In a smackdown of South Korean sub-compacts, the Kia Rio EX outpointed the Accent from sister company Hyundai as the top-rated sedan of that size in Consumer Reports' latest tests.

Chevrolet's Sonic, the American entrant in the magazine's ratings, as well as the Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris, both from Japan, scored lower.

"Subcompact cars were once collectively known as penalty boxes for their noisiness, rudimentary interiors, uncomfortable rides, and weak performance. But now improved redesigns, combined with an affordable prices and impressive fuel economy, make a number of subcompact models good all-around choices for people looking to stretch their budget," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center.

The magazine said the Kia Rio "is a solid and well-equipped car" that "benefits from nimble handling and very simple controls and provides plenty of features for the price."

The Kia Rio EX sedan the magazine tested has a sticker price of $17,275 and is powered by a 138 hp, 1.6-four-cylinder engine that has decent power and gets 30 mpg overall.

The Hyundai Accent shares its platform and powertrain with the Rio but gets better fuel economy, about 1 mile per gallon better in Consumer Reports' testing. It has a sticker price of $16,050 and is powered by a 138 hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and what the magazine described as a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. But Consumer Reports dinged the car for a bumpy ride at times as well as road and wind noise.

The Chevrolet Sonic has responsive handling and excellent brakes, according to the review, but was more expensive -- nearly $18,000 -- and at 28 mpg had poorer fuel economy than other entrants in this segment.

Consumer Reports said the Nissan Versa sedan was a step backward from previous versions of the car and was at the bottom of the magazine’s ratings.

It also knocked the Toyota Yaris, calling it "bare-bones transportation" with a noisy, choppy ride and an "austere" interior.

Motivated by a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 giving 389 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque, power for GT is routed through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Kia pulled the wraps off the sedan version of its Rio subcompact, and rolled out the 5-door we saw in Geneva for comparison. Both continue a clean, athletic aesthetic Peter Schreyer has been introducing to the lineup with every product refresh since he joined the team (only the Sedona’s left). The traditional Kia grille is flanked by large, expressive headlamps on each variant, but in the top-level SX trim shown, the 5-door gets a more sporting visage with three separate lower-fascia air ducts (the sedan’s are connected into one), and projector beam headlamps (sedans get basic halogen). A bold body-side graphic has the rear shoulder line angling sharply down on the front doors to meet the lower rocker line. The tail treatment of the sedan shrinks the Optima’s basic looks. Dimensionally, the wheelbase gets a 2.8-inch stretch while the sedan body grows 5.0 inches longer and an inch wider as the roofline drops 0.6 inch relative to the old sedan. Rolling stock choices for both variants include 15 inch rims wearing 185/65 rubber on base LX and EX models; while SXs get 17s with 205/45 Hankook Optimo tires.

Under the hood, all Rios get the same direct-injected 1.6-liter Gamma engine, rated at 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque–a boost of 28 hp and 16 lb-ft over the outgoing 1.6-liter. Fuel-sipping technologies like electric power steering, smart charging (the alternator tries to do most of its work while braking or coasting), and continuously variable valve timing on both cams. Choose either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission and we’re told you’ll see 30-mpg city/40-mpg highway economy. Real-world economy may be even better if you select the optional Eco Package, which includes Idle Stop and Go (aka auto-stop-start) system–a segment first–as well as a driving monitor system to help optimize efficiency. Elsewhere on the ecological front: soy-based foam is used in the seats and 85 percent of the Rio’s materials are recyclable.

Extensive use of high-strength steel (63 percent, particularly in the B-pillar ring and cross-car side-impact reinforcements) helps reduce the weight of the body while delivering five-star crash performance in NHTSA’s latest testing, and of course vehicle stability management remains standard. Upscale options include Kia’s UVO infotainment system (think SYNC), navigation, push-button starting, and a backup camera. Pricing has not been finalized yet, but is expected to start below $13,000.