Compare the2023 Kia RioVS 2023 Nissan Versa

The Rio offers optional 911 Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Versa doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Rio and the Versa 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, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and driver alert monitors.

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 191 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Versa 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 Versa’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 Nissan covers the Versa. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Versa 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 Versa’s 120-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 Versa isn’t in the top three.

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 Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 10th.

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 Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 60 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 6 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

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

The Rio has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Versa (11.9 vs. 10.8 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 Versa.

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

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 Versa. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Rio stops shorter than the Versa:

The Rio has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Versa’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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

The Rio Sedan is 4.4 inches shorter than the Versa, making the Rio easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rio Sedan has 2 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear hip room than the Versa.

The Rio has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Versa (17.4 vs. 14.7 cubic feet).

The power windows standard on both the Rio and the Versa 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 Versa 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 Versa’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The Rio’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Versa SV/SR.

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

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

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Rio is less expensive to operate than the Versa because typical repairs cost less on the Rio than the Versa, including $30 less for front brake pads, $32 less for a starter, $58 less for fuel injection, $178 less for a fuel pump and $66 less for a power steering pump.