2016 Chevrolet Sonic vs 2016 Kia Rio vs 2016 Scion iA

2016 Chevrolet Sonic

2016 Kia Rio

2016 Scion iA

Select style

4-Door Sedan Automatic LS

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Sonic 4-Door Sedan Automatic LS	24	35	$15,205	$15,595
Sonic 4-Door Sedan Automatic LT	24	35	$16,843	$17,545
Sonic 4-Door Sedan Automatic LTZ	27	37	$18,791	$19,780
Sonic 4-Door Sedan Automatic RS	25	33	$20,420	$21,495
Sonic 4-Door Sedan Manual LS	26	35	$13,986	$14,345
Sonic 4-Door Sedan Manual LT	26	35	$15,508	$16,155
Sonic 4-Door Sedan Manual RS	27	34	$19,090	$20,095
Sonic 5-Door HB Automatic LS	24	35	$15,790	$16,195
Sonic 5-Door HB Automatic LT	24	35	$17,419	$18,145
Sonic 5-Door HB Automatic LTZ	27	37	$19,327	$20,345
Sonic 5-Door HB Automatic RS	25	33	$20,420	$21,495
Sonic 5-Door HB Manual LS	26	35	$14,571	$14,945
Sonic 5-Door HB Manual LT	26	35	$16,084	$16,755
Sonic 5-Door HB Manual RS	27	34	$19,090	$20,095

Select style

4-Door Sedan Automatic EX

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Rio 4-Door Sedan Automatic EX	27	37	$16,926	$17,755
Rio 4-Door Sedan Automatic LX	27	37	$14,929	$15,395
Rio 4-Door Sedan Automatic SX	27	37	$19,667	$20,755
Rio 4-Door Sedan Manual LX	27	38	$13,901	$14,165
Rio 5-Door HB Automatic EX	27	37	$17,052	$17,905
Rio 5-Door HB Automatic LX	27	37	$15,027	$15,495
Rio 5-Door HB Automatic SX	27	37	$19,801	$20,905

Select style

4-Door Sedan Automatic

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
iA 4-Door Sedan Automatic	33	42	$15,960	$16,800
iA 4-Door Sedan Manual	31	41	$14,915	$15,700

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$15,205

$16,926

$15,960

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$15,595

$17,755

$16,800

Monthly Payment Estimate

$260 / month

$296 / month

$280 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.8

Read Our Full Review

7.4

Read Our Full Review

6.8

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

Despite its five years largely unchanged, the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic remains stylish and comfortable, and it scores big not only on safety ratings, but also driving fun.

The 2016 Kia Rio is starting to fall behind, though an attractive design and good feature content offset its cramped rear seat and only adequate safety ratings.

The 2016 Scion iA isn't fast or particularly roomy, but it delivers a great blend of features and performance for a remarkable subcompact price.

TCC Likes

Excellent seat comfort
Turbo 4-cylinder sporty and efficient
Good noise suppression

Crisp European lines
High-quality cabin
Powertrain smoothness

Exceptional value
Enjoyable manual transmission
Refined road manners

TCC Dislikes

Brake feel can be soft
Base 1.8 engine harsh, gutless
No standard USB port

Among smallest subcompacts
Back seat quite cramped
Power sufficient, hardly zippy

Sluggish accleration off the line with either transmission
Some cheap-looking upholstery
Somewhat cramped rear seat

Fuel Economy

City

24 mpg

27 mpg

33 mpg

Highway

35 mpg

37 mpg

42 mpg

Vehicle

Number of Passenger Doors

EPA Classification

Compact Cars

Subcompact Cars

Interior Dimensions

Second Head Room (in)

37.80

37.6

36.8

Second Shoulder Room (in)

53.00

52.1

Front Leg Room (in)

41.80

43.8

41.9

Passenger Capacity

Front Hip Room (in)

51.40

52.1

48.6

Second Leg Room (in)

34.60

31.1

34.4

Front Head Room (in)

38.70

38.2

Second Hip Room (in)

51.60

51.2

49.5

Front Shoulder Room (in)

53.40

53.1

Passenger Volume (ft³)

90.3

88.4

85.9

Exterior Dimensions

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

5.5

Length, Overall (in)

173.10

172

171.7

Height, Overall (in)

59.70

57.3

58.5

Track Width, Rear (in)

59.40

58.5

Wheelbase (in)

99.40

101.2

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

68.30

67.7

66.7

Track Width, Front (in)

59.40

59.8

58.9

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

14.9

13.7

13.5

Brakes

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.3

7.9

Brake Type

Pwr

4-Wheel Disc

Front Disc/Rear Drum

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

10.6 x 0.47

7.9

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.8 x 1.0

10.1

10.2

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

12.2

11.4

11.6

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

34.5

33.5

32.2

Steering Type

Electric Pwr Steering

Rack-Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

2.8

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

Tires

Front Tire Size

P195/65R15

P185/65TR15

P185/60VR16

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

Q1H

Spare Tire Order Code

ZAD

Rear Tire Size

P195/65R15

P185/65TR15

P185/60VR16

Rear Tire Order Code

Q1H

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

2733

2573

2416

Wheels

Spare Wheel Size (in)

- TBD -

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

15 x - TBD -

15 X 5.5

16 X 5.5

Front Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

- TBD -

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

15 x - TBD -

15 X 5.5

16 X 5.5

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

6.3

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

438

410

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

100

Engine

Displacement

1.8L/110

1.6 L/97

1.5 L/91

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

138 @ 6300

106 @ 6000

Engine Type

Gas I4

Regular Unleaded I-4

Fuel System

Electronic Fuel Injection

Gasoline Direct Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

125 @ 3800

123 @ 4850

103 @ 4000

Engine Order Code

LUW

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

Transmission

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

0.74

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

2.87

3.44

2.99

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.91

2.73

2.02

Trans Order Code

MH9

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.47

3.06

3.82

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.44

1.39

1.00

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic

Automatic w/OD

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.74

0.77

0.59

First Gear Ratio (:1)

4.45

4.40

3.53

Clutch Size (in)

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.89

1.83

1.35

Summary

Body Style

Sedan

Vehicle Name

Chevrolet Sonic

Kia Rio

Scion iA

Suspension

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear

Torsion Beam

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Torsion Beam

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Strut

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

6.3

5.9

4.7

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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