The 2021 Kia Rio sedan and hatchback are classified as economical subcompact cars—we used to call such cars “econoboxes”—but they’re surprisingly more sophisticated than that. So much so that we named the Rio to our Editors’ Choice list. The Kia couple shares a cabin design that exudes an elegant simplicity thanks to a smart layout and pleasing materials. On the flip side, both of the Rios’ back seats suffer from limited passenger space and neither body style has a particularly accommodating cargo area or trunk. We’re even willing to forgive their dearth of common driver assists because the Chevy Spark and Nissan Versa are the only rivals that offer more advanced safety features. The 2021 Rios shine with their refined ride quality and composed handling, which help squash any stereotypes about cheap transportation.

The 2021 Kia Rio sedan and hatchback are classified as economical subcompact cars—we used to call such cars “econoboxes”—but they’re surprisingly more sophisticated than that. So much so that we named the Rio to our Editors’ Choice list. The Kia couple shares a cabin design that exudes an elegant simplicity thanks to a smart layout and pleasing materials. On the flip side, both of the Rios’ back seats suffer from limited passenger space and neither body style has a particularly accommodating cargo area or trunk. We’re even willing to forgive their dearth of common driver assists because the Chevy Spark and Nissan Versa are the only rivals that offer more advanced safety features. The 2021 Rios shine with their refined ride quality and composed handling, which help squash any stereotypes about cheap transportation.