Other Cars to Consider

In a class crowed with cars that offer a fair price, numerous standard features and good performance, the Kia Rio has difficulty competing. Kia offers another car, the Kia Forte, that makes up for the Rio’s meager list of standard features and small trunk. The Forte starts at $1,650 more than the Rio, but has a fresher design and comes with high-end features like Bluetooth and iPod connectivity on its base model. In fact, you will spend less on a Forte than if you bought a Rio and added these features and basic ones like power locks and air conditioning.

The Ford Fiesta is another car that’s affordably priced and comes with standards like power locks and air conditioning. While it starts at $13,320, it doesn’t offer as many standard features as the Kia Forte. You’ll pay extra for Ford’s SYNC system and Bluetooth connectivity.

If these cars are out of your price range or do more than you need them to, the Nissan Versa starts just below $10,000. It boasts relatively spacious front and rear seats and offers more cargo capacity than the Rio. Consider test driving the Toyota Yaris if you can afford to spend about $1,000 more. The Yaris offers more standard safety features than almost any other subcompact car and provides a zippy ride. It also has an excellent fuel economy of 29/35 mph city/highway.

    See also:

    Kia Rio review
    The 2011 Kia Rio ranks 28 out of 33 Affordable Small Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 48 published reviews and test drives of the Kia Rio, and our analysis of reliability and safety ...

    Introduction
    The name Sportage doesn't really conjure up warm memories. Many folks remember the Sportage of yesterday, a crude cute-ute that was plagued with quality issues, a weak engine and a cheap interior. ...

    Engine coolant
    The high-pressure cooling system has a reservoir filled with year round antifreeze coolant. The reservoir is filled at the factory. Check the antifreeze protection and coolant level at least once ...