The nice thing about the Rio is that it has a traditional 4-cylinder engine. No turbos. It just works, and it gets great fuel economy. As far as under $20,000 vehicles, the Rio is probably one of the best.
I think that's standard for this ever shrinking segment. Apart from the Mirage with its severely underpowered 3 cylinder engine, all subcompacts sold in the US have 4 cylinder N/A engine.
@tall_dude1233 yeah the options for BRAND NEW cars under $20K are pretty much nothing available here in Canada. The Corolla starts at $22K for a rock bottom 2023 model, and the only brand new 2023 car under $20K on autotrader for the Canadian province was guess what, a Kia Rio S 6 speed manual just like this one except in white, and it was listed at $19,800. So there’s basically nothing here in Canada brand new under $20K. They discontinued the Nissan Versa Note, and they don’t sell brand new Micras here anymore, (stopped in 2020), and in 2018 you could get one brand new out the door for UNDER $10K, yes, I’m not kidding. For a BRAND new car in CANADA 5 years ago. Crazy. My dad’s buddy bought a Micra S that was 3 years old for $5K with only a whopping 5000 KILOMETRES. It had a rebuilt title, but he’s been driving it for 4 years and 50,000 kilometres with no issues. TALK about getting your money’s worth! It still boggles my mind how he bought a 3 year old car for only $5K! In 2019!! In Canada nonetheless. That’s basically 1980’s money when you think about it.
It's nice that Kia is still making cheap basic cars. Everything's gotten so expensive so it's nice that the lower end of the market is still covered. This looks like a perfectly adequate commuter car.
Although very underpowered, the Mirage is probably a better car than the Rio or the Versa. It's also very light, so the power deficit is not as terrible as it seems...until you occupy all 5 seats and load the hatch/trunk.
@@TheRealCatoflol that number is so fudged it's ridiculous. Actual inflation numbers are the worst they've been since the 1940s. Dealers are greedy though, purposely keeping low inventory to mark up prices.
For anyone on the fence, I just bought one of these. So far it's a fantastic car. It has great control, picks up pretty fast for merging onto the expressway, surprisingly great speakers. It has everything someone needs. I love the android auto feature as well. The road noise isn't as much of a problem as I thought it'd be, not at all actually since the sound system is pretty decent and covers that up. I'm 6'3" and I fit well. For the price point this car is amazing, and I've even gotten compliments from my first passengers.
Still on fence between this, Forte, & Elantra. Reason being is 3-4yrs down the line how will the resell value be on this with say 70-90k miles? Maybe like I'd get offered 4-5k at dealership? Not sure, would like some insight if any can be given. May got for tech package for push start but def S trim at very least.
@dbzownz12345 Kia is helping you make the decision. They have decided to discontinue production of the Rio at the end of the 2023 model year to focus on EVs.
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand Just like that river twisting through a dusty land And when she shines, she really shows you all she can Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande
Honestly, I'd take this Kia Rio over a 10-15 year old Lexus. Sure. As you said, Lexus/Toyota has a history of quality, long lasting and reliable vehicles, but who knows how the previous owners treated those cars over the last decade or more.
Another option at this price he failed to mention would be a 3-year old or so compact car, like a Civic or Corolla. That would be a little bigger and nicer than this, while still being relatively new.
The hatchback version reminds me of a Mk IV Golf. Unfortunately in traffic surrounded my 3 ton pickups, EV's, and American sized semi-trucks a crash could be brutal.
i'm doing research on the rio because i just need something that is reliable, gets good gas mileage, and i'm at that stage in life where i don't want an expensive car note. the car is a tool to get me from Point A to B meaning for me it would be home to work, and back 🙂👍
Your comment is something that I would say. The Rio is an option for someone that is looking for decent daily commuting to get back and forth to work and daily errands and the price point will leave extra room in your budget for the nicer vehicle for those family trips.
Interesting review, I haven't driven a Rio but I have driven a Forte LXS CVT and a Forte GT with the 6 speed manual. As well as a K5 GT Line. All in all I think the $3k or so extra to get into a Forte over the Rio would be well worth it. The LXS trim with the tech package still offers alot of the same cool features as the K5 like the auto steer thing but at considerably less money. This is the same arguement as people buying Versas. You get alot more for your money going from Versa -> Sentra than you do going from Sentra -> Altima. Just my 2¢
I bought a brand new Kia Rio S from a local dealership here in San Antonio, a lifetine drivetrain warranty was included as well. Fully loaded, and I love my car, I use it driving Lyft and have had great reviews. After TT&L just over $20,000 out the door. No issues at all with it.
I just bought one of these! ❤🎉 Thanks to you for convincing me that this was one of those few options out there for a person like me with bad credit! Bank approved it with no problem!! Now i can fix my credit and also drive a nice subcompact! No cheapy feeling Mirage.
For once im happy to see a standard 4 cyl engine with no turbo. Gonna be way more reliable then a turbo 4, and its going to be WAAAY more reliable then the ever growing number of turbo 3 cyl engines.
Idk from my experience ford makes a decent 1.6 and 2.0 T engine.. no problems with my fusion 1.6 135k rather buy a 30k mile used ford over this any day.
20 years ago I bought my first new car, a 2003 Rio for around $8k. Basest of base models. Manual everything, no AC, not even a radio. Got jacked up on interest since I had no credit at the time, refinanced pretty quickly after building that up with the payments.
You can add sound proofing yourself very cheaply so that's honestly not such a big concern if it's missing on a cheap car. More important is the overall noise harmonic or is some noise sticking out and annoying
If I was in market and wanted peace of mind. This would be it. Inexpensive and fuel efficient with a great warranty and it doesn't look bad at all. Wireless AA or ACP is what did it for me.
the one thing to keep in mind is that you have to drive this thing like a grandma. not only because of its lack of power, but because its a cvt. it just wont last if youre driving it like its a civic si
im used to driving a 1999 civic, and it has about the same or more horsepower. so i wouldnt mind buying this car manual and new. great commuter. just install some coilovers to firm up that bouncy suspension lol
Exactly! I have an 05 civic now & it's about the same size. I'm go check out sedan as I've only driven the hatch so far & check out Forte while I'm there. Ultimately I may go with Rio hatch, but tech package I'm debating as that extra 2k his damn near Forte LXS territory
I'd actually buy one of these as I'm reaching the age (mid-30s) I'm broke but just want something new. Too bad they don't make a manual -- I'd have to destroy the IVT under warranty. Friend did this a few years ago with a brand new Altima and killed the first CVT by 30k. Great vid as usual!
I doubt you'll kill it. Nissan had an issue with their CVT transmissions for a long time. I'm not sure if it's still an issue in their 2020 and up models. But when I was working for Nissan for a bit there was always a Nissan Rogue or a Nissan Altima for in for the CVT replacement but they're were the models 2014-2018. And the Rogue and Altima were the ones I happened to see in there the most. Otherwise they're engines are solid.
They won't because the profit margins are too thin on small cheap new cars. Carmakers would rather make huge expensive suvs and trucks with fat profit margins.
They won't, huge trucks and suvs are far cheaper to manufacture since they require no r&d or complex engineering, and they can still charge exhorbant prices on them, and people are dumb enough to fall for that scam
I got a 05 Camry v6 XLE and I'm looking at the 2023 kia rio hatchback mainly for fuel efficiency. Can't do the 18.5 miles per gallon with these gas prices 😂
Check out the kia rio S pack that’s only available in mexico, it looks really sporty from the outside and the interior looks much nicer than the us version
I know it’s entry level but I Can’t believe in 2023 Kia is still making cars with drum brakes ? Kia gives you Tons of air bags for safety/ backup camera , warranty but if you want to stop quickly? Well….
I actually prefer drum brakes. They are basically non exsistent paintence wise & might have to pull it to inspect every 50k miles for peace of mind. Thankfully if you never park on hill & use hand brake then drum brakes are an unlimited miles item!
I always thought new cars were almost at scam level with the cheap parts and build quality. I do however find it interesting how cheap you can get a new Rio or Versa. Even at those bargain-bin prices, I always thought they were WAY out of my price range, but I'm about $23,000 into my 88' Supra with 115K miles and $14,000 into my 01' Celica GT-S with 142K. Sure you can get both those cars for dirt cheap or pay a lot more for nice low-miles examples, but I put a lot of aftermarket stuff on them and they look absolutely incredible in comparison to what you get with a cheap and modern econobox, plus they are insanely fun to drive and still reliable. It's a weird balance I don't think most people even consider. I don't like to blend in!
@@dunt9913 Oregon. I've seen a lot of Celicas for sale around the same price with 200K+ miles. I've seen some good deals too, but overall not many. They aren't cheap cars anymore.
@@rushnerd damn it makes sense they really are that good. I shouldn't be surprised people stopped sleeping on the Celica. I get a lot of looks in my 03 but it never really phases me how rare it is
4:07 what you said is actually incorrect, look at any BMW from ~2016 onwards with their massive screens and wireless carplay. The issue is a Kia/Hyundai issue, for whatever reason they don't want to make it wireless on the upper trims or haven't figured out a way to do so with the way their infotainment systems work
the kia warranty is so dogshit and shady though. like sure in theory if you get an older lexus it COULD have issues, but extremely unlikely (at least mechanically). but when you buy something this cheap, thats more prone to issues, with a shoddy warranty, you more likely than not will get less miles out of it before you have to start throwing money at it. top that off with better performance, handling, comfort, interior materials, overall just a better experience... this rio has no real value proposition. even if you exclude lexus, you could get a '16/'17 6-6 accord for around the same price.. all the benefits of an older lexus, but you still get modern features of the kia AND some. idk, just doesn't make sense to me
That is so wrong its absurd. Ask basically any mechanic in the world. I would take a 20 year old Toyota over this junk. Better car, more reliable and 1 quarter the price. Why would you give anyone car advice when You're not a mechanic? Care to tell me what I should do about a wort on my foot, too?
@@JeddSmith-i6i you rather take your chance on buying someone else’s problem (inevitable and PPI DOESNT CHECK everything btw) than buying a NEW neglect-free car with a warranty??? That says a lot about you.
@@JeddSmith-i6i You are wrong! There’s no such thing as ‘Oh, it’s a 20 yr old Toyota/Honda thus automatically 100% more reliable than ANY other brand new vehicle’. You’ve been watching too much tv buddy. Calling yourself a mechanic doesn’t make you smarter than literally everyone else. Ha! *That 20 yr old Toyota already has major internal wear and tear (especially if the previous owners were negligent with maintenance upkeep’* and when it breaks down, there’s no back up from the manufacturer since the warranty has long expired. You’re just going by the *brand name* as quality* vs the brand new Rio that has years of solid bulletproof experiences with a peace of mind called *manufacture warranty . Not to mention brand new technology not found in your 20 yr old Toyota* . I’d prefer a built in factory wireless connectivity like Apple CarPlay/Android auto amongst other creature comforts than a tape deck in an old car. Haha! Y’all folks are too caught up in a BRAND NAME when you’ve never owned anything long term. Anything can last if you take care of it. You lame excuse is that this car will literally fall apart on itself soon as you drive off the lot which is lunacy.
@@JeddSmith-i6i I agree with you. However, I'd personally get rid of my Rio before 100k miles & get into something else whatever that may be years down the line. Might go back to civic again if my pocket are lined up nicely
I test drove one couple days ago & the steering felt as bad as my 240k honda civic orginal componenets & it only had 20 miles on it! Those things are junk. Rio def is a leg up from the mirage.
Thanks for the review. While I already have a weekend car, I'm needing to replace my tired 2010 Volkswagen CC daily with something at least fairly reliable and simple. i also wanted to see if the backseat was big enough for adults. It seems so.
I had a 2004 Kia Rio that was just retired at 354,000 miles. I had to fix a lot after about 160,000 but it was a good car. I bought the 2023 and im hoping it'll last me as long.
Why are you talking about a Lexus? You could find several other used cars in this price range. The video is labled 2023 Kia Rio S Review, not what cars can you get instead of the Rio. at the $18,000 price. Any car review usually mentions the tire size and whether alloy or steel wheels, and I didn't hear anything about the transmission.
This my current rental car. It’s a very average acceptable car. Nothing more, nothing less. It is Car: The Car. For $18K, very good price. I have a new Lexus in the shop, I would recommend getting an $18K used Lexus in my opinion. The road noise is so loud in the Kia I can’t hear myself think! 😂
Yeah the 10yr LIMITED warranty will perhaps replace the engine after it implodes from burning so many quarts of oil every few hundred miles. And plugs up the cats on the way. Research things people!
Well....I plan on going dealership to get oil replaced every 4k miles. If I feel off about it I may even do 3k miles. What's $100 oil change to a burning engine? As far as cat situation. I'd switch to Castrol oil eventually maybe around 20k mark then do oil change myself or at local shop using Castrol as it advetises to protect the Cat with their GTX formula :)
I have a 2022 Rio and I love mine, I got mine with the tech package in silver, it looks amazing. I definitely recommend opting for the tech package if you find one with a Rio equipped with it.
I'm debating on tech package, but then it comes around 20,500. The forte LXS is nearly dead even with that & does offer some nice things with it. I may have to just go in person to check out cars.
@@steven-rb2ef yeah I was planning on that Rio tech package. Went to dealership yesterday & the bastards said MSRP, but went & they wanted 4k over... talked them down to 1.5k over but still walked. Should be 23k out the door(OTD). I'm not paying over msrp for a RIO with tech package. Came out to be nearly 25k OTD, but with 4k over it was nearly 30k! It was Saturday near closing time, so I think the sales guy shot some coke before going clubbing lol
@@dbzownz12345 WOW that is overpriced. i paid over $500 MSRP for mine and got a Rio with the tech package for 22k out the door with 5.7% APR for 72 months. i did all the paperwork in one day got the car same day, definitely check out Kias online stock and what other dealers have to sell
wow, I didn't know Kia made a car that cheap. Another car review says the Mitsubishi Mirage is the worst cheap car you can buy. Kia is Korean and unfortunately, they don't build cars as well as the Japanese, so it won't last as long as a Toyota Corolla. The Corolla is more expensie
I bought a 2024 Mirage, I have put 830 miles on it in about a week. And overall, it is a very nice car for me. I want an arm rest, but I am using a pillow for it. I changed the first break in oil my self yesterday. Overall it seems to be a very nice car to me. The engine is not "fast", but I find it more than plenty, even with a lot of weight in the car. About 700 LB, up a steep hill. It works, but it will sit at a high RPM.
I bought a 2023 Corolla SE with a JBL sound system for $30K out the door. If you have $18K to spend and can afford a loan for the difference, go with the Corolla.
I don't know about this one. Prices for used cars have come down. Just saw a one owner Camry at a dealer for 16,500 with 36k miles 2016 model. I probably go with that over this but I do like that Rio though.
Have to remember Camry will have no protection at all! If the previous owner was an idiot & never changed oil on time you'll be stuck with a car that burns oil gradually over time. Headache to say the least when having check oil levels weekly.
I bought a 2013 Lexus gs350 for 18k with 85k miles instead of a new or newer economy car The msrp of the Lexus was over 60k and the ride quality and interior quality is 100 times better I’m not worried about reliability with the Lexus it’s made in japan and my friend had one with 350k and it was still going strong
Brand new car with apple carplay for small money. No brainer compared to an older luxury car if you care about having latest tech and less risk of maintenance cost
@@edgaryzen4925 Money does buy happiness. You don't hear billionaires complaining. When you have money you can think about other things but when you don't have money it's all you can think about.
as you said - if -. i also suggest you going to the nearest honda and nearest kia dealership to haggle. The typical Honda dealer will balk, scoff, and laugh about the price. Kia wants to move metal. I don't buy from either at the moment, but have helped anxious friends tread waters at the dealer and complete purchases. The Honda dealerships by far thought they sold the 10 commandments in the form of a car.
I bought a 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage, and out the door it was $19,951. I got 830 miles on it already. I am having a blast driving it. Been getting about 55 MPG on the freeway.
@@carledward1968 thanks. I'm opt for basic S trim w/o tech package. I try delivery so I'd be putting on 20-30k miles/yr. Might have the car for 4-5 yrs tops anyway. Debating but i might do that.
The nice thing about the Rio is that it has a traditional 4-cylinder engine. No turbos. It just works, and it gets great fuel economy. As far as under $20,000 vehicles, the Rio is probably one of the best.
I think that's standard for this ever shrinking segment. Apart from the Mirage with its severely underpowered 3 cylinder engine, all subcompacts sold in the US have 4 cylinder N/A engine.
@tall_dude1233 yeah the options for BRAND NEW cars under $20K are pretty much nothing available here in Canada. The Corolla starts at $22K for a rock bottom 2023 model, and the only brand new 2023 car under $20K on autotrader for the Canadian province was guess what, a Kia Rio S 6 speed manual just like this one except in white, and it was listed at $19,800. So there’s basically nothing here in Canada brand new under $20K. They discontinued the Nissan Versa Note, and they don’t sell brand new Micras here anymore, (stopped in 2020), and in 2018 you could get one brand new out the door for UNDER $10K, yes, I’m not kidding. For a BRAND new car in CANADA 5 years ago. Crazy. My dad’s buddy bought a Micra S that was 3 years old for $5K with only a whopping 5000 KILOMETRES. It had a rebuilt title, but he’s been driving it for 4 years and 50,000 kilometres with no issues. TALK about getting your money’s worth! It still boggles my mind how he bought a 3 year old car for only $5K! In 2019!! In Canada nonetheless. That’s basically 1980’s money when you think about it.
@@Blakecryderman7244 Yeah because the exchange rate has been garbage over the years and there is nothing Canada is doing to improve it.
@@Blakecryderman7244you are not getting a Corolla in Canada for 22k for a 2023. No way
It's port injected as well so no carbon build up issues
It's nice that Kia is still making cheap basic cars. Everything's gotten so expensive so it's nice that the lower end of the market is still covered. This looks like a perfectly adequate commuter car.
KIA BOIZ are KILLING IT!!😂😂😂
Kia has discontinued the Rio. There will be no 2024 Kia Rio. Very sad news.
The green leftys are killing the cheap gasoline cars.
@@braetonwilson4296unfortunate
Remember when a few years ago you could have Mitsubishi Mirage for under 10.000?
Inflation is crazy
Although very underpowered, the Mirage is probably a better car than the Rio or the Versa. It's also very light, so the power deficit is not as terrible as it seems...until you occupy all 5 seats and load the hatch/trunk.
Inflation is only at 5%, blame greedy dealerships and automakers
@@jonell1425the Mirage sedan is better choice versus this. Much more simpler and CHEAPER than this.
@@edgaryzen4925 +1 Mirage are great for uberEats, skip and doordash
@@TheRealCatoflol that number is so fudged it's ridiculous. Actual inflation numbers are the worst they've been since the 1940s. Dealers are greedy though, purposely keeping low inventory to mark up prices.
For anyone on the fence, I just bought one of these. So far it's a fantastic car. It has great control, picks up pretty fast for merging onto the expressway, surprisingly great speakers. It has everything someone needs. I love the android auto feature as well. The road noise isn't as much of a problem as I thought it'd be, not at all actually since the sound system is pretty decent and covers that up. I'm 6'3" and I fit well. For the price point this car is amazing, and I've even gotten compliments from my first passengers.
Helpful. Thanks!
My 2006 Rio had amazing rear speakers, and my passengers commented as well!
Still on fence between this, Forte, & Elantra. Reason being is 3-4yrs down the line how will the resell value be on this with say 70-90k miles? Maybe like I'd get offered 4-5k at dealership? Not sure, would like some insight if any can be given. May got for tech package for push start but def S trim at very least.
@dbzownz12345 Kia is helping you make the decision. They have decided to discontinue production of the Rio at the end of the 2023 model year to focus on EVs.
How is it for someone that's tall as you in the back?
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land
And when she shines, she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande
Honestly, I'd take this Kia Rio over a 10-15 year old Lexus. Sure. As you said, Lexus/Toyota has a history of quality, long lasting and reliable vehicles, but who knows how the previous owners treated those cars over the last decade or more.
Another option at this price he failed to mention would be a 3-year old or so compact car, like a Civic or Corolla. That would be a little bigger and nicer than this, while still being relatively new.
@@mbd501Still not new, I’d rather have something that has never been farted in
The hatchback version reminds me of a Mk IV Golf. Unfortunately in traffic surrounded my 3 ton pickups, EV's, and American sized semi-trucks a crash could be brutal.
Ever driven an early miata In traffic? It's like that
Yep. The audi guy went to work for kia. That hatch was one his first sneaky designs 😅
i'm doing research on the rio because i just need something that is reliable, gets good gas mileage, and i'm at that stage in life where i don't want an expensive car note. the car is a tool to get me from Point A to B meaning for me it would be home to work, and back 🙂👍
Nice to see someone who thinks the same. Just need something reliable that gets me from point A to Point B lol.
Your comment is something that I would say. The Rio is an option for someone that is looking for decent daily commuting to get back and forth to work and daily errands and the price point will leave extra room in your budget for the nicer vehicle for those family trips.
Interesting review, I haven't driven a Rio but I have driven a Forte LXS CVT and a Forte GT with the 6 speed manual. As well as a K5 GT Line. All in all I think the $3k or so extra to get into a Forte over the Rio would be well worth it. The LXS trim with the tech package still offers alot of the same cool features as the K5 like the auto steer thing but at considerably less money. This is the same arguement as people buying Versas. You get alot more for your money going from Versa -> Sentra than you do going from Sentra -> Altima. Just my 2¢
insurance for KIA and Hyundai is going uP like 60% up.
i am not paying $1800 per year for KIA RIO
It has come a way since my 2002 Rio for sure
I bought a brand new Kia Rio S from a local dealership here in San Antonio, a lifetine drivetrain warranty was included as well.
Fully loaded, and I love my car, I use it driving Lyft and have had great reviews.
After TT&L just over $20,000 out the door.
No issues at all with it.
Good luck
My wife has a Rio. It is a great car. Hers is the 2019 one with still a 6 speed transmission instead of the cvt.
I just bought one of these!
❤🎉
Thanks to you for convincing me that this was one of those few options out there for a person like me with bad credit! Bank approved it with no problem!! Now i can fix my credit and also drive a nice subcompact! No cheapy feeling Mirage.
Congrats I just had the same thing happen to me how’s the vehicle going?
For once im happy to see a standard 4 cyl engine with no turbo. Gonna be way more reliable then a turbo 4, and its going to be WAAAY more reliable then the ever growing number of turbo 3 cyl engines.
Yea seems like all of these new turbo engines turn out to be hand grenades. not good long term engines.
Idk from my experience ford makes a decent 1.6 and 2.0 T engine.. no problems with my fusion 1.6 135k rather buy a 30k mile used ford over this any day.
20 years ago I bought my first new car, a 2003 Rio for around $8k. Basest of base models. Manual everything, no AC, not even a radio. Got jacked up on interest since I had no credit at the time, refinanced pretty quickly after building that up with the payments.
You can add sound proofing yourself very cheaply so that's honestly not such a big concern if it's missing on a cheap car.
More important is the overall noise harmonic or is some noise sticking out and annoying
I did it in my rio, for a 100$, i soundproofed it and it is way better! amazon basic is pretty cheap and easy to install...
If I was in market and wanted peace of mind. This would be it. Inexpensive and fuel efficient with a great warranty and it doesn't look bad at all. Wireless AA or ACP is what did it for me.
Is that a rip-off sticker on the right side of the MSRP. BOYCOTT
R.I.P Kia Rio discontinue in 2024 I will miss you.
😢
I wish backup cameras were mandatory in the EU too. They are a great safety feature.
Glad to be a American. It's, Our Way or Eliminate..
Okishima!!! Yea that way!!!
The one legislation that U.S. beats EU in safety...
the one thing to keep in mind is that you have to drive this thing like a grandma. not only because of its lack of power, but because its a cvt. it just wont last if youre driving it like its a civic si
im used to driving a 1999 civic, and it has about the same or more horsepower. so i wouldnt mind buying this car manual and new. great commuter. just install some coilovers to firm up that bouncy suspension lol
Exactly! I have an 05 civic now & it's about the same size. I'm go check out sedan as I've only driven the hatch so far & check out Forte while I'm there. Ultimately I may go with Rio hatch, but tech package I'm debating as that extra 2k his damn near Forte LXS territory
I'd actually buy one of these as I'm reaching the age (mid-30s) I'm broke but just want something new. Too bad they don't make a manual -- I'd have to destroy the IVT under warranty. Friend did this a few years ago with a brand new Altima and killed the first CVT by 30k.
Great vid as usual!
I doubt you'll kill it. Nissan had an issue with their CVT transmissions for a long time. I'm not sure if it's still an issue in their 2020 and up models. But when I was working for Nissan for a bit there was always a Nissan Rogue or a Nissan Altima for in for the CVT replacement but they're were the models 2014-2018. And the Rogue and Altima were the ones I happened to see in there the most. Otherwise they're engines are solid.
Nissan Versa is the cheapest available new car in America, and they offer manual (as a bonus you avoid the main weakness they had, the crappy cvt).
@@noseboop4354 that is true. I been in one before at the former shop.
@noseboop4354: the Nissan Versa is not the cheapest compact in America, do some more research
Nice. Love the color.
More manufacturers should make cheaper point a to point b cars. I miss the Fiesta.
They won't because the profit margins are too thin on small cheap new cars. Carmakers would rather make huge expensive suvs and trucks with fat profit margins.
@@braetonwilson4296unfortunate
They won't, huge trucks and suvs are far cheaper to manufacture since they require no r&d or complex engineering, and they can still charge exhorbant prices on them, and people are dumb enough to fall for that scam
Oh man that thing has heated mirrors and my 2020 CS-30 doesn't...rip
I got a 05 Camry v6 XLE and I'm looking at the 2023 kia rio hatchback mainly for fuel efficiency. Can't do the 18.5 miles per gallon with these gas prices 😂
I missed the Honda Fit.
Literally best in compact class and Honda killed it :(
Check out the kia rio S pack that’s only available in mexico, it looks really sporty from the outside and the interior looks much nicer than the us version
I like the Rio. I wish more people would buy them.
I know it’s entry level but I Can’t believe in 2023 Kia is still making cars with drum brakes ? Kia gives you Tons of air bags for safety/ backup camera , warranty but if you want to stop quickly? Well….
I actually prefer drum brakes. They are basically non exsistent paintence wise & might have to pull it to inspect every 50k miles for peace of mind. Thankfully if you never park on hill & use hand brake then drum brakes are an unlimited miles item!
I find basic cars like this to be charming. There just aren’t many of them, though.
Oh man, I've given up trying to clean up smoker vehicles. Can never get that out...
This KIA Rio S even comes wirh a spare tire at $18, 500.00!
I’d still rather buy a Corolla
Same but the rio is cheaper
@@maddoxboyd6584 it's just a mirage. long-term ownership cost for Rio is definitely higher than a Corolla.
In my experience not expensive just oil changes for the last 49k miles
Would really need to know what the additional dealer markup is on both vehicles to make a fair comparison.
Kia has a better power train and bumper to bumper warranty than Toyota
This is a refresher. This is all what we really need from a car
Fantastic video . Need review series of new vehicles under $ 25,000
I always thought new cars were almost at scam level with the cheap parts and build quality. I do however find it interesting how cheap you can get a new Rio or Versa. Even at those bargain-bin prices, I always thought they were WAY out of my price range, but I'm about $23,000 into my 88' Supra with 115K miles and $14,000 into my 01' Celica GT-S with 142K. Sure you can get both those cars for dirt cheap or pay a lot more for nice low-miles examples, but I put a lot of aftermarket stuff on them and they look absolutely incredible in comparison to what you get with a cheap and modern econobox, plus they are insanely fun to drive and still reliable. It's a weird balance I don't think most people even consider. I don't like to blend in!
you threw 14 grand at a Celica? why
@@dunt9913 All together including the purchase price. Car was $under 8,000, but closer to $10K with the payment plan.
@@rushnerd damn bro do you live in a coastal state?
@@dunt9913 Oregon. I've seen a lot of Celicas for sale around the same price with 200K+ miles. I've seen some good deals too, but overall not many. They aren't cheap cars anymore.
@@rushnerd damn it makes sense they really are that good. I shouldn't be surprised people stopped sleeping on the Celica. I get a lot of looks in my 03 but it never really phases me how rare it is
Am I the only one who hears a riff from the song bad company when his theme play? There’s a spot where I want to sing “and threw away the sun”.
4:07 what you said is actually incorrect, look at any BMW from ~2016 onwards with their massive screens and wireless carplay. The issue is a Kia/Hyundai issue, for whatever reason they don't want to make it wireless on the upper trims or haven't figured out a way to do so with the way their infotainment systems work
I must say, the Rio looks pretty good inside.
the kia warranty is so dogshit and shady though. like sure in theory if you get an older lexus it COULD have issues, but extremely unlikely (at least mechanically). but when you buy something this cheap, thats more prone to issues, with a shoddy warranty, you more likely than not will get less miles out of it before you have to start throwing money at it. top that off with better performance, handling, comfort, interior materials, overall just a better experience... this rio has no real value proposition. even if you exclude lexus, you could get a '16/'17 6-6 accord for around the same price.. all the benefits of an older lexus, but you still get modern features of the kia AND some. idk, just doesn't make sense to me
i drive Kia Rio FB for almost 6 years, if you do maintenance at time, it is reliable.
There’s NEVER a time when a used Lexus or any other car is considered better than a brand new car with zero miles and full manufacturer warranty. Lol
Agreed
That is so wrong its absurd. Ask basically any mechanic in the world. I would take a 20 year old Toyota over this junk. Better car, more reliable and 1 quarter the price. Why would you give anyone car advice when You're not a mechanic? Care to tell me what I should do about a wort on my foot, too?
@@JeddSmith-i6i you rather take your chance on buying someone else’s problem (inevitable and PPI DOESNT CHECK everything btw) than buying a NEW neglect-free car with a warranty??? That says a lot about you.
@@JeddSmith-i6i You are wrong! There’s no such thing as ‘Oh, it’s a 20 yr old Toyota/Honda thus automatically 100% more reliable than ANY other brand new vehicle’. You’ve been watching too much tv buddy. Calling yourself a mechanic doesn’t make you smarter than literally everyone else. Ha!
*That 20 yr old Toyota already has major internal wear and tear (especially if the previous owners were negligent with maintenance upkeep’* and when it breaks down, there’s no back up from the manufacturer since the warranty has long expired.
You’re just going by the *brand name* as quality* vs the brand new Rio that has years of solid bulletproof experiences with a peace of mind called *manufacture warranty . Not to mention brand new technology not found in your 20 yr old Toyota* . I’d prefer a built in factory wireless connectivity like Apple CarPlay/Android auto amongst other creature comforts than a tape deck in an old car. Haha!
Y’all folks are too caught up in a BRAND NAME when you’ve never owned anything long term. Anything can last if you take care of it. You lame excuse is that this car will literally fall apart on itself soon as you drive off the lot which is lunacy.
@@JeddSmith-i6i I agree with you. However, I'd personally get rid of my Rio before 100k miles & get into something else whatever that may be years down the line. Might go back to civic again if my pocket are lined up nicely
Being a cheap car, it has a basic screen between the guages and not as fancy as the Toyota Corolla
Buyers can often get a larger, more refined Forte for just a few dollars more. Much better value and driving experience 😊
I’m surprised. It’s a nice car.
Great Video Zach! I have a question. Does the Kia Rio have drum brakes in the back or are they disc?
drum
get out $19k ?, most ia the AC is dead after 5-6 years
For the same price, this is a lot more car, and better looking than the Mitsubishi Mirage
I bought a 2024 Mirage, I'm happy. In 9 days I put 830 miles on it.
I test drove one couple days ago & the steering felt as bad as my 240k honda civic orginal componenets & it only had 20 miles on it! Those things are junk. Rio def is a leg up from the mirage.
Thanks for the review. While I already have a weekend car, I'm needing to replace my tired 2010 Volkswagen CC daily with something at least fairly reliable and simple. i also wanted to see if the backseat was big enough for adults. It seems so.
I drive a Kia they are lousy no thanks.
I had a 2004 Kia Rio that was just retired at 354,000 miles. I had to fix a lot after about 160,000 but it was a good car. I bought the 2023 and im hoping it'll last me as long.
Lexus no doubt even with flaws and a old mark levenson audio that’s gonna blow out in a couple months can’t do the rio
Why are you talking about a Lexus? You could find several other used cars in this price range. The video is labled 2023 Kia Rio S Review, not what cars can you get instead of the Rio. at the $18,000 price. Any car review usually mentions the tire size and whether alloy or steel wheels, and I didn't hear anything about the transmission.
Thanks, Zach, for your great video on the 2023 KIA Rio S!
I love the looks! It looks much better than the Corolla!
This doesn't compete with the Corolla - that's the Forte's job - but your point about its styling is still valid.
This my current rental car. It’s a very average acceptable car. Nothing more, nothing less. It is Car: The Car. For $18K, very good price.
I have a new Lexus in the shop, I would recommend getting an $18K used Lexus in my opinion. The road noise is so loud in the Kia I can’t hear myself think! 😂
Your new Lexus is.....IN THE SHOP, you advise getting an old Lexus, but the reality is you ARE DRIVING A KIA RIO! lol.
I’d love to see you review the 23’ Elantra, you have the most helpful reviews!!
I’d have to try and get a Versa , but this is practical, especially in Massa Bidens horrible economy 😮
I wish they would make more economy cars.
Most likely to be my first car, I looked it up and it says that the rio is the most reliable model...Jeesh
Yeah the 10yr LIMITED warranty will perhaps replace the engine after it implodes from burning so many quarts of oil every few hundred miles. And plugs up the cats on the way. Research things people!
This is correct. Also, did you know that a powertrain warranty will NOT cover those cats? Warranty companies are very shady.
Well....I plan on going dealership to get oil replaced every 4k miles. If I feel off about it I may even do 3k miles. What's $100 oil change to a burning engine? As far as cat situation. I'd switch to Castrol oil eventually maybe around 20k mark then do oil change myself or at local shop using Castrol as it advetises to protect the Cat with their GTX formula :)
Wait, what's this about Apple and Carplay / screen size limitations? Any more information on that?
Leave it to Apple to fxxk it up for everyone.
Awesome video. Thank you!
Warranty is crap. They'll do anything to not honor it. Buy the used Lexus.
Good car ❤❤❤❤❤❤🔥🔥🔥🔥❤❤❤❤❤
that GSf would rob you blind with that v8:)
Best cheap car. I have one. Fun car. But it's a value ride.
Good review, just subbed keep it up!
I have a 2022 Rio and I love mine, I got mine with the tech package in silver, it looks amazing. I definitely recommend opting for the tech package if you find one with a Rio equipped with it.
I'm debating on tech package, but then it comes around 20,500. The forte LXS is nearly dead even with that & does offer some nice things with it. I may have to just go in person to check out cars.
@@dbzownz12345 i would highly recommend getting something with a push to start ignition if you’re going for Kia\Hyundai due to high thefts.
@@steven-rb2ef yeah I was planning on that Rio tech package. Went to dealership yesterday & the bastards said MSRP, but went & they wanted 4k over... talked them down to 1.5k over but still walked. Should be 23k out the door(OTD). I'm not paying over msrp for a RIO with tech package. Came out to be nearly 25k OTD, but with 4k over it was nearly 30k! It was Saturday near closing time, so I think the sales guy shot some coke before going clubbing lol
@@dbzownz12345 WOW that is overpriced. i paid over $500 MSRP for mine and got a Rio with the tech package for 22k out the door with 5.7% APR for 72 months. i did all the paperwork in one day got the car same day, definitely check out Kias online stock and what other dealers have to sell
wow, I didn't know Kia made a car that cheap. Another car review says the Mitsubishi Mirage is the worst cheap car you can buy. Kia is Korean and unfortunately, they don't build cars as well as the Japanese, so it won't last as long as a Toyota Corolla. The Corolla is more expensie
Lol they build as good as the Japanese? Now thats just hilarious
@@moeanthony9308 oops that should be DON"T build cars
@@davinp got it
I bought a 2024 Mirage, I have put 830 miles on it in about a week. And overall, it is a very nice car for me. I want an arm rest, but I am using a pillow for it. I changed the first break in oil my self yesterday. Overall it seems to be a very nice car to me.
The engine is not "fast", but I find it more than plenty, even with a lot of weight in the car. About 700 LB, up a steep hill. It works, but it will sit at a high RPM.
I bought a 2023 Corolla SE with a JBL sound system for $30K out the door. If you have $18K to spend and can afford a loan for the difference, go with the Corolla.
Nothing wrong with the Corolla, but a 12k price difference for a similar car that has a better warranty is hard to swallow.
@@TheRealCatofexactly! It an economy car; not a sport car. Why spend more for brand when one don’t have to?
Can you make videos of your driving experience
Lol paying $30k for a Corolla and happy about it. What a time to be alive!
I don't know about this one. Prices for used cars have come down. Just saw a one owner Camry at a dealer for 16,500 with 36k miles 2016 model. I probably go with that over this but I do like that Rio though.
Have to remember Camry will have no protection at all! If the previous owner was an idiot & never changed oil on time you'll be stuck with a car that burns oil gradually over time. Headache to say the least when having check oil levels weekly.
You are right, maybe the previous owner did stoplight to stoplight racing. My last 2 cars were used and I got the good part of the luck of the draw.
Good hatchback
Good information and insights.
I bought a 2013 Lexus gs350 for 18k with 85k miles instead of a new or newer economy car
The msrp of the Lexus was over 60k and the ride quality and interior quality is 100 times better
I’m not worried about reliability with the Lexus it’s made in japan and my friend had one with 350k and it was still going strong
I’d go with the Nissan Versa with the 5 speed.
Brand new car with apple carplay for small money. No brainer compared to an older luxury car if you care about having latest tech and less risk of maintenance cost
Am I crazy for thinking these cars look kinda nice outside of the cheap plastic hubcaps?
No center console is a dealbreaker
60k miles for me would last me 30 years 😂
I Average 30, 35.000 miles a year....im 64 years old.. dont you ever go anywhere?
That will last me 2 years.
Kia: Movement that inspires...you to take it to a mechanic.
My daugher is considering buying one. I forwarded your review to her. Thank you for the helpful information.
Has there been a review that passes the big friggin’ bottle test
22% of my reviews pass the test!
An idea for you: get a SMALLER bottle!!@@ShootingCars
It looks like a rental car. Work a little harder and buy a corolla.
Where is the trunk button?
Screen reaction lil delayed
Are the kias reliable or not?
I've had 3. All were great, no problems. They were all bought new.
Sooo the base model rear seats can’t fold forward 😪
I don't even own a car but i like your vids!
It’s really hard to find a rio anywhere.
Is the tech package worth the extra price?
Student cars
Does anybody actually buy those cringe big friggin bottle stickers?
Yes
Yes.
Does th3 2023 or 24 Rio have a timing chain or belt?
Chain
Man, if you could just cough up another 4k or so, that puts you in a Civic, which imo is a far better car and will ultimately be the better deal.
$4k?? Too much $ to spend. $ doesn’t buy happiness.
@@edgaryzen4925 Money does buy happiness. You don't hear billionaires complaining. When you have money you can think about other things but when you don't have money it's all you can think about.
as you said - if -. i also suggest you going to the nearest honda and nearest kia dealership to haggle. The typical Honda dealer will balk, scoff, and laugh about the price. Kia wants to move metal. I don't buy from either at the moment, but have helped anxious friends tread waters at the dealer and complete purchases. The Honda dealerships by far thought they sold the 10 commandments in the form of a car.
@@trumpet12345 understood. Not a fan of Honda lineup to be honest. Seem like they have lost their DNA a lil
I bought a 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage, and out the door it was $19,951. I got 830 miles on it already. I am having a blast driving it. Been getting about 55 MPG on the freeway.
I actually bought the same car except mines has the technology package and the alloy wheels.
any regrets so far? Like you could have gotten a forte LXS for same price nearly.
@dbzownz12345 NO regrets so far.... The price point is a bit higher. but makes up for it with the package.
@@carledward1968 thanks. I'm opt for basic S trim w/o tech package. I try delivery so I'd be putting on 20-30k miles/yr. Might have the car for 4-5 yrs tops anyway. Debating but i might do that.
Nice review, you should check the new Nissan Versa and tell us your feedback
I have a review of one coming out soon! Same boat as the Rio, not a fan of the CVT but the Versa did get heated seats for $22k
When you say keep up with the maintenance is that oil changes?
Yup! Get your oil changed on time, keep the filters fresh, swap trans fluid and diff fluid when they tell you.