2019 Kia Rio vs. 2019 Ford Fiesta: Which Is Best?

2019 Kia Rio vs 2019 Ford Fiesta

The 2019 Kia Rio and 2019 Ford Fiesta are affordable subcompact vehicles for those who have a limited budget. That doesn’t mean these aren't good cars, but simply that they don’t require a second mortgage to park in your driveway. Offered as either sedans or hatchbacks, the Rio and Fiesta boast compact dimensions that are great for those who need to navigate narrow city streets.

Each also offers good fuel economy, which helps keep them affordable even when gas prices rise. There’s plenty to like about both cars, but each has strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take a closer look at the 2019 Kia Rio and 2019 Ford Fiesta and see which is the better choice.

Pricing and Trims

The 2019 Ford Fiesta sedan comes in two trims. The base S starts at $14,260 with a five-speed manual transmission, four-way manual driver’s seat, and Ford's Sync infotainment features. The SE sedan is priced at $15,490 with cruise control, optional navigation, and the more advanced Sync 3. The Fiesta five-door hatchback gets three trims from $15,790 to $21,340 — SE, ST-Line, and the high-performance ST.

The 2019 Kia Rio sedan also gets two trims, with the LX starting at $15,300 including a six-speed automatic transmission, a 5-inch touchscreen, and a six-way manual driver’s seat. The S adds a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Rio five-door hatchback is available in a single trim at $16,400. The Rio offers more features from the start, making it a better value.

 Kia Rio

Photo by Kia

Safety

The 2019 Kia Rio hasn’t been tested by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, last year’s model was all-new and was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. There are no major changes for this year, so the expectation is that the 2019 model will also be rated well.

The 2019 Ford Fiesta has been tested by NHTSA with mixed results. It was awarded an overall four-star rating, which is good, but there were issues with the side barrier test. It showed intrusion of the left rear door with the potential for thoracic injury. Due to the potential for injury to rear passengers, this win goes to Kia.

 Kia Rio

Photo by Kia

Interior Quality

Given that these are both budget-minded cars, don’t expect either of them to look particularly upscale. There are lots of plastics and more hard surfaces than you’ll find in pricier vehicles, but both are attractive and comfortable. The Kia Rio, however, comes out ahead of the Ford Fiesta.

The Kia's standard features include a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors, and woven cloth seat trims. The rear seat split-folds 60/40 in the S trim and gets adjustable headrests for improved passenger comfort. The Fiesta has only a four-way adjustable driver’s seat on the S and SE trims, and even its upgraded cloth seats aren’t as attractive. The Rio offers an overall more appealing interior.

 Kia Rio

Photo by Kia

Seating

The Rio and the Fiesta both have room for five, but they’re not spacious. The Rio has 38.9 inches of headroom up front with 42.1 inches of legroom while the Fiesta offers 39.1 inches of headroom and 43.6 inches of legroom.

Those in back get 37.4 inches of headroom and 33.5 inches of legroom in the Rio or 37.1 inches of headroom and 31.2 inches of legroom in the Fiesta. Taller front passengers will like the Fiesta while the Rio offers more for rear passengers, but shoulder room decides this one. The Rio offers 54.1 inches up front and 53.3 inches in back while the Fiesta offers 52.7 inches up front and 49 inches in back.

 Kia Rio

Photo by Kia

Cargo

The Ford Fiesta sedan has a 12.8-cubic-foot trunk while the Kia Rio sedan offers 13.7 cubic feet of trunk space. This gives the Rio a slight edge when comparing the sedans. Opt for the hatchback versions of both vehicles and the cargo numbers get even better.

The Fiesta hatchback comes in with 25.4 cubic feet of cargo room behind the front seats. The Rio comes out way ahead with 32.8 cubic feet of cargo room behind the front seats. That’s a huge difference. Whether you choose the sedan or the hatchback, the Rio comes out ahead of the Fiesta.

 Kia Rio

Performance

Power for the Kia Rio comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 130 horsepower and 119 lb-ft of torque. This is paired to a standard six-speed automatic transmission. The Ford Fiesta counters with its own 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, but with slightly less power (unless you pay many thousands extra for the sporty ST model).

The Fiesta’s base engine has 120 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque. It also comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission, offering a six-speed automatic only as an option, which raises the overall price. Kia earns this win for giving its sedan slightly more power and for making the automatic transmission a standard feature rather than an option.

 Kia Rio

Photo by Kia

Ride and Handling

The Kia Rio was all-new last year, and it shows in how this car handles. It’s not a performance car, but it has a smooth, quiet ride that does a good job smoothing out all but the roughest of road surfaces. Steering is crisp and responsive, making this an economy car you can enjoy.

The Fiesta, on the other hand, is being phased out by Ford as the brand discontinues its sedans in favor of crossovers, trucks, and SUVs. The ride is stiff and unforgiving in the Fiesta, with plenty of wind and road noise, especially when the pavement gets rough. Longer trips will wear on driver and passengers alike.

 Kia Rio

Photo by Kia

Fuel Efficiency

The 2019 Kia Rio gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 28 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined. The Ford Fiesta with its standard engine gets an EPA estimated 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined with the five-speed manual transmission, and 27 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined with the six-speed automatic.

The numbers are close, making either choice a good one if fuel economy is a priority. However, the Rio comes out just ahead of the Fiesta.

 Kia Rio

Photo by Kia

Infotainment

Infotainment in the 2019 Kia Rio includes a standard 5-inch color touchscreen with AM/FM/MP3/Sirius XM, four speakers, Bluetooth audio streaming, and a USB audio port. The S model improves on the base system with a 7-inch touchscreen display, six-speaker audio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two additional USB charging ports.

The 2019 Ford Fiesta features a standard 4.2-inch infotainment screen, AM/FM/CD/MP3, Bluetooth streaming audio, and six speakers. The SE has the same system but expands the options with available Sync 3 with a 6.5-inch screen with navigation, two USB charging ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. The Rio comes out ahead for offering a better system from the start and making additional features standard on its higher trim level.

 Kia Rio

Photo by Kia

Verdict

This one isn’t even close. The 2019 Kia Rio comes out ahead of the 2019 Ford Fiesta in nearly every category. It has a more attractive interior, provides more room for passengers, and offers a more well-equipped base trim. It also has a more powerful base engine than the Fiesta and a smoother, more controlled ride that the driver and passengers will appreciate.

The Rio also wins on cargo room, especially if you're looking at the hatchback. The Fiesta simply falls short of what the Rio has to offer.

 Kia Rio

Photo by Kia