Schomp Honda

Safety

 

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic deploy with different levels of force or don't deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic's side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Rio's side airbags don't have smart features and will always deploy full force.

 

The Civic has standard four-wheel antilock brakes for quicker stops and controlled steering ability, especially under poor traction conditions. Antilock brakes cost extra on the Kia Rio.

 

To prevent wheelspin and loss of control under poor traction conditions, full range traction control is standard on the Honda Civic. The Kia Rio doesn't offer traction control.

 

The Civic EX-L has standard Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), which uses the antilock brake hardware along with powerful software and additional sensors to detect the beginning of a skid. VSA then intervenes by automatically applying the brake at one appropriate wheel, preventing a skid. The Rio doesn't offer skid prevention. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study showed that skid control systems reduced single-vehicle car crashes by 30%.

 

The Honda Civic has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Rio doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

 

Compared to metal, the Civic's plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Kia Rio has a metal gas tank.

 

Both the Civic and the Rio have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners and front-wheel drive.

 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Civic Sedan is safer than the Rio Sedan:

	Civic	Rio
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Head Injury Index	290	512
Chest forces	44 g's	54 g's
Leg injuries (L/R)	548 / 63	723 / 829
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Head Injury Index	298	385
Chest forces	41 g's	44 g's

More stars indicate a better overall result. Lower numbers indicate better individual test results.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH front offset crash tests on new cars. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Civic Sedan is safer than the Rio Sedan:

	Civic	Rio
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	307	375
Peak Head G-forces	no hit	109 G's
Neck Tension	1.2 kN	1.2 kN
Chest Compression	33 mm	36 mm
Femur Force	1.9 kN/.6 kN	.8 kN/5.8 kN
Tibia index	.39/.41	.52/1.46

(This test is not comparable to the NHTSA NCAP 35 MPH front crash test.)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 38.5 MPH side impact tests on new cars. In this test, results indicate that the Civic is safer than the Rio:

	Civic	Rio
	Front Seat
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Thoracic Trauma	58	64
Pelvis Deceleration	80 G's	84 G's
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Thoracic Trauma	50	76
Pelvis Deceleration	53 G's	78 G's

More stars indicate a better chance of avoiding serious injuries. Lower numbers indicate better actual numeric test results.

In a 31 MPH side-impact test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashes a 3300 pound sled into the side of new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Civic Sedan is safer than the Rio Sedan:

	Civic	Rio
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver
Head Protection Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Injury Rating	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Pelvis/Leg Injury Rating	GOOD	POOR
Shoulder Movement	46 mm	63 mm
	Rear Passenger
Head Protection Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Injury Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis/Leg Injury Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performs roof strength tests. In that test the Civic earned the top rating of 'Good' because its roof supported over four times the Civic's weight before being crushed five inches. The Rio was rated lower at 'Acceptable.'

 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with 'good' or 'acceptable' geometry. In these ratings, the Civic is safer then the Rio:

	Civic	Rio
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	28 mm	32 mm
Distance Below Top of Head	52 mm	60 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	POOR
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Neck Force Rating	Low	High
Max Neck Shearing Force	52	274
Max Neck Tension	677	1166

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

For its top level performance in frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its available Vehicle Stability Assist, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the Civic Sedan as a 'Top Pick' for 2010, a rating only granted to 55 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Rio was not a 'Top Pick.'

 

The Civic's bumpers sustained $2501 less damage than the Rio in four IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) bumper tests.

 

Warranty

 

The Civic's 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Rio runs out after 100,000 miles.

 

There are over 61 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier to get service under the Civic's warranty.

 

Reliability

 

The camshaft in the Civic's engine is driven by a hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs. The Rio's camshafts are driven by a rubber belt that needs periodic replacement. If the Rio's cam drive belt breaks the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

 

The engine in the Civic has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Rio has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

 

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Civic second among compact cars in their 2010 Initial Quality Study. The Rio isn't in the top three in its category.

 

J.D. Power and Associates' 2010 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

 

J.D. Power and Associates' surveys of the owners of three-year-old cars provide the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 20th.

 

Engine

 

The Civic's 1.8 VTEC 4 cyl. produces 30 more horsepower (140 vs. 110) and 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (128 vs. 107) than the Rio's 1.6 DOHC 4 cyl.

 

As tested in Car and Driver the Honda Civic is faster than the Kia Rio (manual transmissions tested):

	Civic	Rio
Zero to 30 MPH	2.5 sec	2.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	9.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	22.5 sec	37 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87 MPH	79 MPH
Top Speed	125 MPH	111 MPH

 

As tested in Consumer Reports the Honda Civic is faster than the Kia Rio (automatics tested):

	Civic	Rio
Zero to 30 MPH	3.6 sec	4.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	10.1 sec	12.8 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	6 sec	8.1 sec
Quarter Mile	17.7 sec	19.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	80 MPH	73 MPH

 

Fuel Economy and Range

 

The Civic has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rio (13.2 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

 

Environmental Friendliness

 

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Civic higher (6 to 9.5 out of 10) than the Kia Rio (5 to 6). This means the Civic produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rio every 15,000 miles.

 

Transmission

 

A five-speed automatic is optional on the Honda Civic, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a four-speed automatic is available for the Rio.

 

Brakes and Stopping

 

For better stopping power the Civic's front brake rotors are larger than those on the Rio:

	Civic	Rio
Front Rotors	10.3 inches	10.1 inches

 

The Civic EX has standard antilock four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Rio. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes which work much harder than conventional brakes.

 

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don't press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Civic EX-L has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Rio doesn't offer a brake assist feature.

 

The Civic with its standard antilock brakes stops shorter than the Rio with antilock brakes:

	Civic	Rio
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

 

Tires and Wheels

 

For better traction, the Civic has larger standard tires than the Rio (195/65R15 vs. 175/70R14).

 

The Civic DX's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rio Sedan Base's standard 70 series tires.

 

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Civic DX has standard 15-inch wheels. Smaller 14-inch wheels are standard on the Rio Sedan Base.

 

The Honda Civic's wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Kia Rio only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

 

Suspension and Handling

 

For superior ride and handling, the Honda Civic has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kia Rio has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

 

The Civic (except DX Coupe-front only) has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Civic flat and controlled during cornering. The Rio's suspension doesn't offer a rear stabilizer bar.

 

The Civic has standard power steering to make quick and controllable low speed maneuvers easy. The Rio Base doesn't offer power steering.

 

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Civic Sedan's wheelbase is 7.9 inches longer than on the Rio (106.3 inches vs. 98.4 inches).

 

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Civic is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Rio.

 

Passenger Space

 

The Civic Sedan has 1.1 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear hip room than the Rio Sedan.

 

Cargo Capacity

 

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Civic easier. The Civic's trunk lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Rio's liftover is 27.1 inches.

 

The Civic's standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Rio Base doesn't offer folding rear seats.

 

With its coupe or sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Civic offers cargo security. The Rio's non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

 

Servicing Ease

 

A Maintenance Minder is standard on the Civic to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, spark plug replacement, air filter replacement, tire rotation, radiator flush and transmission fluid replacement based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Kia doesn't offer a maintenance reminder on the Rio.

 

Ergonomics

 

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Civic has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Rio doesn't offer a telescoping steering wheel.

 

The Civic's standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. The Rio Base doesn't offer power windows, and they cost extra on other models.

 

The Civic LX/EX's driver's power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control. The Rio's driver's power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

 

The Rio's optional power locks don't automatically lock the doors. The Civic LX/EX's standard power locks automatically lock the doors when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights. (The power lock's automatic feature may have to be activated by your dealer.)

 

The Civic EX's standard wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn't have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Rio's manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

 

The Civic's optional heated front seats keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. The Rio doesn't offer heated seats.

 

The Civic EX Sedan has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable. The Rio doesn't offer a rear seat center armrest.

 

An optional built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Civic's passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation, which can trigger allergies or asthma. The Rio doesn't offer a filtration system.

 

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address in the USA with audible turn-by-turn directions, a GPS navigation system is available on the Civic EX. The Rio doesn't offer a navigation system.

 

With optional voice command, the Civic EX offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls, cell phone and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Rio doesn't offer a voice control system.

 

Economic Advantages

 

Insurance will cost less for the Civic owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Civic with a number '1' to '5' insurance rate while the Rio is rated higher at a number '3' rate.

 

The Civic will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the Civic will retain 52.25% to 66.39% of its original price after five years, while the Rio only retains 34.37% to 40.47%.

 

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Civic is less expensive to operate than the Rio because it costs $1230 less to do the manufacturer's suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Civic than the Rio, including $83 less for a water pump, $129 less for an alternator, $5 less for front brake pads and $33 less for front struts.

 

Recommendations

 

The Honda Civic has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Civic	Rio
Consumer Reports Recommends	TRUE	n/a
Car Book 'Best Bet'	TRUE	FALSE
Kiplinger's Award	TRUE	FALSE
Intellichoice	A 'Best Value'	no award

 

Strategic Vision rated the Civic first among small cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner's expectations. The Rio was rated 11th.

 

Motor Trend selected the Civic as their 2006 Car of the Year. The Rio has never been chosen.

 

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Civic as the 2006 North American Car of the Year. The Rio has never been chosen.

 

The Honda Civic outsold the Kia Rio by almost eight to one during the 2010 model year.

* [1]  Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.