Kia Rio

Her name is Rio and she's just a little hatch.

Finding an affordable car is hard. Finding a good car is harder. But finding a good, affordable car? Well, that's the hardest. Here are five choices.

Small cars, big competition.

You'll spend a little more to get the hatchback.

Despite the crossover craze, Kia still sees value in the subcompact car segment.

This follows the hatchback's debut last fall in Paris.

It's also ever so slightly larger.

Rio, Rio, Rio. No, not the one with Michael Phelps.

The production Kia GT could finally debut at an auto show this year after the concept's 2011 unveiling, and the brand might create a Rio hot hatch to compete against the Ford Fiesta ST.

Kia rolls in to the 2015 Chicago Auto Show with revised versions of the Rio sedan and hatchback, updated with tweaked styling and added equipment for the 2016 model year.

The Rio may not be the most popular Kia in the United States – not by a long shot – but it was the brand's top seller globally last year. Little wonder, then, that although the current fourth-generation model was only introduced in 2011, the Korean automaker is already rolling out a facelifted version.

Hyundai and Kia have already gone public with plans to make good on the inflated fuel economy claims scandal that has rocked both companies in recent weeks. But one US senator, Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), is skeptical that the general public will see much good from the proposal, and he's looking for answers.

You knew this was coming. Shortly after Hyundai and Kia admitted that their internal processes for calculating fuel economy were flawed, resulting in a major program to compensate drivers for lower-than-advertised mile-per-gallon numbers and the re-rating of a large percentage of the two-headed Korean automaker's vehicles, we have word of a lawsuit.

Following up on the dark and sinister Batman Optima that we saw revealed in New York City a while back, Kia has come to SEMA with a selection of super hero-inspired cars for your viewing pleasure.

Up until now, if you wanted the top-of-the-line version of the Kia Rio 5-Door, you could only get it with the six-speed automatic transmission. But now, Kia has now announced a limited run of six-speed manual-equipped hatchbacks.

Due to a potentially faulty sensor mat, Kia is voluntarily recalling Kia Rio models from the 2006 to 2008 model years. The sensor in the passenger's seat is susceptible to cracking from fatigue. If that happens, it may not be able to detect whether a child is in the seat, nor will it be able to adjust the airbag deployment settings so as not to deploy if there is a child present.

There are literally thousands of videos on YouTube highlighting riders performing all manners of mind-bending stunts on motorcycles. Most of them merit a passing glance and little more. The video you'll see after the break, featuring French trials rider Julien Dupont, is an exception. You really should watch this video from start to finish.

Consumer Reports has just wrapped up an evaluation of subcompact sedans, and the Kia Rio EX has rolled out ahead of the class. The four-door beat out its corporate clone, the Hyundai Accent and the Chevrolet Sonic to take the top spot. Evaluators pointed to the sharp handling and well-optioned interior in the Rio as reasons for the vehicle's win. The newly redesigned Nissan Versa and unloved Toyota Yaris filled out the top five sedans. And what of the baby hatchbacks? CR once again credited the

The come-hither 2012 Kia Rio has been bolting off dealer lots for obvious reasons that go beyond its $14,350 price. One of its noteworthy features for the U.S. market, especially for the segment, is stop/start, which Kia calls ISG for Idle, Stop & Go. Media feedback, however, has convinced Kia that ISG is not quite ready for prime time, so it's been sent back to the engineers for tweaks.