Comparison of Kia Rio and Lada Vesta: which is better?

The famous Korean car has long been in first place in sales in Russia. However, this is not surprising, because the car looks quite good in all respects. Among other things, the cost of this option forces almost every potential buyer to pay attention to the Korean manufacturer. So which is better, Lada Vesta or Kia Rio? Domestic Lada is not going to sit on the sidelines, and Vesta is ready to compete for the leadership palm with Rio.

Rio

In order to get first place, KIA decided to significantly improve its car, and not just visually change the style, but add it in almost every aspect. In less than six months, this car was purchased 82 thousand times! Just think about this number. However, despite such a high figure, she should not relax, because in terms of sales the Rio car is already beginning to catch up with the domestic Grant, and the beautiful Lada Vesta is hot on its tail.

As for one of the best versions of cars from the Volga company (Lada Vesta), it managed to sell 61 thousand times in ten months of last year. Moreover, this figure was exceeded by 20 thousand points compared to last year. As for increasing sales of Korean cars, things are somewhat worse here. The Koreans, compared to last year, managed to sell only 10 thousand more copies. Thanks to these figures, it becomes clear that it is quite possible that the domestic Vesta will soon be able to catch up with Rio in sales, and maybe even surpass it. However, you shouldn’t get ahead of yourself; time should judge everything. Now it is much more important to understand what capabilities each car has.

Comparison of the interior of the Lada Vesta and Kia Rio

The Korean car has a more restrained interior. Its color palette is dominated by dark, practical tones. In some variations of Lada you can find bright, saturated inserts of orange, red or beige colors.

Users complain that the buttons in the Vesta are pressed very hard and there is some play in them. Kia does not have such problems. It is praised for its soft seats and high quality plastics inside.

Multimedia systems of competitors are practically no different in functionality and sound. But the car from the Russian automobile industry has a small plus - the presence of a slot for reading data from SD cards.

Kia Rio Warranties

Kia is increasing the warranty period for its car to 5 years or 150 thousand kilometers. Some parts are included in the list of those subject to natural wear and tear, and the decision on warranty replacement is made by specialists from Kia service centers. Such parts include filters, chrome design elements, hoses, pipes, windshield wiper blades, brake system parts and many others. Some can be replaced within 1-3 years after the start of operation, others can be repaired on a paid basis. The original battery must be replaced within six months from the date of purchase, after which the warranty period expires.

Car design and exterior

VAZ managed to make a stylish body, which in its appearance is in no way inferior to its closest competitors.

Both sedans have sporty lines. This can be seen in the streamlined shape, the “aggressive” bumper and elongated rectangular headlights. The Kia Rio's radiator grille is narrow and less pronounced. In a Russian car, the emphasis is on it.

Exterior view of the Lada Vesta. Photo source: https://www.drive2.ru/o/b/486028670771659178/

From the rear, the latest version of the Korean car looks in line with modern trends. Its headlights are connected to each other by a thin red stripe, and the muffler is disguised. Some versions of the Lada have a double exhaust pipe that immediately catches your eye. The rear lights are more clumsy and angular.

Among station wagons, it’s also not possible to clearly choose who turned out to be more stylish: Ka Rio X-Line or Lada Vesta SW Cross. Like sedans, these body styles are similar in many ways. The Rio has higher roof rails and chrome door handles, while the Lada has them in body color.

Price of body parts

Before buying a car, the decisive factor influencing the final choice is the price of body parts. Here the Lada Vesta becomes the undisputed leader. The cost of individual Rio parts exceeds the price of the same Vesta parts by 2-3 times. The difference is especially noticeable when replacing the trunk lid, bumpers and side mirrors. Thus, the trunk lid of a Russian car on average costs about 7,000 rubles on the market, while the purchase of a part for a Korean will require all of 14,000 rubles. The difference in the price of front bumpers is even more noticeable: from 3,000 rubles for a Vesta to about 10,000 rubles for a Kia Rio.

Dimensions

Both cars have 4 doors and are designed for 5 seats. The Korean brand has a sedan body length of 4,400 mm, while Vesta is 10 mm longer. “Lada” turned out to be 27 mm higher than its competitor. Its height is 1,497 mm. The difference in width is more significant. For the Rio it is 1,700 mm, and for the Russian car it is 1,760 mm.

Vesta's weight ranges between 1,230 and 1,280 kg, depending on the configuration. The minimum weight of Kia is 1,150 kg, and the maximum is 1,198 kg.

If you compare the Kia Rio and Lada Vesta in size, the Korean car will be easier to drive. The VAZ has an advantage in its stability on the road.

Features of the appearance of competitors

It’s worth starting with the characteristics of the car body, as this is what catches your eye first. At first Vesta only had a sedan. Now the choice has been expanded: there is a station wagon and a cross-version, although the same Kia Rio has a hatchback.

Comparison with Kia Rio

While the coupe version of Vesta, as well as the sports version, are still not production versions, it is worth comparing the Lada Vesta and Kia Rio in terms of sedan body sizes. Let's take a look at the Russian new product and one of the top sellers from Korea.

The length of the Kia Rio is 4380 mm, that of the Vesta is 4410 mm. The Korean car is 1700 mm wide, the Russian car is slightly wider: 1764 mm. Larger than Vesta and 1500 mm in height versus 1470 for Rio.

Comparison of parameters

At the AvtoVAZ flagship	From a Korean state employee
One of the advantages of Vesta is its high ground clearance, it is 17.8 cm,	Only 1600 mm.
The luggage compartment volume is also larger: Vesta has 480 liters.	Not much less: 470.
Vesta's mass is 1230 kg (fully loaded 1670 kg).	The Korean weighs only 1050 kg, although the load capacity is not much less and amounts to a maximum of 1570 kg.
The advantages, albeit slightly, are on the side of the Lada Vesta. This is confirmed by the wheelbase - 2640.	2570 mm.

Externally, both models are attractive. And with the release of the next generation KIA Rio, this car has become more solid. In this way, it wins over Lada, since it does not yet have a serious update planned.

Rio and Vesta predominantly use fast-paced and dynamic designs, emphasizing their focus on a younger audience.

The Kia Rio radiator grille, spare parts for Kia cars are made in the corporate style, narrow head optics emphasize the predatory “look”, and fog lights complement the image. Vesta produces the same impression created by standard optics. The radiator grille is massive, with a powerful air intake. X-shaped stampings on the sides emphasize the corporate style. However, the Kia Rio also has its own sides, albeit not as pronounced. “Korean” contains more chromium.

The rear part complements the overall style with massive lanterns and a sloping roof that smoothly merges into the trunk lid. In terms of the attractiveness of the stern, Vesta is in no way inferior to its competitor, so a comparison - Lada Vesta or still KiaRio - is acceptable as a consideration of identical models, alternatives to each other.

Comparison of the “appearance” of Skoda Rapid and Lada Vesta

The Czechs in this regard have always been superior to their direct competitors, and after the acquisition of the company by the German brand Volkswagen, the products began to be of unsurpassed quality, even in budget cars. Skoda cars are not inferior to Volkswagen, but at the same time they are somewhat cheaper than they have earned popularity among many car enthusiasts. When comparing Rapid and Vesta, it should immediately be noted that in terms of the quality of materials, workmanship, etc., the Czech car is superior to AvtoVAZ’s flagship Vesta.

Unlike the predatory and impetuous image of Vesta, the Skoda Rapid has a completely different “appearance”. The German discreet style prevails here, attention is paid to every little detail, and this creates the image of a solid car.

The front of the Rapid is characterized by smooth, classic-shaped optics with large fog lights. The radiator grille is in the form of blinds with wide vertical stripes. Neat doors and wheel arches only confirm the discreet and simple style.

At the rear, square lights are used. There is no smooth transition between the roof and the trunk. All this together creates the image of a classic German sedan. The Rapid does not have a station wagon body, but it has a liftback, which can give Vesta a head start in a station wagon in terms of luggage compartment volume.

As in the previous case, there are no obvious differences in the sizes of these cars; the dimensions of the Rapid are as follows:

length 4480 mm;
width 1706 mm;
height 1470 mm;
ground clearance 170 mm;

If Vesta wins in size, then in terms of luggage compartment volume the Czech car is ahead (530 liters versus 480). The wheelbase is actually equal: 2630 for the Lada and 2600 for the Rapid.

Comparison with the exterior of the Hyandai Solaris

Recently, the Korean automaker has been striving to rank with the elite brands of Europe. This is how the next generation of Sonata, Elantra appeared, and the new Solaris is catching up to this. In general, the advantage of all foreign budget brands from among Vesta’s competitors is that when updating, engineers do not limit themselves to a light facelift, producing cars of a new generation. Just look at the difference between Hyandai Solaris and Hyandai Acsent, but the latter is the previous generation of Solaris. It is unknown when this will happen with Vesta.

Comparison of Lada Vesta and Hyundai Solaris cannot be carried out in the same way and it is impossible to say unequivocally which one is better. Let's say the dimensions are approximately the same. Here are the sizes of a Korean state employee:

length 4410 mm;
height 1494 mm;
width 1700 mm;
ground clearance 160 mm;
luggage compartment 470 liters.

When comparing Vesta with an opponent in appearance, it is necessary to take into account that both models are attractive in their own way. The design option from Korea is being developed taking into account future updates and changes in appearance. The latest generation of Solaris has a sloping body profile and an attractive rear, with sharp and graceful flowing lines used throughout.

Luggage racks

For sedans, this parameter cannot be used to determine whether Vesta or Kia Rio is better. The volume of their luggage compartment is identical and amounts to 480 liters.

If we compare the Lada Vesta SV Cross and the Kia Rio X-Line, then the Russian brand has something to brag about. The minimum size of its trunk is 480 liters. The competitor has a lower figure - 390 liters.

The domestic car also wins in terms of space organization. Above the spare wheel niche there are two foam containers with lids. With the rear seats folded down, the floor is flat. On the left side, under the curtain, there is a box for storing small items.

Exterior of the Kia Rio. Photo source: https://yandex.ru/collections/card/5de36b2ac8ba05cdbb215002/

If you fold down the rear seats of the Kia, they form a high threshold. In addition, opening the tailgate is not always convenient due to the small handle.

Chassis

The West has an independent front suspension with gas-filled MacPherson shock absorber struts. At the rear there is a transverse beam with levers and coil springs.

In the Rio, the manufacturer also installed a front stabilizer and independent MacPherson struts. The rear suspension is similar - semi-independent with a torsion beam.

According to these parameters, the cars are identical. But in reality, the Lada handles bumps and potholes on the road more confidently. In the Kia, the impacts are felt more strongly. At the same time, at low speeds, the “Korean” corners better due to the stiffer suspension. In such a situation, the VAZ begins to roll more, but the steering wheel of the car is more responsive.

Vesta has more ground clearance - 178 mm, while Rio has 160 mm.

Engine and transmission

All available engine variations are presented in the table.

Lada Vesta	Kia Rio
Petrol, volume 1.6 liters. 106 horsepower. Manual transmission.	Petrol, volume 1.4 liters. 100 horsepower. Manual transmission.
Petrol, volume 1.6 liters. 106 horsepower. Robotic gearbox.	Petrol, volume 1.4 liters. 100 horsepower. Automatic transmission.
On gas, volume 1.6 liters. 106 horsepower. Manual transmission.	Petrol, volume 1.6 liters. 123 horsepower. Manual transmission.
Petrol, volume 1.6 liters. 113 horsepower. Variable speed drive.	Petrol, volume 1.6 liters. 123 horsepower. Automatic transmission.
Petrol, volume 1.8 liters. 122 horsepower. Manual transmission.
Petrol, volume 1.8 liters. 122 horsepower. Robotic gearbox.

Both models are equipped with front-wheel drive only.

Under the hood

Let's open the hood of a Kia Rio that has covered about 10 thousand km. Here is a simple 1.6-liter 123-horsepower gasoline engine assembled in China.

Kia Rio: Motor with timing chain drive, easy to maintain, spark plugs, fuel filter are easy to change, bolts with metric threads. The designers were well aware of the limited capabilities of potential owners of such a car during repairs.

Under the hood of the Lada Vesta is a 1.6-liter 106-horsepower gasoline engine produced by AvtoVAZ. His horses ran about 10 thousand km in the stables of the Za Rulem magazine.

Lada Vesta engine. Purchasing a special tool for replacing spark plugs and special keys for unscrewing bolts is nothing.

From the experience of the Za Rulem magazine fleet, we know about the weaknesses of VAZ components, in particular the pump - it can fail even on short runs. Replacing it is possible only when removing the motor from the supports. When servicing the timing belt, you will also have to hang the engine. After replacing it, there is still work to synchronize the camshafts. Mistakes here are costly - they end in valves meeting pistons.

Having removed the cover from the fuse box in the Kia Rio, we see their distribution diagram. In Lada Vesta, you need to look for such a diagram in the instructions. By the way, where are the instructions?

Kia Rio gets 1 ball under the hood.

Speed characteristics

In a comparison of the Lada Vesta and the basic Kia Rio, the Russian car accelerates to 100 km/h in 11.3 seconds. Maximum speed – 175 km/h.

Salon "Lada Vesta". Photo source: https://www.zr.ru/cars/vaz/-/vaz-vesta/media/?p=1

The Korean brand showed the worst dynamics in traffic. To accelerate to “hundreds”, it will take 12.2 seconds. But it can travel at a speed of no more than 185 km/h.

In its maximum configuration, the Lada is capable of reaching a speed of 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds. In such an assembly, the speedometer needle cannot be moved beyond the 186 km/h mark.

“Rio” has the best acceleration to hundreds – 10.3 seconds. Maximum speed – 193 km/h.

Interior

But when you look inside the cars, you can see, if not outright plagiarism, then very similar motives in the interior design. It is noticeable that AvtoVAZ designers were impressed by the inner world of the Korean model.

Kia Rio interior.

The dashboard, center console, 3-spoke steering wheel are all pretty similar. Of course, one cannot deny Vesta’s interior originality and originality, but there are certainly similarities. On the other hand, both models are ok with ergonomics, and there are no complaints about visibility either. The finishing materials are of quite high quality, as for class B. But there is definitely more space in the Lada, thanks to the larger dimensions and longer wheelbase. Therefore, in this regard, we can put an equal sign, but with a slight advantage for the Lada Vesta.

But the interior of the Lada Vesta is no worse.

Transmission options

The manufacturer equipped Vesta with three types of gearboxes:

five-speed manual;
five-speed robotic;
variable speed drive.

Rio has less variety:

six-speed manual;
six-speed automatic.

The automatic transmission in the Lada causes a lot of criticism. Users complain of extraneous noise under increased loads and acceleration. Experts advise changing the transmission oil or contacting a service center.

The Rio machine has no obvious defects. It has 6 stages, which helps to more successfully select the optimal engine speed.

Eventually

Having studied the aspects of the cars, we can say with confidence that the Lada Vesta outperforms its competitor. The main trump cards that attract future Kia Rio owners are warranty service and a truly automatic transmission. At the same time, it is quite obvious that the Korean is designed for quiet city driving and is not ready for extreme use. At that time, the Lada is more suitable for use in our road conditions, and the reduced warranty service will not bring with it much greater expenses than that of the Rio, since spare parts, consumables and maintenance are an order of magnitude lower.

Safety and reliability

Both competitors have Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Traction Control (ECS), Stability Control (ESC), and Emergency Brake Alert (ESS).

Salon "Kia Rio". Photo source: https://yandex.ru/collections/card/58a4a7357fd024006cfd81e1/

In the basic kit, Kia only has airbags for the front passenger and driver. Vesta also provides side ones.

In most trim levels, the Lada Vesta, like the Kia Rio, uses drum brakes on the rear wheels. In this regard, the safety of cars is the same.

Lada vesta guarantees

The warranty on the fret 2180 lasts 3 years or 100 thousand kilometers, it is valid subject to compliance with the operating rules and timely completion of technical and complaint inspections. The main components of the car have their own service life. For example, it is recommended to change batteries every 2 years; shock absorbers, bearings, catalytic converters - 1 year or no more than 35,000 km; rubber hoses, silent blocks, drive parts - up to 50 thousand km.

Corrosion, paint defects, malfunctions resulting from improper maintenance or self-repair are not covered by the warranty, as are damage caused during an accident.