2016 Kia Rio vs Ford Fiesta
2016 Kia Rio
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1.6 L I-42016 Ford Fiesta
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Standard Engine: |
1.6 L I-4 |
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Fuel Economy: |
28 city / 36 highway (mpg) * |
Torque |
112 @ 5000 |
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Transmission: |
5-speed Manual |
Horsepower: |
120@ 6350 |
2016 Kia Rio vs 2016 Ford Fiesta
Serving Kings Mountain, Shelby, Cherryville, Lawndale, and Gastonia
Subcompact city cars come in a wide variety of styles and designs, from the tiny Smart cars to something only barely smaller than a compact sedan. What they do share in common is a focus on fuel efficiency and value as well as a low price point. Practically every subcompact car on the market right now will offer all three of those features, but most of the cars leading in the subcompact segment right now do so because they do a good job of mitigating the subcompact cars’ usual disadvantages: weak performance, small interiors and questionable safety. The 2016 Kia Rio and the 2016 Ford Fiesta turns our usual conceptions of subcompact cars on their head by offering fun driving experiences, plenty of interior space and surprising durability in crash testing. We compared the two cars in those categories to see which of them deserves the top subcompact spot.
Performance
Both the 2016 Rio and the 2016 Fiesta take advantage of their relatively low curb weight (Both cars weigh around 2500 pounds, though the Fiesta is a bit heavier of the two.) to deliver a very fun and sporty driving experience without sacrificing fuel economy for a larger engine. The Fiesta is driven by a 1.6-liter engine producing 120 horsepower, making it quite sporty compared to other subcompacts. The Rio, however, manages to outdo it, getting 138 horsepower from its 1.6-liter by using direct injection technology. Solidifying the Rio’s lead in this category are the transmission options. The Rio can be had with a sporty six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The Fiesta’s manual is an off-the- shelf five-speed and its PowerShift automatic is sluggish.
Technology
Both the 2016 Rio and the 2016 Fiesta prove that subcompact does not necessarily mean small. Both are very comfortable on the inside and offer plenty of storage space in either the sedan or hatchback configuration. The Rio is slightly bigger, offering about a half-inch to an inch more space for both front and rear passengers in head room, shoulder room and leg room. It also features a larger trunk as a sedan, with 13.7 cubic feet to Fiesta’s 12.8.
Safety
Safety is always a priority when purchasing a car, even if it is a subcompact. Usually, most subcompacts score poorly on crash tests compared to larger cars, but that is not the case with either the Rio or the Fiesta. Both cars hit the top bracket of the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s front, rear and roof strength tests, earning a score of “Good”. The differences between the two cars do emerge when National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests are taken into account however. The Kia Rio earned five out of five possible stars in side impact tests and four out of five stars on both front impact and rollover tests. The Ford Fiesta also earned four stars in side impact and rollover testing, but was awarded an embarrassing two stars for side impact protection.
Both the 2016 Ford Fiesta and the 2016 Kia Rio upset the commonly held wisdom that subcompact sedans and hatchbacks are slow, small and unsafe. Both cars are strong choices for someone looking to own a small car without the usual compromises involved. However, of the two, the Kia Rio is a clear leader as it offers better performance, more space and a better safety record than its Ford counterpart. Seeing is believing, so come visit us at Renaldo Kia and experience the 2016 Kia Rio personally. You will be surprised by what you find.
Parks Kia of Gainesville
3333 North Main Street
Gainesville, FL 32609
* EPA estimated MPG may vary by transmission, trim and individual driving behavior.
