Although the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio are extremely similar in the power they offer and the mechanics of how they drive, there are differences you should be aware of.

Both cars are affordable, offer excellent fuel mileage, and have spacious cabin areas for their size.

Because they are both built by the same company, these two cars are backed by an impressive ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty that will give you the peace of mind you’re looking for.

Now that we know about some of the similarities, we need to start to look at the differences.

What Does the Hyundai Accent Bring to Your Drive?

When you look at the Accent, you’re going to have a car that’s simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. This car is offered in three trims: SE, SEL, and Limited. The starting price is $16,645, making this subcompact sedan one of the most affordable cars you can drive.

The cabin area of this little car is easy to use and spacious for the class. The Accent also gives you a 13.7 cubic foot trunk that is enough room for you to carry a bit of luggage when you want to take a weekend away from home.

What Does the Kia Rio Bring to Your Drive?

The Kia Rio can be had in sedan or hatchback forms to give you the choice of the body style you want when you take a drive. You’ll find a pair of trim levels for the Rio, LX, and S, in a car that starts out at $16,150 for you to have the small and active car you want to drive.

You’ll be pleased with the package of features that make this car one that can serve you well during your daily commute for several years.

What Does the Accent Get Right?

Something you don’t often see in the automotive market anymore is a standard manual transmission. You’ll find this feature in the base model of the Hyundai Accent. This allows for the low starting price and for you to have a shifter you can use if that’s something you’re looking for.

The top of the trims for the Accent gives you more features than what you’ll find in the Kia Ro. Some of the items you’ll find standard in the Hyundai model that isn’t found in the Kia include LED headlights and taillights, a sunroof, heated front seats, and automatic climate controls, all offered as part of the Limited trim.

What Does the Rio Get Right?

When you’re looking for the versatility offered in a subcompact car that comes in a hatchback body style, the Kia Rio is what you’re looking for.

This gives you a space in the rear that can expand easily by simply folding the seats and loading the rear with the gear you need. Instead of being limited by a trunk, you’re only limited by the full size of the interior area of this car.

Overall, the Kia Rio is a bit more affordable than the Accent, but it’s only offered in two trims, which might be a drawback for you.

The starting price of the Rio is a bit lower than its stablemate.

What Will You Like About the Accent?

The Hyundai Accent brings you several features that will make it an appealing choice for you. Some of these are:

• Big alloy wheels
• New front fascia
• Phone integration using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Plenty of torque found in the small engine

These items are going to help give you a car that you’re sure to love when it’s time to take a drive.

What Will You Like About the Rio?

As expected, there are some features you’re sure to admire about the Kia Rio, and they are certainly different from what you find in the Accent. Some of them are:

• Punchy performance from the engine
• Practical interior space, especially in the hatchback
• Safety features

The Rio may have a bit of a more youthful feel to it compared with the Accent, making it the car you’ll choose when you’re looking for a car that feels like it could be fun to drive.

Some Items You Might Not Like About the Hyundai

It’s only fair if we’re going to tell you about the features you’ll like that we also talk a little about the items you will dislike in the Hyundai Accent. Some of these are:

• Suspension feels a bit rough a times
• Not great on the highway, you’ll feel the road
• Could offer a better standard safety package

As with anything, you have to take the good with the bad, and these negatives on the Accent might not bother you when you’re looking for an affordable small car to drive.

Some Items You Might Not Like About the Kia

The Kia Rio isn’t going to get out of this without facing some of the music; this little car has a few things we don’t like about it as well. Some of those items are:

• This car could use paddle shifters to make it more fun to drive
• You’ll have a harsh and noisy ride
• The interior is filled with hard plastic surfaces

You might have to compromise and take some of these negatives with the little car that you want to drive.

Which Car Should You Drive?

If you’re looking for the subcompact sedan that looks the best and gives you the most choices, you’ll want to go with the Hyundai Accent. This car offers you three trims, a base manual transmission, and an attractive sedan style that you’re sure to admire.

On the other hand, when you want to have a youthful experience and enjoy the benefits of a hatchback, you’re going to want to drive the Kia Rio. This small car with a lot of fun built into it can be ideal for your driving experience when you just want to play around.

Which one of these subcompact cars will you take home today?