2021 Kia Rio

minicar / 4-door sedan

2021 Kia Rio 4-door sedan
2018 Kia Rio shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Kia Rio LX 4-door

The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent were redesigned for the 2018 model year and are now built on the same platform. The driver-side small overlap frontal ratings apply to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Rio as well as to the Accent, available only as a sedan beginning with 2018 models.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Forces on the left lower leg and foot were high enough to indicate a moderate risk of injuries.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1802
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Footrest (cm) 4
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 5
Lower instrument panel (cm) 5

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1802
Head
HIC-15 208
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.34
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.88
Right 0.55
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 4.4
Right 1.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 152
Right 60

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Kia Rio S 4-door

The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent were redesigned for the 2018 model year and are now built on the same platform. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia. Ratings apply to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Rio as well as to the Accent, available only as a sedan beginning with 2018 models.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the right side, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1804
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Footrest (cm) 5
Right toepan (cm) 3
Center toepan (cm) 1
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 4
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 5
Right lower dash (cm) 5

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1804
Head
HIC-15 248
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.36
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 0.3
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.36
Right 0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 2.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 44
Right 73

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1804
Head
HIC-15 177
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 21
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.30
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 61
Right 48

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Kia Rio LX 4-door (hatchback)

The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent were redesigned for the 2018 model year and are now built on the same platform. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia. Ratings apply to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Rio as well as to the Accent, available only as a sedan beginning with 2018 models.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1803
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 5
Left (cm) 10
Center (cm) 6
Right (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -5
Rearward (cm) -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1803
Head
HIC-15 304
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.37
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.3
Femur force - right (kN) 0.3
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.44
Maximum tibia index - right 0.43
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.2
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 46
Right 71

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Kia Rio EX 4-door

The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent were redesigned for the 2018 model year and are now built on the same platform. The side ratings apply to both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Rio as well as to the Accent, available only as a sedan beginning with 2018 models.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES1801
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -14.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1801
Head HIC-15 476
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 41
Lateral force (kN) 1.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38
Average deflection (mm) 34
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 7.84
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.92
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6
Combined force (kN) 2.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.3
L-M moment (Nm) 87
A-P moment (Nm) 56

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1801
Head HIC-15 220
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 32
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.24
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.36
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.5
Combined force (kN) 0.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.1
L-M moment (Nm) 226
A-P moment (Nm) -30

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Kia Rio S 4-door

Rating applies to the Rio 4-door sedan (tested), Accent 4-door sedan, and the structurally similar Rio 4-door hatchback (5-door).

Overall evaluation
Curb weight2,565 lbs
Peak force14,544 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.67

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 32
Distance below top of head (mm) 12
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 15.3
Head contact time (ms) 57
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 611

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • S trim equipped with Premium package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • S trim equipped with Premium package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2021-23 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 143.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 76.3 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 69.1 m 14.5%
250m radius left curve, left edge 67.8 m 5.4%
150m radius right curve, right edge 57.7 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 58.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 140.1 m
Straightaway left edge 119.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 66.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 61.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 52.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 50.7 m

Trim level(s)

  • LX trim
  • S trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • LX trim
  • S trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2018-23 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 73.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 37.1 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 46.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 39.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 38.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 34.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 153.8 m
Straightaway left edge .0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 53.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 52.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 39.8 m

About the headlight evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimS
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimS
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 22
Clearance angle (degrees) 77
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 78
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 76
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 74
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation