Hyundai Elantra vs Kia Rio

If you’ve been shopping for a new compact sedan in the Trenton area, you’ve probably come across the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Rio at some point. Each vehicle has a unique exterior style. In addition, Hyundai and Kia installed some of the latest technology to keep you connected and safe. Finally, of course, both compact cars get excellent gas mileage.

So how do you decide between the two? That’s why we created this head-to-head comparison. In the end, you’ll have all the information you need to make an intelligent buying decision.

Curb Appeal

“Hyundai Elantra HD (China)” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by theKCB

Hyundai has redesigned the Elantra, bringing sleek, modern style to the compact sedan. Elantra has a signature grille framed by LED headlights. Its angular front-fascia delivers an aggressive stare. Sharp lines on its chiseled side body and a wide stance give the Elantra its athletic profile. The sloping roofline reminds you of the fastbacks of old, and the integrated rear spoiler adds functional style.

Elantra comes in four trims, the SE, SEL, and Limited, plus the sport-inspired N-Line. The Elantra SE rolls on 15-inch alloy wheels, while the SEL comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels and the option for 17-inch wheels. The top-tier Limited uses a 17-inch wheels standard. Hyundai’s N-Line offers 18-inch wheels wrapped in performance tires.

Kia lists the Rio as a subcompact sedan, and its full eight inches shorter length supports this. The Rio comes in two trims, the LX and S. Rio’s front fascia features a stylish mesh grille framed by halogen headlights with an option for LED headlights on the S trim. Both trims roll on 15-inch alloy wheels.

Interior Comfort and Convenience

Inside the Elantra cabin, you have six-way adjustable front seats on the SE and SEL trims with premium cloth upholstery. Elantra’s Limited trim has premium leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. 

The Elantra N-Line features signature leather seats with a power-adjustable function and lumbar support. You also get a signature leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob on the N-Line. In addition, heated front seats and a power sunroof are available on the SEL and standard on the N-Line and Limited trims.

All your Elantra tech runs through an 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen on the lower trims, while the Limited trim gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen. In addition, the HD radio has SiriusXM enabled to expand your listening choices. 

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth enhance your connectivity. Now, you can sync your cellphones for hands-free operations. Making calls, replying to texts, streaming your favorite music, and more has never been easier using intuitive voice commands. You also have a wireless charging pad standard on the N-Line and Limited trims and can add this option to the SEL.

Kia offers the Tricot & Woven premium cloth seat trim.  The driver’s seat has a six-way manual-adjusting function with no option for power-operating.

Both Rio trims come with an 8-inch touch screen, and you can add the SiriusXM package as an option on the S trim. You also get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth in your Rio, enabling the same hands-free functions. 

Performance

Elantra’s SE, SEL, and Limited trims use Hyundai’s 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with dual overhead cams and 16 valves with dual continuously variable valve timing and multi-point fuel injection technology. Hyundai pairs this engine with their Smartstream intelligent variable transmission (IVT). As a result, this powertrain produces 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque.

N-Line models upgrade to a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 16 valves with gasoline direct injection technology. You have two transmission options on the N-Line. Six-speed manual transmission offers a spirited, connected driving experience, or you can choose the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with SHIFTRONIC technology. With the DCT powertrain, you get steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The N-Line puts out an impressive 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque.

Elantra’s 2.0-liter powertrain gets an EPA-estimated 33/43/37 mpg city/highway/combined ratings. The powerful N-line engine drops slightly to 25/34/28 mpg ratings. 

Kia installed a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine in both Rio models. This engine has dual overhead cams and 16 valves with multi-point fuel injection. Kia mates this engine to their intelligent variable transmission. This powertrain produces 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque. The Rio gets an EPA-estimated 33/41/36 city/highway/combined ratings.

Driver-Assist Technology

Hyundai includes SmartSense, a suite of driver-assist systems in every Elantra model. The suite includes parking collision-avoidance assist-rear, which uses sensors to detect objects in your path while in reverse. Should you fail to react, the system will apply the brakes to help avoid a collision. 

SmartSense also includes forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection. This system uses radar and optical sensors to scan the road ahead for potential hazards. You’ll receive visual and audio alerts, and if you react slowly, the system provides emergency brake support to help mitigate a possible accident.

A blind-spot collision-avoidance assist uses similar technology to alert you when vehicles enter your Elantra’s blind spots. In some cases, the system will gently adjust your steering to help you avoid a collision. In addition, Hyundai’s lane keeping assist and lane following assist systems track your Elantra while traveling within marked lanes. Under certain circumstances, the system provides steering input to keep you centered and avoid unintentional drifts.

Kia has their suite of driver-assist systems, similar to Hyundai’s. Kia’s suite includes forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, and lane departure warning. However, Kia only offers these as an option, not as standard equipment.

Elantra for the Win

As you can see, the Elantra beats the Rio in nearly every way. It has a sleeker, sporty exterior, a more comfortable and connected interior, and a powerful performance balanced by your desired efficient driving. So if you’re considering these two sedans, the choice remains clearly the Elantra. 

Now that you’ve decided, it’s time to find your Elantra. We invite you to browse our inventory online or stop by our dealership on North Olden Avenue at any time. Our friendly, professional staff will happily show you the different Elantra models. Then, once you’ve decided on your favorite, we’ll hand you the keys, and you can take it for a spin.