Gone are the days of the uninspiring, poorly designed, my-Dad-made-me-drive-this small car. Today’s era of subcompact sedans and hatchbacks – with the likes of the Hyundai Accent, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra, and others – has stepped up its game on every level, from sleeker styling and better driving dynamics to more excellent cabins with more features and additional cargo space.
And in the world of new cars, perhaps no other segment has seen such drastic improvements over the past twenty years or so as the underrated subcompact. The incentives and features are growing, the gap between these and the slightly larger compact cars is shrinking, and best of all? The price points remain reasonable and within reach for most young students, urbanites, and first-time car buyers entering the daunting world of vehicle ownership.
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What’s New for the 2018 Kia Rio Hatchback
Entering 2018, the fourth-generation Rio is entirely new, available in a sedan or 5-door iteration. It gets a sportier look, a spacious cabin, and better driving dynamics thanks to a broader, lower body and a longer wheelbase compared to the outgoing 2017 version. More technology finds its way into the cabin via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (standard on EX models), an all-new telematics system (UVO Intelligence), and an updated floating tablet-style head unit. Power remains the same with the 1.6L, 130-hp engine carried over from last year.
A Surprisingly Upscale Cabin for a Subcompact
Inside, Kia paid extra attention to the minor details and incorporated softer plastics throughout for a little more premium feel, as opposed to the harder, cheaper finishing found in other small cars. The door panels are a one-piece design, reducing noise and clutter. At the center stack, all the controls are placed above the shifter, so everything is within reach. At the same time, the cavity below, with a USB and 12-volt outlet, offers ample storage space, including a second mini-self to hold phones, wallets, and small items.
“The 2018 Kia Rio holds up well as a reliable, no-nonsense daily driver. Its naturally aspirated 1.6L engine is simple and proven, avoiding the complexity (and potential issues) of turbocharged setups in this class.”
The only gripe is the absence of a retractable cover or compartment to hide the devices from plain sight (everything is exposed), especially when they’re plugged in, and you’re not inclined to disconnect them when stepping out for a bit (the center armrest storage with lid doesn’t have a USB port). Not a deal breaker, but still.
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That Tablet-Style Screen (Done Right)
Popular these days, from subcompact and compact to luxury vehicles, is the floating-style head unit and screen; for what it’s worth, it looks like a tablet duct-taped to the dash. The new 2018 Rio gets the same treatment, but the styling isn’t invasive; the head unit design is clean and squared-off (as opposed to round and bubbly as in some competing products – but hey, it’s a personal preference).
More Space, Smarter Seats
The new cabin is overall more spacious. Aside from its wider, longer dimensions for 2018, which creates all this extra real estate, upfront, the lower dash and elevated panels (i.e., glove compartment area) have been raised considerably, offering more legroom and knee space for today’s young buyers who, for some reason, are getting taller and taller.
The new, 2nd-generation seats in the all-new Rio are now lighter, slimmer, and produced from higher-quality steel. But the bigger deal here is the heated seats for the cold months: they’re now controlled via an electronic control module, so heat levels automatically lower based on time duration (preventing overheating of the system and seat material — yes, it’s possible to have seats that overheat. From experience, it’s usually in these smaller vehicles and compact crossovers). Black cloth comes standard on the LX and EX trims, with black leather on the higher-level EX Tech.
More Usable Cargo Space
Collectively, as a society, we’re all accumulating more and more crap. Young buyers, in particular, are no exception. Some of it is legit (sporting gear), some not so much (hoarding). Nevertheless, you can’t go wrong with extra cargo space to haul all of this around, and the Rio, in its 5-door version, has stepped it up. The hatch opening is both wider and higher, while the luggage tray depth also increases. There’s also a convenient cargo privacy cover to conceal everything when the hatch is closed.
UVO Intelligence: App/Web-based remote services
We’re beginning to see Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make their way into new vehicles. Within a few years, we’re sure this will be a must-have as we continue to rely on our devices, eliminating the need for expensive and usually archaic nav/infotainment systems.
But the next step is for automakers to introduce their own app-based and web-based remote telematic systems for the long-distance transmission of computerized information. Ford recently introduced FordPass, and now Kia unveils UVO Intelligence, a first for the automaker, with the all-new Rio the first vehicle in the family to offer it.
It’s an embedded modem inside the car head unit, eliminating the need for a phone and offering a full suite of remote services that tap into the Rio’s brain, from remotely starting your car to activating the heated steering wheel — all from an app or a browser. Mechanical advantages include monthly vehicle health reports to help troubleshoot any internal issues. But there will be a cost. Fortunately, UVO Intelligence is free for the first 5-years right now.
Small Power, Better Drive Than Expected
- Engine: 1.6L inline-4
- Horsepower: 130 hp
- Torque: 119 lb-ft
- Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
- Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive (FWD)
The 2018 Rio is powered by the same engine as last year: a 1.6L making 130 horsepower and 119 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. However, it’s been retuned to improve low- to mid-range acceleration. These power numbers aren’t huge, nor should they be, but they are on par with the other two leaders in the segment: the Honda Fit and Hyundai Accent.
How the Rio Stacks Up Against Rivals
| Vehicle | Horsepower (Torque lb.-ft.) |
|---|---|
| Kia Rio | 130 (119) |
| Hyundai Accent | 130 (118) |
| Honda Fit | 130 (114) |
| Chevy Sonic | 125 (125) |
| Ford Fiesta | 120 (112) |
| Nissan Versa Note | 109 (107) |
| Nissan Micra | 107 (107) |
| Toyota Yaris | 106 (103) |
| Chevy Spark | 98 (94) |
| Fiat 500 | 98 (98) |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 74 (74) |
New Safety Tech That Actually Matters
As you’d expect, the new Rio comes with a whole new group of safety features — from an improved, more high-strength body to the new Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): a new braking system that activates the brakes when it detects dangerous, sudden braking by the car ahead; when traveling between 8 and 80 km/h, the new Rio will come to a complete stop. However, the AEB is only available on the EX Tech trim.
Clean, European-Inspired Styling That Works
Kia certainly isn’t slacking when it comes to its exterior styling, thanks almost entirely to Mr. Peter Schreyer (former Audi design head), who brought home countless design awards in recent years.
Redesigned with a heavy dose of European flair, the Rio’s new look is streamlined yet beefy and sculpted. Styling is always a personal preference, but there’s no doubt this hatchback has some serious curb appeal, and so do many others in this class. But this 5-door sits lower than most of them, and with its new, wider, longer stance, it definitely sports a more aerodynamic presence, which separates it from the pack.
The front treatment still finds the Kia tiger nose grill flanked by small projection fog lamps, U-shaped LED daytime running lights, and long, stylish LED signal repeaters on the side mirrors (all three on the EX models). The rear treatment includes a standard rear spoiler on this 5-door only and a standard rearview camera; a step up from the entry-level Rio EX trim, rear styling consists of a chrome beltline running front to back across the windows, and LED lightbar taillights (EX Sport).
Wheels, Trims, and What You Actually Get
The standard offering is 15-inch steel wheels with covers, while options include the 15-inch alloy rims on the EX and larger machine-finished 17-inch sport alloys on the EX Sport and EX Tech. Six different paint colours offer a lot of metallic this year, including a new Ice Blue for 2018.
Takeaway: Is the 2018 Kia Rio Reliable Today?
The 2018 Kia Rio holds up well as a reliable, no-nonsense daily driver. Its naturally aspirated 1.6L engine is simple and proven, avoiding the complexity (and potential issues) of turbocharged setups in this class. Over time, it’s proven durable with routine maintenance, while offering solid fuel economy and low running costs—exactly what most buyers in this segment are after.
That said, it’s still a budget car. Materials will show wear sooner than in higher segments, and long-term ownership depends heavily on upkeep. But if you’re looking for an affordable, dependable used hatchback that’s easy to live with, the Rio remains a smart, low-risk pick today.
2018 Kia Rio Hatchback Specs
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.6L Inline-4 |
| Power | 130 horsepower |
| Torque | 119 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed Automatic |
| Drive Type | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) |
| Curb Weight | Approximately 2,714 lbs |
| Wheelbase | 101.6 inches |
| Length | 160.0 inches |
| Width | 67.9 inches |
| Height | 57.1 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 17.4 cubic feet (Behind Rear Seats) |
| Maximum Cargo Volume | 32.8 cubic feet (With Rear Seats Folded) |
