Peugeot 308 vs Kia Rio
What's the difference?

Peugeot 308

—

2023 price

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Kia Rio

$15,990 - $24,977

2022 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz A45

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Summary

2023 Peugeot 308

2022 Kia Rio

By Laura Berry

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.6L

Inline 4, 1.4L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

1.4L/100km (combined)

6.0L/100km (combined)

Energy consumption

20.7 kWh/100km

Electric range

60 km

Battery capacity

12.40 kWh

Seating

Likes

Sinister exterior styling
Lavish interior
Superb to drive

Ace multimedia
Affordability
Big interior

Dislikes

Long charging time
High price compared to petrol variant
You could have a fully electric car for less money

Uninspiring drivetrain
Lacks active safety features
Hard, noisy ride

2023 Peugeot 308 Summary

Ah, now you can have your Peugeot 308 and plug it into a power point as well. Yes, the new petrol version of the 308 arrived late last year and now the 308 GT Sport Hatch plug-in hybrid is here, too.

We've just driven the 308 GT Sport plug-in hybrid (PHEV) at its Australian launch and we can now answer all of your questions, such as how much it costs over a regular petrol 308, what's its electric range, what features come standard, what's it like to drive and is there a fully electric Peugeot coming soon?

Ready? Let's go.

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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

2023 Peugeot 308 2022 Kia Rio

Verdict

The 308 GT Sport plug-in hybrid is a beautifully designed small hatch that is comfortable, enjoyable and easy to drive. The electric motor gives this hatch good acceleration and the equally impressive handling makes for a fun car to drive too. There's good storage, a decent boot and room for even tall people like me in those back seats.

There are two clear drawbacks, however: the price is steep compared to the petrol version; and you'll need to plug the vehicle into a power supply each night if you drive the car daily and want to achieve the 2.4L/100km fuel economy we did in this test.

Last, but probably the most important thing you'll read is that Peugeot will bring fully electric cars to Australia from the second half of 2023, from SUVs to (hopefully) the battery electric version of this very 308 hatch.

If it was my money, I'd hold on - you're going to have your next car for quite a long time so it's worth waiting for the fully electric versions.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Verdict

The Rio S Manual is a fun-to-drive little car with a big practicality and multimedia offering in a segment rapidly heading towards extinction.

While some elements of the drive experience are reminiscent of budget cars from 10-20 years ago, Kia makes up for it by wrapping the Rio in a contemporary looking and feeling package, ready for the buyer who needs no frills and demands no nonsense. Until the manual transmission goes the way of the dodo, there is almost no better option.

Peugeot 308 vs Kia Rio What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Peugeot 308 vs Kia Rio
What's the difference?