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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Rio, so we've included reviews for other years of the Rio since its last redesign.
2022 Kia Rio
FCampbell, 12/22/2021
2022 Kia Rio S 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl CVT)
32 of 32 people found this review helpful
I love this little vehicle. I had a 2007 Kia Rio and this one has all the bells and whistles that I always wanted that one to have. Very comfortable and loaded with fun features. Best car on the market for the money. 45 mpg so far, not too bad.
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One of the most economical non-hybrids available
Brent, 03/13/2022
2022 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl CVT)
65 of 67 people found this review helpful
I'll start by stating that I live in Los Angeles County. The quality of roads around this massive metropolitan area ranges from very good to pretty poor (meaning pothole-ridden and full of large cracks). If you live in an area with constantly terrible roads, you may find the suspension tuning to not be soft enough for the constant beating, but I suspect that 90% of buyers will be plenty content with the suspension...certainly more so than its larger cousin, the Kia Forte with its very choppy suspension tuning over even modestly bad pavement. Overall, the suspension tuning and ride comfort is decent to good; certainly better than the thrifty price tag would suggest. It might be a little too firm for some over *really* bad pavement due to the front strut/torsion beam rear setup, but the car *does* remain composed and well-controlled at all times. If pavement conditions are fair to good, you'll find this vehicle to be quite comfortable for both city trips and long journeys. Fuel economy is where this vehicle really shines; it is fantastic for a non-hybrid. Official EPA ratings are 33 city/41 highway, but I've been consistently averaging 34-35 city/43-46 highway. DO NOTE that your fuel economy gauge in the insturmentation cluster may read something higher than what you'll actually get at the pump (a weird oversight by Kia). Mine constantly displays 36-39 in the city and 45-50 on the highway, which is 1-3 MPG too generous over real-world fuel economy. My driving style is generally leisurely but I will punch it a bit, here and there. 70-75 MPH on the freeways; sometimes closer to 80 MPH, and there are a decent number of hills in my area. Some folks may be concerned about the CVT's performance, but the CVT in the Rio and the Forte uses a chain instead of a rubber belt. Unlike most CVT's, there's no weird lag, awkward pulling sensations or delays with acceleration throughout the power band...very consistent and predictable power. Acceleration is solid and if you really need the extra power, you can either switch the transmission to sport mode and/or manually shift the simulated fake gears to quickly get up to highway speeds. Honestly, I cannot really tell the difference between Kia's CVT (IVT as they call it) and a traditional automatic transmission. While you won't be beating anyone in a 0-60 race, you'll certainly have more than enough power to keep up with both city and freeway traffic without having to floor the accelerator. Front seat room is quite generous for a subcompact and comparable to that of a large compact. Front seats are on the slightly firmer side but are still pretty supportive and comfortable for most. Thanks to an outward-shaped design of the interior door panels, Kia was able to crank out a few centimeters of space to make the cabin feel just a bit more spacious. Rear-seat leg, shoulder and head room is ample for 2 adults sitting behind 6 foot adults, but 3 adults in the rear is a very tight squeeze. Despite the narrow wheelbase, the car feels surprisingly composed at highway speeds, with fairly precise on-center steering accuracy and none of the constant overcorrecting that has plagued many subcompacts on longer road-trips on the freeway. Steering feel is a bit numb, but the accuracy is certainly there; you know exactly what your wheels are doing and is what you want in a city commuter or long-distance cruiser. Ergonomics are excellent; the controls are well-placed, easy to use and quite intuitive with old-school knobs, switches and buttons. Gauges are easy to read and attractive. The 8 inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple Car Play works great, and the 6 speaker sound quality is quite good for what is supposed to be a budget system. The rear camera quality is quite clear on the infotainment display. The trunk will fit 2 large suitcases and another carry-on with enough room to spare for extras. Really, Kia is almost doing a public service by offering a composed, refined, fuel-saving car that has good driving dynamics, looks attractive enough and is roomier inside than some larger compacts for what is a total bargain these days, then backing it up with their 100,000 mile powertrain/60,000 mile comprehensive warranty.
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Exactly what I was hoping for
Craig R., 08/16/2022
updated 05/10/2023
2022 Kia Rio S 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT)
21 of 21 people found this review helpful
UPDATE: 11 months in and like it even better. Mileage has settled in at about 44 mpg combined. Have had it on road trips to Montréal, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, and New Orleans. Not a single problem thus far. Have had my 22 Rio Hatchback (with tech package) for 2 months now with one decent road trip under its belt. I have no delusions of grandeur here- hey it's an economy car. But I've been extremely satisfied thus far. On a road trip to Montréal and back- all freeway mind you- I averaged 47 mpg while driving about 5 mph above the speed limit and just some luggage and me in the car. Comfort is fine, acceleration much better than I expected. Sound system is better than that of the Kia Sportage I traded in for the Rio. The one thing I want to stress to anyone considering buying this little car- GET THE TECH PACKAGE. Car would be FAR too bare bones without it. I have it- for US$1800 it includes disc brakes all around, LED headlights, alloy wheels, keyless ignition, nicer trim, Sirius XM radio, automated temp control system, and a BUNCH of safety features including such things as lane keep assist, driver attention warning, lane follow assist, and forward collision warning. The only negatives- it sits VERY low- not the car for you if you're someone who likes to flop down in a seat rather than ease into your vehicle. Also you have to be aware of things such as pulling too close to parking blocks- and you're not going to see much of what's ahead other than the car or truck in front of you. I also would liked to have had a telescoping steering wheel but that's not available. Overall I am completely satisfied thus far.
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Best compact for the buck
Dan Lee, 03/28/2022
2022 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I have a 2010 Rio LX and it was day and light difference. The 2022 Rio LX is also the base model but much roomier than my old one. Driving stability is significantly better and even better gas mileage at 36-41 mpg. I don't need any extra option so at $17225 MSRP it is quite low in today's inflated car market. I actually went to see a used 2020 Kia with 53k miles at another dealer they asked $16500 which is crazy to me.
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2022 Kia Rio 5dr S (1.6l) IVT
Nicholas T, 07/04/2022
2022 Kia Rio S 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
2022 kia Rio Pro's Looks for an economy car Fuel economy 36-38 city & 40-42.5 highway cheap maintenance 6 speaker audio system, nice for what it is spare tire & jack Con's Nothing... Kia is doing the people a public service by making an affordable car that achieves phenomenal mpg yet is chuckable around corners. Overall, As of now sitting at 3,108 miles I am very pleased with my Rio especially the hatch (more stable) and the gas mileage. The CVT (IVT) performs exceptionally well and wouldn't tell it apart from a traditional torque converted automatic. Lastly, I would change the transmission fluid & filter every 30k miles (helps cvt from over heating) Then change the oil every 3-4k miles with a Kia genuine oil filter and either Total Quarts or any 0W-20 grade oil that meats OEM spec. Best of luck future Rio owners!
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