2019 Ford Fiesta vs Kia Rio

What's the difference?

For the new-generation Ford Fiesta 2019 range, only one version will be offered - the all-new Ford Fiesta ST.

Ford Australia has taken the bold move of pulling out of the light car segment with the exception of this manic little hot hatch.

It has big shoes to fill, following on from what was widely acclaimed as the benchmark when it came to budget pocket rocket performance and outright driver enjoyment.

And, like the previous model, the new 2019 Ford Fiesta ST follows the fun-for-your-money formula to a tee: front-drive, manual, turbocharged... but this time around, things are very different - inside, outside, and under the skin.

Over four generations, the Kia Rio has cemented its place in the Australian small-car landscape.

It now enjoys a market share on par with the Honda Jazz, but is bested by its fleet-friendly cousin, the Hyundai Accent, as well as the Suzuki Swift, Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris.

Now that it’s an established player, though, could it aim for a bigger slice of the small-hatch pie? Could it become one of Australia’s most beloved small-car nameplates?

We’ve driven the entire updated 2019 Rio range to find out.