The Kia Rio is best for an about-town subcompact car, ideal for a single owner, couple, or small family. It has solid driving dynamics that make it fun to drive, as well as spacious seating and a starting price that almost can't be beat.

If you like the idea of a sporty drive without emptying your bank account, the Rio is worth a look. Starting at just $13,900 for the sedan or $14,200 for the hatchback option, the Rio is amazingly affordable. And the engine is no wallflower--it really moves. The Rio propels you up hills and past cars as you cruise in the fast lane. The handling is smooth and dynamic, giving you control, even in slick conditions. Plus, while you're behind the wheel, you'll enjoy stretching your legs, since the Rio has one of the largest interiors in its class and you can feel it.

Having just benefited from a redesign this year, the Kia Rio is better than ever. It's now got more standard features like power door locks, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision warning.

One of the beauties of the Kia Rio is its affordability. And if you want a good car at a great price, the base model LX with manual transmission and 5-inch touchscreen is more than adequate and a great value. But if you can afford to step up to the S or EX, we recommend it. The S gives you the most bang for your buck, including features like automatic transmission, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, six speakers, two additional USB ports, and rear view camera. The EX has additional safety features and fun tech, like UVO infotainment interface, 7-inch touch screen, voice recognition, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

The new Launch trim is on the horizon for 2018, but details are still forthcoming about what this premium model will entail.

The Rio has outstanding fuel economy. Among four-door sedans, only the Nissan Versa does better, but just by an estimated $50 per year in fuel savings. The Rio gets an average 29 city and 37 highway miles per gallon.