2006 Kia Rio in Phoenix, Arizona

The Kia Rio is all-new for 2006. The Rio has been a benchmark for subcompacts the past few years. Its redesign is all the more momentous as the new Rio models join a wave of exciting new subcompacts that are hitting the streets.

That wave includes the new Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, and Honda Fit, along with all-new versions of the Chevrolet Aveo and Hyundai Accent. These subcompacts are smaller than compact cars, such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, but the newest subcompacts excel at space utilization and some are offering premium features.

Indeed, subcompacts have never been better and the new Kia Rio sedan and Rio5 hatchback are perfect examples. In addition to being inexpensive, they are stylish little cars with spacious interiors. They deliver sprightly performance, great fuel economy and agile handling. The Rio models come standard with six airbags, a safety feature normally associated with expensive luxury cars, not subcompacts.