A Kia (or Hyundai) were alternate brands I was considering when I picked up my Saturn (in 2008), but I was looking at the compact-, mid-, or full-size variants, as subcompacts and being a large person is an excercise in masochism. They were nice, but unpolished, IMO. The Kia Rondo (SUV) I tooled around in once as a rental was okay, but not extraordinary.
If I were you, I'd hit a bookstore and peruse the Consumer Reports guide and see which subcompacts rate best.
If I were you, I'd hit a bookstore and peruse the Consumer Reports guide and see which subcompacts rate best.