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2020 Kia Forte Blue parked on sand and grass in front of bluff

Great Kia Models for First Time Car Buyers

If you have never bought a car before, you don’t need to fear the process. As technology has developed, it has made it easier, faster, and simpler than ever for someone who has never bought a vehicle before to walk into a dealership and walk out owning a car. You can even buy a car online or over the phone. At Northland Kia, we want to make buying your first car as simple as possible.

But you can’t buy a car without knowing which one you want first. This page is for young first-time buyers who want an inexpensive, small vehicle that won’t cost too much to fuel up. Great Kia models for college students, young couples and small families include the Kia Rio, the Kia soul, and the Kia Seltos. The chart below compares each of these three models and uses some specifications from the 2020 and 2021 model years for comparison purposes only.

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Kia Rio

Kia Soul

Kia Seltos
$18,045 Starting MSRP $21,195 Starting MSRP $22,995 Starting MSRP
7.2L City, 5.9L Highway, 6.6L Combined (/100km) 9.4L City, 7.6L Highway, 8.7L Combined (/100km) 8.2L City, 7.1L Highway, 7.6L Combined (/100km)
1.6L I4 Engine with 120 Horsepower 2.0L I4 Engine with 147 Horsepower 2.0L I4 Engine with 147 Horsepower
Android Auto™, Apple CarPlay®, and Bluetooth® Connectivity Android Auto™, Apple CarPlay®, and Bluetooth® Connectivity Android Auto™, Apple CarPlay®, and Bluetooth® Connectivity

Model Comparison

The Kia Rio is a subcompact sedan, and as such balances fuel economy better than the other two models which are both technically subcompact crossover SUVs. The drawback comes in cargo space, but not everyone needs more cargo space than a simple trunk can provide. For those who do need to store more, the Kia Soul has a high, boxy body and space behind the back seat allowing for the storage of bulky items, making it great for college students. The Kia Seltos might cost the most of the three, but it still gets fair fuel economy and blends in with the rest of the crossover crowd than the Soul. Choose the Seltos if you need the most cargo space you can get for the price.

Other Models Available at Northland Kia

If the Rio, Soul, and Seltos are not the models you’re looking for, we do carry a few more Kia models at Northland Kia. See them all listed here:

  • Kia Forte (Compact Sedan)
  • Kia Forte5 (Compact Hatchback)
  • Kia Niro
  • Kia Optima
  • Kia Rio 5-Door (Subcompact Hatchback)
  • Kia Sedona
  • Kia Sorento
  • Kia Sportage
  • Kia Stinger
  • Kia Telluride
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2021 Kia Seltos parked back end open seats folded down
2020 Kia Rio interior high view of front cabin
2020 Kia Forte driving through sand kicking up dust