Modern subcompact cars are no longer the penalty boxes that they once were, and they’ve started to offer features usually reserved for more expensive cars. The new 2018 Hyundai Accent and the 2018 Kia Rio are aimed at getting used car buyers into a new car. Now packing the latest tech, both cars are strong value propositions, but which of the two newly redesigned cars from Korea is the better bang for your buck? Let’s find out.
This car comparison is based on our extensive knowledge and understanding of the automotive market but not necessarily on recent driving experience.
Powertrain Advantage: Tie
Both the 2018 Hyundai Accent and 2018 Kia Rio use the same 1.6-liter I-4 rated at 130 hp and 119 lb-ft of torque. You can pair the engine in either car to a standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic that does its job well and is reasonably responsive.
“The six-speed automatic transmission is well-matched to the engine,” we wrote in our 2018 Kia Rio First Drive review, “making the most of the available power at any given time.”
Interior Flexibility Advantage: Kia Rio
The 2018 Accent and 2018 Rio have plenty of interior space despite their diminutive size, but because the latter is also available as a hatchback, it offers more flexibility. This is especially useful when you need to carry large items or if you frequently make trips to Costco and Ikea where the extra space of a hatchback becomes handy (the Accent is shown below and the Rio hatch is shown above).
Technology and Convenience Advantage: Hyundai Accent
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration are now available in the 2018 Hyundai Accent and 2018 Kia Rio; however, in the latter it’s only standard on the range-topping EX trim. In the Accent, on the other hand, the midgrade SEL gets smartphone integration for both operating systems and a larger 7.0-inch touchscreen as standard, expanding the availability of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to a wider audience.
Beyond offering those tech features on two of its three trims, the 2018 Accent punches above its weight when it comes to features, especially in the range-topping Limited trim. The trim features keyless entry/start, LED taillights, and the Smart Trunk, which pops the trunklid for you when you stand behind the car for three seconds. For those who would rather have a loaded subcompact than a mid-level trim compact, the Accent also offers heated front seats, keyless entry/push-button start, and a sunroof.
Exterior Styling Advantage: Hyundai Accent
Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design language has been scaled down to a subcompact car, and the 2018 Accent is a small sedan with an attractive exterior free of awkward angles. As for the 2018 Rio, it has a more restrained exterior design compared to the 2018 Accent.
Safety Advantage: Tie
Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking come standard on the range-topping variants of the 2018 Accent and 2018 Rio. This means your subcompact car might keep you from rear-ending another car in city traffic by giving you an extra set of eyes looking out for you.
Driving Dynamics Advantage: Tie
Compared to their predecessors, the latest iterations of the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio are better to drive. The 2018 Accent is more agile in its latest iteration, thanks to an improved chassis and wider tires on the Limited trim.
“It’s no sport sedan,” we wrote about the 2018 Accent in a First Drive review, “but it handles securely, thanks to well-controlled body motions, a well-tuned chassis, and Torque Vectoring Control, which applies the brakes on the inside wheel ever so slightly to mitigate understeer.”
The fuel-economy-minded tires in the 2018 Rio squeal quite a bit if you really push the car hard. Even so, after our first experience with the new Kia, we noted that the car “might not match the verve of the aptly named Fit, but it provides a much more involved driving experience than either the Nissan Versa or Toyota Yaris.”
Fuel Economy Advantage: Tie
The 2018 Hyundai Accent is rated at 28/38 mpg city/highway with the automatic and 28/37 mpg with the manual while the Kia Rio checks in at 28/37 mpg with the automatic and 29/37 mpg with the manual.
Ride Comfort Advantage: Kia Rio
Having wider tires with less sidewall means you take a hit in terms of ride comfort, and when you opt for the range-topping Limited trim of the 2018 Accent, you’re stuck with the 17-inch tires wearing 205/45/R17 tires. The Rio offers 15-inch alloy wheels as the largest option, and although they might not look as good as the Accent’s 17-inch wheels, they should give it slightly better ride comfort. The 2018 Accent’s SE and SEL trims come with 15-inch steel and alloy wheels, respectively, so if ride comfort is your priority, you might want to stick to those trims if you’re set on the Hyundai.
The post Car Compare: 2018 Hyundai Accent and 2018 Kia Rio appeared first on Motor Trend.
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