The 2022 Hyundai Accent and 2022 Kia Rio are nearly identical beneath the sheetmetal and upholstery, but the two cars have important differences. Here’s how they compare.
2022 Hyundai Accent
2022 Hyundai Accent Starting Price: $16,645 | Price yours or View listings near you
Above Average: Very affordable; great fuel economy; intuitive infotainment system; spacious cabin.
Below Average: Trunk is small; engine is lackluster; no hatchback model.
Consensus: The 2022 Hyundai Accent is a very affordable subcompact sedan that’s easy on gas and backed by a long warranty.
2022 Kia Rio
2022 Kia Rio Starting Price: $16,150 | Price yours or View listings near you
Above Average: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard; great gas mileage; comfortable; affordable; available as sedan or hatchback (Rio 5-Door).
Below Average: No manual transmission offered; not many standard safety tech features; trunk and back seats are small.
Consensus: The 2022 Kia Rio is a subcompact sedan (or hatch, in Rio 5-Door guise) that’s high on practicality and efficiency and low on cost.
Accent vs. Rio: Similar But Different
Hyundai Accent
The 2022 Hyundai Accent is a member of an increasingly rare population, namely that of the subcompact sedan. It’s a car without much pretense, that gets by on humility, functionality, and value.
All versions of the 2022 Accent have a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine under their hood, generating 120 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. All Accents are also front-wheel drive, and all use the same CVT transmission. The combination is highly efficient, scoring the Accent EPA gas mileage ratings of 36 mpg combined, 33 mpg city, and 41 mpg highway.
Three versions of the 2022 Hyundai Accent are available, starting with the base Accent SE, followed by the SEL, and topped by the Accent Limited. The SE starts from $16,645 and includes standard equipment like cruise control and power windows. Upgrading to the SEL ($17,900) adds Apple CarPlay, telescoping steering wheel, and more. The 2022 Hyundai Accent Limited starts from $19,600 and adds to the SEL’s spec with features like automatic emergency braking, LED headlights, heated front seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, and leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Inside the Accent, you’ll find a spacious cabin for the class, but an interior that’s only so-so in quality when compared to rivals like the Nissan Versa. If you’re going for good looks, upgrading to the higher trims brings larger alloy wheels and other visual enhancements.
No matter which trim you pick for your 2022 Accent, you’ll get 13.7 cubic feet of space for luggage or gear in the trunk and 90.2 cubic feet of space in the passenger compartment.
Kia Rio
The 2022 Kia Rio subcompact sedan and Rio 5-Door subcompact hatchback are mechanically essentially identical to their corporate cousin, the Hyundai Accent, but do vary considerably in terms of style and equipment, in addition to the Rio being available as a hatchback while the Accent is sedan-only.
Every 2022 Kia Rio gets the same 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. The engine is rated for 120 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque, and paired with the standard iCVT transmission, nets 36 mpg (33 city/41 hwy) combined. The iCVT transmission simulates an 8-speed automatic.
Just two trim lines are offered with the 2022 Kia Rio starting at the base with the LX at $16,150 and ending at the S, which starts at $16,790. The Rio 5-Door (hatchback) is only available in S trim. The base Rio LX comes with 15-inch steel wheels, 3.5-inch LCD segment instrument panel display, trip computer, 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, 8-inch touchscreen display with rear camera, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, and more. Upgrading to the Rio S adds a front center armrest, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, adjustable rear headrests, rear USB charging, and the option to upgrade to automatic climate control, 8-inch head unit with UVO telematics and satellite radio, and more.
The Kia Rio sedan offers 89.9 cubic feet of total passenger space, plus 13.7 cubic feet in the trunk. The 2022 Rio 5-Door, on the other hand, offers 90.5 cubic feet of total passenger space, plus 17.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, or 32.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat.
Similarities
Power; price; size; space; long warranty.
Hyundai Accent Benefits
Hyundai style; three years of free maintenance.
Kia Rio Benefits
Available as a hatchback; Apple CarPlay/Android Auto standard.
Which One is Right for Me?
The 2022 Hyundai Accent is a simple and honest car with great fuel economy and more technology and convenience features than you’d expect.
The 2022 Kia Rio is a no-frills subcompact sedan or hatchback that still covers the necessary tech bases with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Ready to buy a Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio? Shop for one on sale now near you
| 2022 Hyundai Accent | 2022 Kia Rio | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 1.6-liter I4 | 1.6-liter I4 |
| Horsepower | 120 hp @ 6,300 rpm | 120 hp @ 6,300 rpm |
| Torque | 113 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 112 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 36 mpg (33 city/41 hwy) | 36 mpg (33 city/41 hwy) |
| Also Available | n/a | n/a |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 4 stars | n/a |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 101.6 inches | 101.6 inches |
| Overall Length | 172.6 inches | 172.6 inches |
| Width | 68.1 inches | 67.9 inches |
| Height | 57.1 inches | 57.1 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 33.5 feet | 33.5 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.9 inches | 38.9 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 37.3 inches | 37.4 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.1 inches | 42.1 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 33.5 inches | 33.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 54.2 inches | 54.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 53.7 inches | 53.3 inches |
| EPA Passenger Volume | 90.2 cubic feet | 89.9 cubic feet |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 13.7 cubic feet | 13.7 cubic feet |
Keyword: 2022 Hyundai Accent vs. 2022 Kia Rio Comparison