My son owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta Hatch SE and I own a 2013 KIA Rio5 EX. I get to drive my sons Fiesta quite often so I believe I can make an honest comparison of the 2 cars:
ENGINE: The Rio has a more responsive engine than the Fiesta, and idles smoother than the Fiesta. The 1.6 Gamma GDI is a technical marvel with 18 more ponies on tap. The Rio wins by a city block...
FUEL ECONOMY: The Fiesta trumps the Rio in gas mileage. The Fiesta averages 35.2 MPG per tankful and the Rio averages 33.5 MPG per tankful. We both drive the same exact 17 mile route into work so these are meaningful comparisons.
TRANSMISSION (Auto): No contest here. The 6 speed dual clutch transmission in the Fiesta is a joke. It is clunky and unresponsive. The ECM for the Fiesta Automatic is clueless. The Rio's transmission is smooth as silk (when not operating in ECO mode!)
RADIO CONTROLS: The UVO system in the Rio is far superior to the MyFord system in the Fiesta. The Fiesta controls are very confusing; the Rio controls are inuitive. The Rio wins hands down.
HANDLING: The Fiesta has much better road feel than the Rio EX. Combine the Fiesta's suspension and power steering unit with the Rio's drivetrain and you would have one sweet ride.
BUILD QUALITY: Both cars have outstanding build quality - it's a tie
VALUE: Both cars look great and are priced right. The "parking assist" LED's on the Fiesta are really cool looking. It's unbelievable that they are on a car at this price point! The backup camera on the EX (UVO option) is sweet along with its outstanding LCD display. IMHO the hatch design for the Rio is much more stylish than on the Fiesta.
When it all comes out in the wash we both love our cars and would not trade one for the other. It is amazing how this class of cars have made such huge leaps forward in the past couple of years (for USA consumers). This segment is no longer boring and unremarkable. I applaud both Ford and KIA for their efforts on fun and affordable transportation
UPDATE! - As my 2013 Rio5 continues to break-in my combined gas mileage gets better by the week. I am now averaging 35.1 MPG per tankful. I'm pretty sure it will level out here until I switch to Mobil 1 synthetic oil and a K&N filter cartridge at 5K miles. I couldn't be happier! Also after more drives in my son's Fiesta I really appreciate the superior drive train in my Rio5 - they aren't in the same league. The Fiesta doesn't even provide selective shifting and that transmission really needs one!
ENGINE: The Rio has a more responsive engine than the Fiesta, and idles smoother than the Fiesta. The 1.6 Gamma GDI is a technical marvel with 18 more ponies on tap. The Rio wins by a city block...
FUEL ECONOMY: The Fiesta trumps the Rio in gas mileage. The Fiesta averages 35.2 MPG per tankful and the Rio averages 33.5 MPG per tankful. We both drive the same exact 17 mile route into work so these are meaningful comparisons.
TRANSMISSION (Auto): No contest here. The 6 speed dual clutch transmission in the Fiesta is a joke. It is clunky and unresponsive. The ECM for the Fiesta Automatic is clueless. The Rio's transmission is smooth as silk (when not operating in ECO mode!)
RADIO CONTROLS: The UVO system in the Rio is far superior to the MyFord system in the Fiesta. The Fiesta controls are very confusing; the Rio controls are inuitive. The Rio wins hands down.
HANDLING: The Fiesta has much better road feel than the Rio EX. Combine the Fiesta's suspension and power steering unit with the Rio's drivetrain and you would have one sweet ride.
BUILD QUALITY: Both cars have outstanding build quality - it's a tie
VALUE: Both cars look great and are priced right. The "parking assist" LED's on the Fiesta are really cool looking. It's unbelievable that they are on a car at this price point! The backup camera on the EX (UVO option) is sweet along with its outstanding LCD display. IMHO the hatch design for the Rio is much more stylish than on the Fiesta.
When it all comes out in the wash we both love our cars and would not trade one for the other. It is amazing how this class of cars have made such huge leaps forward in the past couple of years (for USA consumers). This segment is no longer boring and unremarkable. I applaud both Ford and KIA for their efforts on fun and affordable transportation
UPDATE! - As my 2013 Rio5 continues to break-in my combined gas mileage gets better by the week. I am now averaging 35.1 MPG per tankful. I'm pretty sure it will level out here until I switch to Mobil 1 synthetic oil and a K&N filter cartridge at 5K miles. I couldn't be happier! Also after more drives in my son's Fiesta I really appreciate the superior drive train in my Rio5 - they aren't in the same league. The Fiesta doesn't even provide selective shifting and that transmission really needs one!