It’s the end for the Kia Rio

A sign that times are changing, affordable new small cars are becoming increasingly rare. Indeed, several manufacturers have withdrawn from the subcompact car segment in recent years. Today is the turn of Kia with the Rio to do the same.

The top 3 will move to a top 2 in 2024

In 2023, there were only 3 contenders left in the subcompact category offered in Canada. On the list, we found the Kia Rio, the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Nissan Versa. However, the Kia manufacturer has just confirmed that it will end production of the current generation Rio in December 2023. This therefore means that, in 2024, only the Kia Forte will be offered at a starting price below the $25,000 mark from the South Korean manufacturer.

During our discussion with Kia Canada, the latter did not provide details regarding the reasons for the withdrawal of its subcompact from the market. It is interesting to note that this occurs despite an increase in sales between 2021 and 2022. Indeed, in Quebec alone, 2,062 Kia Rios were sold in 2021, compared to 2,414 in 2022. This still represents an increase. of 352 copies.

Predictable news

During our test carried out last year, we had raised Kia’s relentlessness in offering a vehicle in a category emaciated by the offer. In the South Korean duo Hyundai / Kia, the Rio was the only survivor, after the disappearance of the Accent on the side of Hyundai, in 2020. Moreover, the range of the Kia Rio had also passed under the ax during recent years, with the disappearance of the saloon version.

An open door for a future replacement

During our brief discussion with Kia Canada, the latter mentioned that 2023 would mark the end of production of this generation of the Rio. This could therefore leave the door open to a future replacement of the same name. However, it would be surprising if it were an electric vehicle, since electric vehicles rather display the name EV followed by a numerical character.

So, unless there is a well-kept secret or a top-secret project at Kia that will be revealed by surprise soon, the subcompact category is officially abandoned by the South Korean manufacturer.

Conclusion

Once again, a new car that can be described as affordable will disappear from the market. Despite the surge in popularity of larger vehicles, such as SUVs, small cars that are economical and easy to park in an urban environment still have their place, in my opinion. Not everyone wants or needs a large vehicle.

The problem is that, with the increasingly limited choice in this category, those wishing to benefit from the advantages of a new small car for a starting price of around $20,000 will have difficulty finding the shoe that suits them. foot in the near future. In short, times are changing and consumers have no choice but to follow the parade.