Ford Ranger vs Kia Rio

What's the difference?

VS
Ford Ranger
Ford Ranger

$37,130 - $90,690

2025 price

Kia Rio
Kia Rio

$16,990 - $25,990

2022 price

Summary

2025 Ford Ranger
2022 Kia Rio
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.3L

Inline 4, 1.4L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded/Electric

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
2.7L/100km (combined)

6.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Prohibitively expensive
  • Lacks truly usable EV range
  • Adds weight to already-heavy ute

  • Uninspiring drivetrain
  • Lacks active safety features
  • Hard, noisy ride
2025 Ford Ranger Summary

Ford has been teasing the plug-in version of its sales chart darling for some time.

Long enough, in fact, that between the Ford Ranger PHEV program being confirmed in late 2023 and its 2025 arrival, two other plug-in hybrid utes have hit the market. 

While there’s some overlap between the aims and target market of the Ranger PHEV and its challengers from China, the BYD Shark 6 and the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, Ford claims the Ranger’s capability hasn’t been compromised for the sake of electrification.

Can a petrol engine and a big battery bring the same tough ute vibes as the rugged diesel variant that’s arguably become the segment benchmark? 

There’s a lot riding on the Ranger PHEV and Ford Australia invited CarsGuide to the updated ute's local launch, including a variety of situations you might expect a dual-cab to be found in - on and off the asphalt.

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2022 Kia Rio Summary

Australia is experiencing a mass extinction event.

Like the dinosaurs before them, and hopefully not the bees in the near future, the sub-$20,000 car is nearing the bitter end.

An evolutionary dead-end, as higher emissions and safety regulations relegate older models (read Mitsubishi Mirage) to the great scrap-heap in the sky and prevent newer ones (read Honda Jazz) from leaving their local markets.

For you, this means there are quite literally a handful of brand-new vehicles left in Australia which wear before-on-road price-tags under the magic $20,000 number.

One of them is the car we’re looking at for this review: The Kia Rio S, with the catch being you’ll have to be happy changing gears yourself.

So, is this most basic Rio worth your while, or is it best left as a puzzling fossil for future generations to study? Let’s have a look.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Ford Ranger 2022 Kia Rio

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