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Kia Rio vs. Hyundai Accent Article Highlights:

  • Hyundai is the parent company of Kia Motors, which explains why the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio are nearly identical in many metrics.
  • Both vehicles manage around 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg highway from 1.6L four-cylinder engines.
  • According to U.S. News, both cars cost around $16,500 starting, with slightly higher average real-world costs, and receive nearly identical safety ratings. 

If you want a small, reliable sedan with an affordable price tag, you might want to consider the 2022 Hyundai Accent. However, the Hyundai sedan isn’t the only car that promises excellent value for money. The 2022 Kia Rio is also a benchmark in diminutive vehicles with high fuel efficiency figures and an attractive starting price. So which small sedan should you buy: the Hyundai Accent or the Kia Rio?

The Kia Rio is a highly comparable vehicle to the Hyundai Accent.
2022 Kia Rio | Kia

What is the average price of a Hyundai Accent?

The 2022 Hyundai Accent has a starting price of $16,645. However, U.S. News reports that the average amount shoppers pay for an Accent is closer to $18,384. That makes the Hyundai model the most affordable sedan in the automaker’s lineup currently.

The Kia model has a starting price of $16,250 and an average of $18,490. That makes the Rio cheaper to start but more expensive than the Hyundai Accent in terms of the average amount customers are paying. 

Which car is more fuel efficient, the Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio?

Both the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio have 120-horsepower, 1.6L inline four-cylinder engines, and continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). As a result, the cars get identical fuel economy figures. According to TrueCar, both the 2022 Hyundai Accent and 2022 Kia Rio deliver 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg at highway speeds. Both vehicles are commendable for non-hybrid economy cars. 

The Hyundai Accent is virtually the same car as the Kia Rio.
Hyundai Accent | Hyundai

Is the Kia Rio a safe car?

The 2022 Kia Rio received “good” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in nearly every category. However, the Rio received an “acceptable” rating in a passenger-side front impact evaluation. While those ratings seem underwhelming, “good” and “acceptable” are the agency’s two highest ratings. On the other hand, the Hyundai Accent received nearly identical safety ratings from the IIHS, save for an underperforming headlight at the Limited Trim level.

Unfortunately, neither vehicle managed to snag the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards. However, both cars are relatively safe in nearly every segment. 

The Kia Rio is nearly identical to Hyundai's little compact sedan.
2022 Kia Rio | Kia

Should you buy a Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio?

The 2022 Hyundai Accent and 2022 Kia Rio are similarly priced, get identical fuel economy, and have nearly the same safety credentials. Furthermore, the Accent and Rio offer five-year, 60,000-mile basic warranties. However, U.S. News recommends the Hyundai Accent over the Rio, despite the nearly indistinguishable differences between the two cars. Your choice should amount to your response to a test drive, aesthetics, and the vehicle’s availability. 

Scroll down to the following article to read more about affordable cars!

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