2002 Kia Rio: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Among the least-expensive cars on the market, Rio is sized and priced below Kia's Spectra subcompact. For 2002, Rio offers sedan and wagon body styles that share a 4-cyl engine and manual or optional automatic transmission. The wagon is called the Cinco. ABS and air conditioning are optional. Side airbags and power windows are unavailable. Included with the wagon and in the sedan's upgrade package are power steering and tilt steering wheel. Hyundai is Kia's corporate parent and that South Korean automaker's warranty applies here: 5-years/60,000-mi. basic, 10/100,000 powertrain, 5-years/unlimited roadside assistance.

COMPETITION

A perennial favorite, the Honda Civic, is as good as ever. We love the wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and a high degree of civility. We also love almost everything about the Ford Focus, but were reluctant to rank it a Best Buy because it was new from the ground up. After a year of living with a ZTS model, we can say that the reliability is good. Focus ranks a notch below Civic in some areas but costs less.

Topping the crowded Recommended list are the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys. However, they are among the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the no-frills Toyota Echo, the sporty Nissan Sentra, and the roomy Mazda Protege.