Compare the2023 Kia RioVS 2023 Mazda 3

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 Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Rio and the Mazda 3 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and driver alert monitors.

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 3’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 Mazda covers the 3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Mazda 3 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 42 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Rio’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Rio has a 130-amp alternator. The Mazda 3’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Rio second among small cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Mazda 3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 15th.

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 Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 12th.

On the EPA test cycle the Rio gets better mileage than the Mazda 3 Sedan:

On the EPA test cycle the Rio gets better mileage than the Mazda 3 Hatchback:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Rio uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Mazda 3 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Rio has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better maneuverability, the Rio’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Mazda 3’s (33.5 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

The Kia Rio may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 650 pounds less than the Mazda 3.

The Rio 5-Door is 1 foot, 3.6 inches shorter than the Mazda 3 Hatchback, making the Rio easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rio Sedan has .9 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear hip room than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

The Rio Sedan has a larger trunk than the Mazda 3 Sedan (13.7 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

The power windows standard on both the Rio and the Mazda 3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Rio is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda 3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports rated the Rio’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Mazda 3’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The Rio’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the Mazda 3 Carbon/Turbo.

Insurance will cost less for the Rio owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Rio with a number “1” insurance rate while the Mazda 3 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Rio is less expensive to operate than the Mazda 3 because it costs $18 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Rio than the Mazda 3, including $19 less for a water pump, $1 less for a muffler, $13 less for front brake pads, $56 less for fuel injection, $255 less for a fuel pump, $11 less for front struts, $7 less for a timing belt/chain and $91 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 Mazda 3 isn’t in the top three.

The Kia Rio outsold the Mazda 3 by 733 units during the 2022 model year.