Consumer Reports lauded the Kia Rio EX as the highest-rated subcompact sedan in America

Well, the experts at one of the country’s most trusted sources for information on the auto industry weren’t quite so glib, but their sentiment was the same: In a recent comparison test, Consumer Reports lauded the Kia Rio EX as the highest-rated subcompact sedan in America—even when taking into account such top rivals as the Hyundai Accent and Chevrolet Sonic.

According to CR: “The Kia Rio is a solid and well-equipped car. It benefits from nimble handling and very simple controls and provides plenty of features for the price.” Among the specific attributes of the Rio that were called out for praise were its smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission, “Very Good” braking, roomy trunk and, notably, impressive fuel economy; the Rio achieved 30 mpg in the publication’s real-world testing and can reach up to 30 mpg city/40 mpg highway/34 mpg combined with the EPA.

In fact, thanks to the Rio sedan—which joins the Kia Optima Hybrid and Rio 5-door in the EPA’s 40-mpg club—the automaker “had the biggest improvement in adjusted CO2 and fuel economy performance” in the EPA’s recently released Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2011 report.

 

 

Courtesty: Kia In The News