It doesn't get much cheaper than this, but that's not necessarily a good thing. The Rio sedan and its hatchback cousin, the Cinco, are Kia's entry level sub-compact offerings. Starting at just $9,455, lowered expectations are presumed and more or less met here.

On the outside, there is a high cute factor, especially with the wagon. Models with the upper trim levels can add on such sporty accessories as alloy wheels, spoiler and fog lights, but that does little to alter the reality that this is a vehicle built to a price point with small engine and little driving excitement.

Under the hood, a 1.6-liter engine sips fuel while producing an anemic 102 horsepower. It will cruise comfortably at highway speeds, but this is a buzzy engine without much passing power. Handling is adequate, with speed sensitive steering that tightens up on the highway for better control.

Inside the cabin, the gauges are easy to read and well laid out, but the interior trim pieces are almost entirely hard plastic. Even the armrest on the driver's side door has absolutely no padding under the cloth trim.

But while the Rio and Cinco may never be fast, furious or luxurious, it may find a place in driveways as a second vehicle - the one you might use for grocery runs or loan to your teenager.

There are few competitors in this price range, but alternate choices to consider would include Hyundai Accent or Elantra, Toyota Echo and Suzuki Aerio.