Compare the2023 Kia RioVS 2022 Chevrolet Spark

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Rio S with its optional rear seat reminder are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Spark doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Rio S’ optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Spark doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Rio and the Spark have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

The Kia Rio weighs 450 to 521 pounds more than the Chevrolet Spark. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, its “Acceptable” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rio the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 183 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Spark has not been fully tested, yet.

The Rio comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Spark’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Rio 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Spark. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Spark ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Rio has a standard 130-amp alternator. The Spark’s 80-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Rio has a standard 640-amp battery. The Spark’s 375-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Rio second among small cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Spark isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Rio’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (120 vs. 98) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (112 vs. 94) than the Spark’s 1.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Rio gets better mileage than the Spark:

The Rio has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Spark (11.9 vs. 9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Kia Rio comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Spark.

For better stopping power the Rio’s brake rotors and drums are larger than those on the Spark:

The Rio S offers optional antilock four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Spark. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Rio has a standard front stabilizer bar, which help keep the Rio flat and controlled during cornering. The Spark’s suspension doesn’t offer a stabilizer bar

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rio’s wheelbase is 7.7 inches longer than on the Spark (101.6 inches vs. 93.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Rio is 5.5 inches wider in the front and 5.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Spark.

The Rio has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Spark can only carry 4.

The Rio 5-Door has 7.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Spark (90.5 vs. 83).

The Rio 5-Door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Spark with its rear seat up (17.4 vs. 11.1 cubic feet). The Rio 5-Door has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Spark with its rear seat folded (32.8 vs. 27.2 cubic feet).

The Rio S offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The Spark doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Rio’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. The Spark LS doesn’t offer power windows.

The Rio’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. The Spark LS doesn’t offer power locks.

The Rio S’ optional LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Spark’s projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Rio S detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Spark doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Rio has standard extendable sun visors. The Spark doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Rio’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet only offers heated mirrors on the Spark LT/ACTIV.

The Rio’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Spark doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The Rio S’ optional automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Spark doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Rio has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Spark doesn’t offer rear vents.

The Kia Rio comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Chevrolet Spark isn’t available as a sedan.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Rio is less expensive to operate than the Spark because typical repairs cost much less on the Rio than the Spark, including $160 less for a water pump, $26 less for a muffler, $45 less for front brake pads, $92 less for a fuel pump, $413 less for a timing belt/chain and $243 less for a power steering pump.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Rio second among small cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Spark isn’t in the top three in its category.