Cheapest Kia Car in 2023 Is Also the Most Reliable
Two areas in which Kia vehicles are especially strong are affordability and reliability. And there’s a model in the lineup that offers the best of both worlds. It’s the 2023 Kia Rio. The subcompact sedan is the cheapest new Kia car in 2023 — and also the most reliable.
2023 Kia Rio subcompact sedan is the cheapest Kia car in 2023
If you like the Kia brand and want a vehicle that’s friendly to your budget, the 2023 Kia Rio is an attractive choice. It starts at $16,750 MSRP, which makes the subcompact sedan the cheapest new Kia car in 2023. The hatchback version is not far behind — with a starting price of $17,690 MSRP.
Following those two models are the Forte compact sedan ($19,690 MSRP) and the Soul ($19,890 MSRP) and Seltos ($23,340 MSRP) subcompact SUVs. The top 10 most affordable new Kia car list is closed out by the K5 midsize sedan ($25,090 MSRP), Sportage compact SUV ($26,290 MSRP), Niro compact SUV ($26,590), Sportage Hybrid ($27,490 MSRP), and Sorento midsize SUV ($30,090 MSRP).
Also, the 2023 Kia Rio is the third most affordable new car in the United States. Only the 2023 Nissan Versa ($15,830 MSRP) and the 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage ($16,245 MSRP) subcompacts are cheaper.
The Rio is the most reliable Kia car
Along with being the cheapest new Kia car in 2023, the Rio is the most reliable Kia model. Often for products, a low price translates to low quality. However, this isn’t the case for the 2023 Rio. With its less complicated powertrain and parts compared to more expensive models in the Kia lineup, the subcompact is less prone to problems.
RepairPal gives the Rio an “excellent” reliability rating of 4.5 out of five, which is the best in the Kia lineup. This reliability rating is based on the frequency, severity, and cost of repairs. For frequency, the affordable sedan has unscheduled repairs an average of 0.2 times per year, compared to 0.4 times for all model types. And the repairs are severe 9% of the time (vs. 12% for all models).
Also, the repair costs are relatively low for the Rio. The average annual cost to repair the subcompact sedan is $434, compared to $652 for other models.
2023 Rio: Affordable to buy and own
With its low price and high-level reliability, the 2023 Kia Rio is affordable to both buy and own. Another thing that keeps the ownership costs low for the Rio is generous warranty coverage. Like other new Kia models, the Rio has a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. So, most issues that arise during this warranty period will likely be covered.
Another factor that makes the Rio affordable to own is its high efficiency. It gets an estimated fuel economy of up to 32 city/41 highway mpg, resulting in savings at the pump.
For Kia shoppers looking for a budget-friendly and dependable vehicle, the 2023 Kia Rio is an excellent choice. It’s the cheapest new Kia car in 2023 — and also the most reliable.
