Kia has come along way, just how far perhaps best represented in the ground covered by its Rio subcompact. What used to be the cheapest car in America is not-quite-so cheap, and, in fact, loaded with features not found in competitor vehicles. Consider: as standard the Kia Rio delivers an attractive design and a pretty comfortable interior, a 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 107 lb.-ft. of torque; a five-speed manual transmission and 14-inch wheels with P175/70R14 tires. A rear window defroster; a tilt steering wheel; a height adjustable driver’s seat with a fold-down armrest; front airbags, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags; and an 8,000-rpm tachometer also come standard.

Add to that great fuel economy, and the Rio has almost all the answers, except for one: safety. Three stars from NHTSA on the side impact test could be better, we think, especially given the weight disadvantage those driving around in a subcompact have compared to a typical SUV. Four and five stars in the frontal impact test, however, is yet another excellent example of just how far Kia – and the Rio – has come.