With everything in life, we all like to feel like we’re getting a good deal, and that’s why value for money is so important. It’s especially important to car buyers, because your car is likely to be one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. So, it’s hats off to the Kia Rio for winning our 2018 Best Value New Car award.

Like most of our awards, this category was decided by feedback collated from a survey of more than 40,000 car owners, all of whom rated their car in 16 key areas. That means an Auto Trader New Car Award is a real stamp of approval from people that live with the car day-in, day-out, and it makes each winner a true consumer champion.

Here are just a few of the comments owners made about the Rio…

Our experts also rate the Rio pretty highly, as you can see in our expert review.

Commenting on the Rio’s victory in this category, Auto Trader’s Road Test Editor Ivan Aistrop, said: “It’s important to stress that ‘value’ doesn’t mean ‘cheap’, and there are plenty of similar cars out there that cost less than the Rio. What the Rio gives you, though, is a vast amount of ability for a very affordable outlay, and most of the time, that’s far more appealing to buyers than a bargain-basement pricetag. It’s good to drive, practical, nice inside, well-equipped and comes with a fantastic warranty to make owning it even better value.”

Will the Rio be in Pole Position to take the award again next year, or will one of this year’s runners-up – the Dacia Sandero Stepway and Skoda Superb – have something to say about it?

If you’re one of those people who likes getting good value for money – who doesn’t? – and you’re looking for a new car, you can start configuring your all-new Kia Rio on Auto Trader right now.