Kia's Rio Grande

The all-new subcompact cars from Kia aim for comfort, quality, and safety features at entry-level cost.

When the Kia Rio first went on sale in August 2000, it quickly earned a reputation as reliable and affordable transportation. The subcompact sedan spent much of its first four years as the lowest-priced new vehicle in the U.S. and was the company's best-selling nameplate in 2001.

But it was never praised for roominess or sporty driving characteristics.