2020 Honda Civic vs. 2020 Kia Rio

There was a time when compact sedans were relegated to ‘also-ran’ status and were notorious for being lean on features and performance in the name of affordability. Honda has squared that circle with the continual development of its long-time entrant to the class, the Honda Civic. While there might not be as many compact sedan options on the market as there once was, a comparison of the 2020 Honda Civic vs. 2020 Kia Rio will help potential customers find the platform that will work best for them. The 2020 Civic is available in five trim grades, LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring. There are two engine options available across those models – both of which are able to offer stronger performance scores than the 2020 Rio. Meridian Honda customers can schedule a test drive with the 2020 Honda Civic today by calling, 601-693-4651.

While both the 2020 Civic and 2020 Rio have a standard two-row, five-passenger layout, that is about where the physical similarities end. The 2020 Civic is able to offer more legroom for passengers sitting in the front and rear seats than its Kia rival. People sitting in the front seat of the 2020 Honda Civic can have up to 42.3 inches of legroom, leaving those in the rear with as much as 37.4 inches. Rear passengers may have less if the people in the front are tall. For comparison, the 2020 Rio offers a maximum of 33.5 inches for rear passengers. Additionally, the 2020 Honda Civic has more trunk space than the 2020 Kia Rio. Most versions of the 2020 Civic will have 15.1 cubic-feet of trunk volume, the top of the line Touring model offers 14.7 cubic-feet. All Kia Rio sedans will only have 13.7 cubic-feet of trunk space.

Performance Specs

Meridian Honda customers choosing the LX or Sport models will have a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine under the hood that will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission. It will make 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The EX, EX-L and Touring versions employ a turbocharged 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine attached to a different version of the continuously variable transmission. These models will produce 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Both available trim grades of the 2020 Kia Rio use a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine that also uses a CVT. The 2020 Rio will make 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque.