October 23, 2018—The 2018 Kia Rio a minicar has earned the Top Safety Pick-Plus award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety when equipped with front crash prevention and newly available good-rated headlights.

To qualify for the 2018 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, a vehicle must have good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side small overlap test. It also needs a front crash prevention system that earns an advanced or superior rating and available headlights that earn a good rating.

The Rio earns an acceptable rating in the passenger-side test. Its optional front crash prevention system earns a superior rating.The new LED headlights, available with the optional technology package on Rios built after June, earn a good rating. The low beams provide good visibility in all test scenarios, though they produce some glare for drivers of oncoming vehicles. The high beams only provide additional visibility on the left side of the straightaway.