The Car Guide’s 2020 Best Buys: Kia Rio
Every year, The Car Guide publishes its Best Buys in nearly 30 different vehicle categories. Today we continue our review of the 2020 winners with a look at subcompact cars, a market segment deserted by a few SUV-obsessed automakers in recent years.
The Kia Rio (MSRP from $15,495) lives up to the Kia brand’s excellent reputation for quality and deserves our 2020 Best Buy award for subcompact cars.
Two years removed from a complete makeover, the Rio gets a new continuously variable transmission in addition to the standard six-speed manual. Both are mated to a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that generates 130 horsepower. Customers opting for the four-door sedan now enjoy less selection, but the same great looks as the larger Forte.
While not the most fuel-efficient in its class (5.9 L/100 km on the highway, 7.8 L/100 km in the city), the Rio makes us feel like we’re driving a smaller Volkswagen Golf, which is quite a compliment for this Korean. It’s solid, safe and surprisingly dynamic. Inside, everything is perfectly laid out and easy to use. Refined fit and finish earn the Rio more points.
Ranking in second place is the Hyundai Accent (MSRP from $14,949), which won the award last year. For 2020, the sedan is not coming back; only the five-door hatchback remains. The Accent was completely redesigned two years ago, just like the Rio, and it still looks sharp. Additionally, the cabin is roomy and the multimedia system proves quite user-friendly. Replacing the six-speed autobox with a CVT helped reduce fuel consumption in the city from 8.2 to 7.3 L/100 km, which is not negligible.
In third place we find once again the Honda Fit (MSRP from $16,390). The little Japanese hatchback is still as versatile as ever with its configurable Magic Seat system. We also love its great fuel economy, pleasant driving dynamics and strong reliability record. Honda introduced the next-generation Fit—complete with a hybrid powertrain—last fall at the Tokyo Auto Show, but its availability in Canada has yet to be confirmed.
The Car Guide’s 2020 Scores
- Kia Rio – 82%
- Hyundai Accent – 79%
- Honda Fit – 78%
