End of the Road for Kia Rio Subcompact Car

Kia America has officially confirmed that the Rio subcompact car will not be returning for the 2024 model year. This decision follows the discontinuation of its small Hyundai counterpart, the Accent, after the 2022 model year.

Shifting Consumer Preferences

While Kia states that it will continue to focus on producing sedans, the American market has shown a growing preference for larger, higher-riding crossovers. In fact, light trucks, which include minivans, crossovers, SUVs, and pickups, accounted for 79 percent of all new vehicle sales in the United States during the first half of 2023.

Declining Sales

This shift in consumer preferences is reflected in the declining sales of the Rio. In 2022, Rio sales totaled just 26,996, marking a 14-percent decline. Sales for the first seven months of this year have also dropped by 2 percent.

Kia’s Future Electric Vehicle Plans

Although the Rio will no longer be in production, Kia is planning to produce two small electric vehicles at its factory in Monterrey, Mexico. The company intends to retool the plant for electrification as it recognizes the growing demand for electric vehicles.

Continued Success for the Forte

Another Kia model assembled in Mexico, the Forte compact sedan, continues to perform well in the U.S. market. The Forte has recorded sales of 73,065, representing an 18 percent increase during the first seven months of this year.