The Kia Rio is a subcompact economy car,a stablemate of the Hyundai Accent and a competitor to the Honda Fit,Nissan Cube and Suzuki SX4. The 2010 Kia Rio is available as a sedan or as a 4-door hatchback. For 2010,Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control are new features,and a few changes have been made to the exterior,depending on the trim.

The sedan version of the Rio is available in three trim levels: base,LX and SX. The base model is equipped with 14-inch wheels,a 4-speaker sound system with satellite radio,power mirrors,and a rear defroster. The LX trim adds air conditioning,power steering,and rear seatbacks that split 60/40. The SX steps up to 16-inch alloy wheels and higher-grade cloth upholstery. The SX also adds fog lights,a rear spoiler,and interior trim details.

All Rio sedans have a trunk measuring 11.9 cubic feet. The hatchback model,called the Rio5,is available only in the LX and SX trims,and features 49.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down,according to Kia.

The sole engine,for both the Rio and the Rio5,is a 110-horsepower,1.6-liter 4-cylinder power plant that delivers 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with the standard 5-speed manual transmission,according to the EPA.

Standard safety features on the 2010 Kia Rio include side-impact air bags and side curtain air bags. On the LX and SX trims,anti-lock brakes are standard. The NHTSA gave the Rio four stars (out of five) for driver protection in frontal impact tests,and five stars for front passenger protection. In side-impact testing,the Rio earned four stars for front-seat occupants,and three stars for rear-seat passengers.

Starting MSRP for the 2010 Kia Rio was $11,695.