Kia Rio is Best First Car for 2021

The Kia Rio has today been named carsales’ Best First Car for 2021.

Whether you’ve just finished school or are a late bloomer looking for your first set of new wheels, the Kia Rio is a stylish, affordable and versatile hatchback that’s perfect for first-time new-car buyers of all kinds.

The Kia Rio came up trumps following a comprehensive judging process that saw 11 models whittled down to seven finalists, and one overall winner.

Using data from RedBook.com.au, all Best First Car contenders were matched against more than 100 criteria across five main areas of assessment: safety, technology, comfort and convenience, driving performance and ownership costs.

“The Kia Rio simply shined everywhere it really matters and we’re thrilled to announce it as this year’s Best First Car,” said carsales Consumer Editor, Nadine Armstrong.

“It had a very strong showing in the all-important safety and technology departments, backed up by impressive results for cost of ownership and driving performance.

“The Kia Rio is a worthy winner and the best choice today for Aussie buyers looking to purchase their first new car.

“Buying a first car should be a memorable, exciting and informative experience,” continued Armstrong.

“carsales’ Best First Car Award streamlines the first-car buying process with first-hand, expert advice.”

To be eligible for carsales’ 2021 Best First Car Award, current models were price-capped at $25,000 (before on-road costs) and fitted with an automatic transmission.

They were also required to have high safety credentials and high-level safety equipment including a maximum five-star ANCAP rating, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and a rear-view camera.

“We recognise that people have different ideas on the type of vehicle that constitutes a Best First Car, but by virtue of their affordability, practicality and safety, the default go-to categories are city hatchbacks,” added Armstrong.

“These cars are also compact, making them among the easiest to park in the city. They’re cheap on fuel, which is important when you’re a new driver and have to watch the budget. And they’re versatile, providing plenty of cargo space with the rear seats dropped.

“No, they’re not SUVs or sports cars. But they’re typically engaging to drive, fun to steer, wholly practical and a great first step for a first-time owner.”

Best First Car 2021 contenders:
Kia Rio Sport
Mazda2 G15 Pure
Mitsubishi Mirage LS
Skoda Fabia 81TSI Run-Out Edition
Suzuki Swift GL Navigator Plus
Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport
Volkswagen Polo 70TSI Trendline