Kia was once seen as an entry-level brand, and the Kia Rio was branded as the cheapest new car for sale when it was first launched back in 1999. The Korean manufacturer has come a long way since those days and produces some seriously competitive cars such as the rapid Kia Stinger, and its tech game and infotainment systems are pretty impressive. The Kia Rio is still with us and has been around in its current form since 2017. We've learned that the writing might be on the wall for this compact car in the USA, but Kia just announced its pricing for the 2022 Rio and Rio 5-door, and it's still a serious bargain.

The 2022 Rio and Rio 5-door will wear Kia's new corporate identity, and get a standard immobilizer for the new model year. The Rio Sedan is offered in two trims, starting with the LX, which goes for an MSRP of $16,150 while the S will set you back $16,790. Both trim levels are powered by the same 1.6-liter naturally-aspirated engine boasting 120 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque. Both cars are rated at 33/41/36 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. The S offers a range of safety options including driver attention warning, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, high beam assist, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, and rear occupant alert.

The Rio 5-door is exclusively available in S trim with an MSRP of $17,090. It shares its 1.6-liter engine and fuel economy figures, as well as features with the Rio sedan's S trim and is available with the same slew of safety options, all of which are bundled into the S technology package for $1,800.

Prices exclude a $995 destination charge, and the range will be limited in terms of its visual appeal with few colors and only one premium paint option, the $195 Aurora Black Pearl.

Sales of the Kia Rio have been in decline in recent years. They peaked at 40,742 in 2014 while last year only 23,927 vehicles were sold, despite a mild refresh in 2021.