The 2023 Kia Rio is among the last of a dying breed. It’s an affordable subcompact car with a low price tag and an efficient engine. Its few direct rivals include the Nissan Versa and the mechanically similar Hyundai Accent, available only as sedans. The Rio has the distinction of two available body styles — a sedan and a hatchback.
Every Kia Rio gets its power from a 1.6-liter inline-4 engine mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) directing the go to the front wheels. It produces 120 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque, and it returns 33 city/41 highway mpg.
As of this writing, Kia has not announced official pricing for the 2023 Rio. However, we know that it’s a carryover model with few — if any — significant changes. The pricing numbers below are estimates based on the pricing of the 2022 model.
The Rio has only two trim levels, simplifying matters. Let’s look at the differences between the LX and S trims of the 2023 Kia Rio.
Rio LX
Starts at $16,750 | See listings
- Sedan only
- Cloth upholstery
- Power side mirrors with heat
- Variable wipers
- 15-inch steel wheels with covers
- 8-inch touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- 6-speaker audio with USB port
- Side-curtain airbags
- Air conditioning
- See more
Rio S
Starts at $17,390 ($17,690 hatchback)| See listings
- Sedan or hatchback
- Cruise control
- Remote keyless entry
- Sliding center armrest with storage bin
- 60/40 split-folding rear seat
- Available 15-inch alloy wheels
- Rear USB charging port
- Available rear disc brakes
- Available automatic climate control
- Available forward collision assist
- Available lane-departure warning
- See more
2023 Kia Rio LX: $16,750
The base LX trim has some impressive features for the money, but it’s also missing a few hard-to-live-without features.
Basics include power windows, air conditioning, 15-inch steel wheels with hubcaps, intermittent windshield wipers, heated, power mirrors, a tilt steering column, a 3.5-inch LCD cluster display, a trip computer, a backup camera, and cloth seats.
The standard infotainment system is an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, a USB port, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. These are handy smartphone connectivity features that make it easy to bring your music, maps, and more from your phone to the screen in your car. You don’t even need to take your phone out of your purse or pocket.
The LX trim lacks a few notable features: modern driver assistance tech, cruise control, and remote keyless entry.
With the $1,125 destination fee, the 2023 Kia Rio totals $17,875. Financing a 60-month loan for that amount with 5% interest and $0 down results in a modest monthly payment of about $337 for a Rio LX. See 2023 Kia Rio LX models for sale near you
2023 Kia Rio LX includes:
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay — We love to see these smartphone connectivity features in such an affordable car.
Air conditioning — This is a must-have feature for staying cool in hot climates.
Up to 41 mpg — The efficient 4-cylinder engine in the Kia Rio returns 33 city/41 highway mpg.
2023 Kia Rio S: $17,390; $17,690 (hatchback)
Upgrading to the S trim is a no-brainer. The price difference is minor compared to the LX model, and you get many more standard features. There’s also an available Technology Package that you can’t get on the LX trim.
For starters, the 5-door hatchback body of the Kia Rio is only available with the S trim. Other than the hatchback design with the bigger cargo hold, the list of features is the same as the S trim of the sedan.
Additional standard features in the S model include a sliding front center armrest with storage, 60/40 split-folding back seats, rear adjustable headrests, a rear USB charger, cruise control, and remote keyless entry.
The available Technology package (approximately $1,800) adds many desirable features while keeping the price reasonable. You get LED headlights, 15-inch alloy wheels, chrome door handles, rear disc brakes, automatic climate control, SiriusXM, push-button start, tire pressure monitoring, and a 4.2-inch driver information display.
The Technology Package also adds many safety tech features. These include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, lane following assist, automatic high beams, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert.
With a 60-month loan at 5% interest and $0 down, the 2023 Kia Rio S sedan would start at around $349/month. The hatchback would begin at about $355/month. See 2023 Kia Rio S models for sale near you
2023 Kia Rio S includes:
Cruise control — This feature makes the S trim worth the extra cost.
Two body styles — The S trim is available as a sedan or a hatchback, while the LX trim can be had only as a sedan.
Available Technology Package — This option package adds upgraded safety and infotainment tech, alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, LED headlights, and more.
