2023 Kia Rio Reviews, Pricing & Specs

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$16,750 to $17,390

Original MSRP

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expert review

4.7

avg user rating

(3 reviews)
Image via Kia. 2023 Kia Rio front-quarter view.

The 2023 Kia Rio is one of the most affordable cars on the market today. It is an economically minded subcompact sedan that does not sacrifice modern creature comforts to achieve its low starting price. Its traditional sedan layout provides 13.7 cubic feet of trunk space and seating for up to five, and it’s available with a split-fold rear bench that helps expand that cargo space. The Rio is almost entirely unchanged going into the 2023 model year.

Trims for the 2023 Rio are LX and S. Standard features on the LX trim include 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, power heated side mirrors, power door locks, air conditioning, and a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat. The Rio also comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen. It runs the intuitive UVO infotainment system with helpful wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The S trim adds the split-fold rear bench seat, adjustable rear-seat headrests, a sliding center armrest with storage bin, remote keyless entry, remote trunk release, cruise control with steering-wheel-mounted buttons, and a rear-seat USB charging port.

If you are seeking to fully option out the Kia Rio, the S trim is available with the Technology Package. It adds 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, smart key with push-button start, a 4.2-inch instrument panel display, and upgraded Kia telematics, including smartphone-app connectivity. This phone app allows the driver to remotely lock and unlock the vehicle, set the climate control, and even locate it in a crowded parking lot.

The Kia Rio comes equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine which makes 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This combination gets the job done but complains while doing it, as the engine makes a lot of noise while accelerating to get up to highway speeds. Fuel economy for the 2023 Kia Rio is 32 mpg city, 41 highway, and 36 combined.

The Kia Rio offers fewer driver-assistance features than most modern cars. You can get features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and driver-attention monitoring, but none of these high-tech safety features are standard equipment. You’ll need to pay more for them.

Base MSRP for the 2023 Kia Rio is $16,550 for the LX trim. The Rio S costs $17,190. The Technology Package adds another $1,800 to the price of the Rio. The 2023 Kia Rio is backed by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

George Kennedy
Published Nov 21, 2022 by George Kennedy
From open-wheel racecars to specialty off-road vehicles, George Kennedy has driven it all. A career automotive journalist, George has been a contributor, editor, and/or producer at some of the most respected publications and outlets, including Consumer Reports, the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Autoblog.com, Hemmings Classic Wheels, BoldRide.com, the Providence Journal, and WheelsTV.

User reviews for 2023 Kia Rio

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User rating:
by Anonymous
Mar 04, 2024
The car is great overall for the price. The lx model is a bit basic as it doesn’t come with cruise control or keyless entry but it gets great mileage and has a smooth ride the s model is the fully loaded one that has all the comforts like keyless entry And cruise control Mar 04, 2024
by David G
Nov 23, 2023
Great car for gas mileage. Averages 40 mile per gallon. But louder (road noise) than expected. Nov 23, 2023
by Anonymous
Mar 04, 2023
Good car and FEATURES for a smaller guy, no lumbar support which is a bummer but other than that great. Petite folks will have an easier time seeing the road in this car which is great because I am only 49!!!!Mar 04, 2023

2023 Kia Rio Pricing

Original MSRP
$16,750 to $17,390
Price range
$15,877 to $16,627
Average price on CG
$15,923
YoY price change
$16,627 to $15,923

Trims & specs

Air Conditioning

Single front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Touch screen display radio · Total Number of Speakers: 6

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum

Comfort Features

Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: urethane · Steering wheel trim: urethane

Convenience Features

Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: cargo net · Vanity mirrors: dual

Driver Seat

Manual adjustments: 6

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 5.45

Engine

Alternator: 130 amps · Battery: maintenance-free

Exterior Features

Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: grey surround · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rocker panel color: body-color · Window trim: black

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2

In Car Entertainment

Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment screen size: 8 in. · Smartphone integration: wireless Android Auto

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 3.5 in. · Warnings and reminders: low battery

Lights

Headlights: Auto on/off

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night

Passenger Seat

Manual Adjustments: 4

Rear Seats

Type: bench

Safety

Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Rearview monitor: in dash

Seatbelts

Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point

Seats

Driver seat manual adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: premium cloth

Spare Tire

Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary

Spare Wheel

Rim Type: steel

Steering

Steering ratio: 14.9 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8

Suspension

Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: twin-tube gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front

Telematics

Electronic messaging assistance: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: Turn-by-Turn Navigation

Tires

Type: all season

Tires and Rims

Wheels: steel

Wheels

Wheel covers: full

Windows

Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: with safety reverse · Solar-tinted glass: rear

Air Conditioning

Single front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Touch screen display radio · Total Number of Speakers: 6

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum

Comfort Features

Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: urethane · Steering wheel trim: urethane

Convenience Features

Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): USB rear · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: voice recognition controls · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual

Driver Seat

Manual adjustments: 6

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 5.45

Engine

Alternator: 130 amps · Battery: maintenance-free

Exterior Features

Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: grey surround · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rocker panel color: body-color · Window trim: black

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2

In Car Entertainment

Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment screen size: 8 in. · Smartphone integration: wireless Android Auto

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 3.5 in. · Warnings and reminders: low oil level

Lights

Headlights: Halogen

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night

Passenger Seat

Manual Adjustments: 4

Rear Seats

Type: 60-40 split bench

Safety

Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash

Seatbelts

Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point

Seats

Driver seat manual adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth

Spare Tire

Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary

Spare Wheel

Rim Type: steel

Steering

Steering ratio: 14.9 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8

Suspension

Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: twin-tube gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front

Telematics

Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: Turn-by-Turn Navigation

Tires

Type: all season

Tires and Rims

Wheels: steel

Wheels

Wheel covers: full

Windows

Front wipers: variable intermittent · Power windows: with safety reverse · Solar-tinted glass: front

See all trims (2)