The Kia Rio was once a huge seller for the South Korean automaker, but that is no longer the case. It’s been mostly forgotten by consumers as they flock to other Kia vehicles like the Telluride, Niro, and Carnival. There are some vehicles that are well known, however, that are performing worse than the Rio in terms of sales, and here’s why.

The 2023 Kia Rio is still pretty popular

There’s nothing really wrong with the Kia Rio, but it’s kind of bland when compared to other subcompact sedans. It appears that Kia no longer invests that much in the Rio as it moves on to bigger and better projects, and this is reflected in the interest of owners.

According to GoodCarBadCar, the Rio sold only 16,551 models this year. That’s not a terrible number by any means, but when you compare it to the Kia Sportage which sold 83,742, it’s clear that the Rio isn’t a huge seller for Kia. It could have been much worse, however, as evidenced by these three vehicles with fewer sales than the Rio.

2023 Toyota Sequoia

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia sold only 9,591 vehicles this year to date. This is actually an improvement, as it sold a mere 489 vehicles last year. While this is an increase of 1,861.35%, it’s not exactly anything to brag about.

Mazda MX5 Miata

For those who love roadsters, there are few as well-known as the MX5 Miata. In fact, it’s so famous that there is an MX5 Miata resort known as Miataland. In spite of this, it sold only 6,233 vehicles year-to-date.

This is surprising, as it’s a very affordable roadster. It has a price range of $28,050 to $33,050, which is cheaper than some used cars for sale currently. 

It’s not all bad news for the MX5 Miata, however, as it sold only 3,068 vehicles year-to-date in 2022. That’s an increase of 103.16%, so it’s still a huge accomplishment for this beloved roadster.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Car and Driver has dubbed the Hyundai Ioniq 6 the “2023 EV of the Year,” but consumers aren’t buying it. It sold only 4,990 vehicles year-to-date, which is nothing to brag about by any terms.

The lower trims offer 361 miles of range, which is more than enough to use as a daily driver. In spite of this, consumers don’t seem to be that interested in the Ioniq 6.

Why are sales down?

While there isn’t just one major reason, the economy is probably the biggest. It’s hard enough to buy groceries and pay utility bills each month without adding a car payment into the picture. Prices are high as it is, and many people who finance are taking out loans with interest rates of around 12%. 

Then there is the continued supply issue. Everyone is aware of the chip shortage, but automakers report having issues getting other supplies as well. 

Another factor to take into consideration is that automakers are putting more focus on EVs, and are spending less time and money on gas-powered vehicles. The problem is that while there is an undeniable interest in electric vehicles, it’s still not quite the booming enterprise that the auto world anticipated.

Finally, people can’t buy what isn’t available. Vehicles like the Ford Bronco have a high demand, but the vehicles simply aren’t made yet. It’s possible that people may wish to buy cars like the Toyota Sequoia, Mazda MX5 Miata, and the Hyundai Ioniq 6, but they aren’t on the lot. Many buyers need a vehicle right now, not in two years.

Regardless, it’s hard to say that this is a terrible trend. It’s only September, after all, and there’s a lot that can happen in the coming months.