new or near new tiny box doesn't make any sense to me. 15-18K for a tiny car that isn't going to impress anyone or give much joy to the driver...just get a beater and invest the money you save from not splurging on an expensive econobox.

[@camroncordell7956]

I like it a lot I just wish it had like 175 hp and like 180 torque something I could live with

[@jasonschwartz8507]

yeah you can get the turbo Elantra GT but that is $5k more and a little bit bigger

[@goclunker]

9 seconds and 16 second second quarter mile in 2018. Let that sink in for a minute.

[@gregg9672]

They ruined the style when they did the redesign. Ugh

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

Kia Forte is much better

[@rojjo]

My guess is that they will drop the Rio in 2-3 years in favor of the Forte. Goes with overall reduction in sedans throughout the industry.

[@jamesp504]

@@rojjo The Rio is very popular in other countries. They may drop it in the US lineup, but not overall.

[@jamesbensch6]

Tbh that's the point of the Forte. It's supposed to be a step above the Rio. So I would at least hope that it is better for logics sake

[@emeyer6963]

For less money now as dealer's clear out the '17's.Can get a Forte LX in the $15000's with automatic

[@_Zenyatta_Mondatta]

I have a Kia Rio as a rental car right now, what a total and complete piece of shit! Loud and bad

[@jakesmith2984]

17 seconds to achieve Los Angeles traffic speeds. No thanks .

[@FreewayBrent]

I never have a problem punching my 2018 Kia Rio to 65 MPH by the time I enter any LA freeway, and that's even with me stopping at a metering light. Put it into sport mode and you get plenty of oomph.

[@galatiel77ify]

Or you could get into a 2018 500 Abarth for the same money with the same stupid touch screen, the same 6 speed auto and have no need to beg for power. It is not like the Rio shopper is hauling anything. This whole 4 door boring box group think has killed all interesting car design and Jon Davis stopped being a car enthusiast 25 years ago.

[@sportsMike87]

I had the 2013 Rio they made it uglier with all that plastic they added

[@foxtrot685]

This looks worse than the vehicle it replaces. And has less features than that car.

[@ChristopherOvrebo]

I guess it's the least ugliest Rio ever made?

[@decafam3410]

"Europa"..........John time to retire

[@volnutt1609]

DeCapito Family when’s the last time you read a magazine? John keeps his review’s to the point and quick. I like it cause I get to hear the points and forge my own opinion. If you got time to hear some guy Babel for 30+ min review then you are a lucky guy.