Kia Rio v Toyota Yaris 2020 Comparison

The light car segment remains a popular category in Australia, despite the fact that some brands have pulled out – or are planning to leave – while others are now only pedalling low-volume, but image-leading, hot hatches.

Indeed, those that remain committed to the cause are taking full advantage of the smaller field. There’s the MG3, Mazda2, Suzuki Swift, Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia – a handful of models that illustrate the point – as well as the two big-name, big-selling models we’re testing here: the Toyota Yaris and Kia Rio.

The fourth-generation Toyota Yaris is brand spanking new from the ground up. We’re talking new underpinnings, powertrain options and more safety and driver assistance tech than ever before.

The Kia Rio has also just received a major update, bringing a refreshed exterior and a bunch of extra features that reinforce its strong value equation.

There’s nothing separating these two on the sales charts, and there’s plenty of interest in how they match up. We have the top-spec model grades – Toyota Yaris ZR and Kia Rio GT-Line – so let’s see where the value really lies…

The Toyota Yaris is the more expensive of the pair, with the flagship ZR petrol model tested here priced at $30,100 plus on-road costs.

That’s a significant increase over the previous-generation Yaris, with the six-variant range (which now includes the option of a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain) starting from $22,130 – almost $7000 more than before. The new ZR petrol is similarly some $7500 more expensive than the previous equivalent model, but has plenty more packed into it, too.

The Kia Rio, on the other hand, is still available with sub-$20K pricing, the updated range starting at $18,090 plus ORCs at the entry level and topping out here with the GT-Line at $23,990 – up $400 over the previous series. The GT-Line was also being offered at the time of writing with a launch deal of just $24,490 drive-away, only $500 more than the RRP.

Our Rio test car is optioned up with premium paint in Mighty Yellow, adding another $520 to its final price. The Yaris also has special paintwork, with our tester coated in both premium ($500) and two-tone paint ($450) options, bringing its total price up to $31,050 (plus ORCs).

The Kia Rio GT-Line rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Yaris gets smaller 16s. Both come with a space-saver spare tyre.

The Kia Rio may need to be serviced more often – its intervals are set at every 12 months or 10,000km – and it costs significantly more to do so, totalling $1081 across the first three years or $2027 over the first five years of ownership.

Service intervals for the Toyota Yaris are also due yearly or every 15,000km, and are capped at $195 per service for the first five years, making it $585 to service over three years, or $975 over five years.

As for warranty, the Rio is covered for seven years while Toyota guarantees the Yaris for five years. Both are for unlimited kilometres travelled over that period.

Neither car is leagues ahead in terms of fit and finish. In fact, the more expensive Yaris seems to have more rough plastic surfaces and materials throughout the cockpit.

And for those who like to rest their arm somewhere when driving, there’s nowhere to do so in the Yaris, owing to its lack of a centre console.

Advanced safety systems and technology are increasingly important to today’s buyers, even here in the highly price-sensitive ‘supermini’ category.

And this is an area where the new Toyota Yaris really shines.

Among the class-leading features on the new Yaris is a head-protecting front-centre airbag for front seat occupants, as well as a system that automatically brakes the car to avoid pedestrians and vehicles at intersections.

The Kia Rio is also now better-equipped than ever thanks to its most recent update.

New features on the flagship Rio GT-Line include lane keeping assist (with lane following assist) and driver attention alert, while autonomous emergency braking (AEB), rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are carried over.

The top-spec Toyota Yaris ZR comes standard with even more driver assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and speed sign recognition.

Another feature to debut on the new Yaris is its rear seat warning that reminds the driver to check the rear seats before exiting the vehicle, helping prevent anyone getting left behind.

Both come with a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, although the Yaris was tested according to the more stringent criteria introduced this year.

Other noteworthy tech features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring in both vehicles (working wirelessly in the Rio), while the Yaris comes standard with keyless entry, push button start, a head-up display and satellite navigation – none of which are available in the Rio.

Inside the Kia is a larger 8.0-inch touch-screen (Toyota’s is 7.0-inch) which is more user-friendly to navigate. It also has a noticeably clearer resolution, especially with the reversing camera engaged, and is generally easier to use.

Each comes with single-zone climate control and a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. Again, the Kia’s clean layout makes it easier to sift through options, while the Toyota’s is a little more clumsy, with icons that are too small for our liking and steering wheel buttons that take some getting used to.

The Toyota Yaris is the more powerful of the pair tested here, its naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing 88kW of power and 145Nm of torque. The engine is mated to an automatic CVT (continuously variable transmission) that sends power to the front wheels.

The Kia Rio is also powered by a three-pot engine, but with its smaller displacement (1.0-litre) it compensates with a turbocharger and settles with 74kW and a useful 172Nm. It similarly drives the front wheels, but sends the power down through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The Kia, with its torquier engine, feels the more spritely of the two, with more ‘get up and go’ from a standing start. The engine and transmission work in harmony, producing seamless gear changes at all the right times.

The Rio also feels sportier, with firmer suspension, but this makes it a little more uncomfortable over road imperfections. Bumps and potholes can feel harsh, sending tremors through the cabin.

The Yaris feels more composed. It takes the same bumpy roads with more ease, feeling planted and surefooted. Its suspension is more compliant and comfortable, yet still feels sporty and ready to tackle any corner the enthusiastic driver might throw at it.

Another difference between the pair becomes obvious where noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) is concerned. The Rio lets in more road noise, with seemingly less sound-deadening throughout the cabin in comparison to the Yaris.

The Toyota’s engine is louder – particularly under hard acceleration – and this is emphasised by the noisy, albeit smooth, CVT.

All told, both are enjoyable to drive and produce enough poke to get you going around town. Just don’t expect either to go winning a traffic-light ‘Grand Prix’.

Where driving position and seating is concerned, the Toyota Yaris is our pick of the two.

Admittedly, the Yaris’ cloth upholstery feels a little more scratchy to the touch, but the seats are more supportive and cushiony in comparison to the Rio’s firm and rather flat seats. That said, the faux leather/cloth mixed-material trim on the Rio is softer on skin.

Both come with manual seat adjustment, as well as a steering wheel that is adjustable for both height and reach. We found it much easier to find a comfortable and engaging seating position in the Yaris, where the driver’s seat can be adjusted to a much lower position than it can in the Rio.

Jumping straight into the Kia Rio, the seating position is noticeably higher and the steering column feels like it sits a little too high. Even with the driver’s seat in its lowest position and the steering wheel mounted as low as possible, it still feels unnatural; like you’re sitting too high.

As for the rear seat of the Rio, you’ll find adequate room for average-sized folk, with headroom and legroom proving (just) a little more generous in the Toyota. Still, anyone taller than around 170cm will likely feel confined in the rear seat of either car.

Neither rear compartment has air vents or a centre armrest, but there are 600ml bottle-sized pockets in each rear door and map pockets behind the front seats.

The Kia Rio comes with one rear USB outlet, while those riding in the back of the Yaris miss out.

Boot space favours the Kia, which holds 325 litres of luggage (or 980 litres with the rear seats folded), while the Toyota can only manage 270 litres.

Elsewhere, storage isn’t great in either. The Yaris gets a small glovebox as its only covered storage area (aside from the boot), with the rest of the cabin making do with open storage cubbies and shelves built into the dash. Those are still handy, but you can’t really hide coins or other valuable knick-knacks from prying eyes.

The Rio is a little better in the cabin storage department, with a proper lidded centre console and glovebox.

The Toyota Yaris feels the more comfortable and well-rounded offering, which makes it seem like it’ll be easier to live with on a daily basis.

However, all the new technology, safety and convenience features come at a hefty premium, and as much as we applaud their inclusion, the bottom line is that the Yaris’ higher positioning remains a sticking point for us in such a price-conscious segment.

Despite how good a car the new 2020 Toyota Yaris ZR is, we’re unable to justify its $30K-plus price point in the company of the Kia Rio GT-Line.

The Rio does all the right things, and even though it misses out on some features that make day-to-day life a little more pleasant – things like keyless entry, push-button start and adaptive cruise control – it’s safe, fun to drive, easy to live with and priced accordingly.

For that reason, the Kia Rio GT-Line is the (very narrow) winner in this comparison.

How much does the 2020 Kia Rio GT-Line cost?
Price: $23,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 74kW/172Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 5.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 132g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)

How much does the 2020 Toyota Yaris ZR?
Price: $30,100 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol
Output: 88kW/145Nm
Transmission: CVT automatic
Fuel: 4.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 126g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)