Kia Rio vs Chevy Sonic

New Rio vs Sonic.

Thoughts?

the hatchbacks look nicer

might as well be gas chamber vs. the chair

I guess what strikes me is how design has improved un this segment. Look at the previous versions of both off these cars. They have been vastly improved.

yes, improved. Still boring econo- boxes. Everyone seems to be all ZOMG Turbo!! about the Sonic. Relax, it's 148 hp. Cavilers could be had with over 150 15 years ago and didn't need a turbo to do it. No, they weren't fun either.

So, do you want your trash can with, or without, a turbo?

They both loose this round. Too tall and skinny.

Rio. But no suprise there. I cannot get into the Sonic's "styling" in person. In pctures the Sonic looks "normal". In person it looks way out of proportion.

The Turbo sonic has a base price of like 18K. Buy a stripped down focus hatch with a stick for that. Add some decent wheels and have a MUCH nicer car.

Rio is classed in SCCA autocross---Sonic is not---too high and narrow.

Bobzilla wrote: I cannot get into the Sonic's "styling" in person. In pctures the Sonic looks "normal". In person it looks way out of proportion.

The bigger wheels help, but I agree, it looks taller and narrower in person, not as good as all the press photos. Same deal with the Cruze, imo, looks better in ads than it does in person.

I think the Rio hatch looks better than the Rio sedan, and the Sonic sedan looks better than the Sonic hatch.

I'd probably go Rio, I liked the interior a lot better than the Sonic I sat in (both were base models) and my Hyundai has been dead nuts reliable for me.

Why not a Mazda 2?

Both are entertaining to chuck around, but the Kia base model has some good thrust—130-something horsepower direct-injected 1.6-liter. Slap on some springs and add rear roll stiffness, call it done. Entertaining grocery getter, and way cheap.

Rio. 5-door. Stick.

The more that my old DDs break down, the more appealing this segment gets.

If we were talking hatches I'd be getting into it. With the sedans..........I just can't do it. Buy whatever, no one will care.

Per Schroeder wrote: Rio is classed in SCCA autocross---Sonic is not---too high and narrow.

If it has to be one of those two, I vote Rio for this reason.

For what it's worth, this month's Motor Trend comparo put the Rio in seventh place (last) against its competition. The Sonic came in second.

nderwater wrote: For what it's worth, this month's Motor Trend comparo put the Rio in seventh place (last) against its competition. The Sonic came in second.

Worth absolutely nothing.

Gearheadotaku wrote: yes, improved. Still boring econo- boxes. Everyone seems to be all ZOMG Turbo!! about the Sonic. Relax, it's 148 hp.

True, but it's only a starting point. The hardware is already there to make some real power, and people are doing it successfully. I think the sedan looks better than the hatch, which is sad, because a hatch is generally my car of choice.

Kia > Chevy for small cars.

Chevy > Kia for supercharged V8 beasts.

93EXCivic wrote:

nderwater wrote: For what it's worth, this month's Motor Trend comparo put the Rio in seventh place (last) against its competition. The Sonic came in second.

Worth absolutely nothing.

Beyond worthless considering the "winner" is the Accent Hatchback which IS THE SAME DAMN CAR. I love these "unbiased comparo's". They make me want to scratch my eyes out.

They mentioned the 2 feel so different that they cant believe they are the same car underneath.

They compared a base Rio to an Accent SE, which has a completely different suspension package and lower profile tires. You would think such a high profile publication might want to point that out.

I never bothered to drive a GS hatchback before purchasing my 2009 SE, but I hear its a very noticeable difference. I think the Rio SX models share the SE suspension but I am not 100% sure on that.

^ Correct. SE and SX are the same car.

Rio five door or Mazda2. If someone told me I had to buy a new car, right now, I'd be on my way to the Kia dealer.

The real question is why you would pick a Rio over a Soul? The Soul has more style, more room, more practicality, and is cheaper with similar MPG numbers. It also has rings inside the speakers that light up and pulse to the music.

PULSE TO THE MUSIC!!! OMG!!! PUMP UP THE BIEBER!!!!

But seriously, the Soul is a better option IMHO. Love mine.

I imagine the Rio is more fun to drive. But you are right there isn't much price difference and the Rio IS more practical.

One thing thats interesting is on a lot of new cars, they are doing away with spare tires, and giving you a tire repair kit, something like fix-a-flat and a pump I think. Kind of turned my wife off the Soul. Not sure what the Rio gives you for a flat tire....

She had a LOL the other day driving home from work seeing a Soul owner trying to fiddle with the tire repair kit because they got a flat. My wife feels a lot more comfortable having an actual spare in the car and not having to berkeley with the tire repair stuff.