The Kia Rio epitomizes the finest in affordable, straightforward mobility. This subcompact offers fantastic value for the money and is cheap and fuel-efficient, but it also has a surprising level of driving sophistication and features for the price. It is offered as a sedan or a hatchback, but neither has a lot of room in the back seat or the trunk. Several driver-assistance features are available as options, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard features. The Rio is one of the last truly affordable new cars left on the market after the departure of several of its rivals, including the Chevy Sonic, Honda Fit, and Toyota Yaris, and it’s good enough to win a spot on our 2022 Editors’ Choice list.
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Kia Rios: excellent or bad?
The Kia Rio is an excellent subcompact car, yes. There is enough room for people and their stuff inside its elegant cabin. There are also simple controls for the infotainment system. The Rio is simple to drive and gets some of the greatest fuel economy ratings in its class.
How much time will the Kia Rio last?
A Kia Rio may survive for 200,000 miles or more with proper upkeep. You may anticipate the Rio to last you roughly 13 years if you travel 15,000 miles each year on average. Only if you keep up with maintenance and don’t abuse the car is this possible.
What issues does the Kia Rio have?
Idling poorly and experiencing misfires are two of the most frequent problems with the Kia Rio’s engine. For such a small car, the engine is already thought to be very loud, but under these circumstances, it is really audible.
Even with brand-new autos, this problem can arise surprisingly quickly. Whether it is on the highway or in your driveway, the engine makes a loud noise while idling and has the potential to misfire suddenly.
Causes and Solutions for Engine Stalls, Misfires, and Idles Rough in a Kia Rio
One of the weak areas of the Kia Rio’s engine is its spark plugs, which frequently need to be replaced sooner than you might expect.
Spark plugs need to be changed if there is misfiring or noisy idle.
Which Kia Rio model year is the best?
The least costly vehicle from this Korean carmaker has historically been the Kia Rio. Early on, the Rio was a cheap, albeit rather forgettable, means of transportation. The features and comfort of the Rio’s second-generation model significantly improved, and it was also more enjoyable to drive. Thanks to its expressive appearance, spirited engine, and generous internal space, the most recent Rio represents a significant advancement.
The Kia Rio is available as a four-door hatchback and a sedan. The hatchback offers substantially more utility despite having the same mechanicals and interior components. Generally speaking, the Rio will be better the newer it is.
existing Kia Rio Both a four-door sedan and a four-door hatchback are offered for the Kia Rio subcompact. LX, EX, and SX are the three trim levels. All Rio variants are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. The LX comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission; a six-speed automatic is an option. Only the six-speed automatic is offered with the EX and SX.
Air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, and a stereo with satellite radio, an auxiliary audio port, and a USB/iPod interface are notable standard features on the base LX. Full power accessories, Bluetooth, cruise control, and a telescopic steering wheel are added in the EX model. Alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a rearview camera, power-folding mirrors, and Kia’s “Uvo” voice-activated electronics interface all relatively standard on the SX. A sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a navigation system are notable options.
We’ve mentioned in evaluations that the Kia Rio sticks out because of its unique style and design. Particularly in the higher trim levels, the interior quality is a cut above that of competing vehicles in its class. The Rio’s engine delivers reasonable acceleration and exceptional fuel efficiency when driving. The SX trim level’s excessively firm ride quality is one of the car’s few minor drawbacks. Overall though, the Kia Rio is a leader in the compact vehicle market.
Pre-owned Kia Rio models The third-generation Kia Rio, which was completely redesigned for 2012, marks a significant improvement in terms of refinement and optional luxury options. It’s roomier and more fashionable inside and out than prior Rios. Additionally, it uses less gasoline and has more power. There haven’t been many changes since it first appeared.
The Kia Rio of the second generation, which was built from 2006 to 2011, came before it. Both a sedan and a four-door hatchback were available (called the Rio5). The base model, which was only available as a sedan, was “sparsely furnished.” In addition to air conditioning, power steering, a tilt steering wheel, and a CD player, both body designs were available in LX trim, while a sporty SX trim featured alloy wheels and unique aesthetic accents.
The 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that powered all second-generation Kia Rios generated 110 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque. Despite the Rio’s diminutive size, the engine had trouble providing more than just basic motivation for daily travel. While models with automatic transmissions performed better in terms of highway mpg, models with five-speed manual transmissions offered greater acceleration and city fuel economy.
The Rio5 hatchback was the only vehicle offered in the SX level at first. The Rio sedan SX was debuted for 2007, and the Rio5 was available in LX trim for 2008. Prior to 2010, models’ appearance varied slightly according to trim, and in that year, technologies like Bluetooth and cruise control became available. On the Rio5 SX, which had disc brakes in place of the factory-installed drum brakes at the rear, and the LX sedan, antilock brakes were an optional feature that was highly advised. All grades came standard with a five-speed manual transmission; an automated four-speed transmission was an option. Only the LX was offered with a manual transmission for 2011.
The Rio’s interior had a wonderful blend of materials and was rather attractive. Additionally, the automobile handled fairly well. Buyers should be warned that the Rio has received some underwhelming results in crash tests. Overall, a 20062011 Kia Rio is a good option for a cheap car, while some rival subcompacts from Japan will probably turn out to be more pleasant.
For the 2001 model year, the Kia Rio was initially presented. The Rio Cinco hatchback was released by Kia in 2002 after the sedan. Both cars were among the most affordable in their respective classes. Unfortunately, the price was a severely uncomfortable driving experience and a lack of feature content.
According to the opinions of our editors and Rio owners, the vehicle provided basic, economical mobility but little else. Its noisy, crude engine, unsteady ride, and poor build quality were the main complaints. We cannot suggest the Rio, despite the fact that its low residual value makes it appear to be a bargain on the used car market. If you’re set on buying a used Kia Rio, it’s preferable to choose a 2003 model or later because these had an engine with more horsepower (104 vs. 96), an upgraded suspension, and a better interior.
Are Kia vehicles durable?
Maintaining the factory-recommended maintenance plan and taking care of problems as soon as they appear are the best ways to maintain your Kia in good working order. Any material or workmanship flaws should be covered by the Kia guarantee that comes with new and certified pre-owned cars, but these protections ultimately run out.
If your car needs repairs after the first warranty period has passed, an extended warranty might assist cover the cost of such unforeseen expenses. Kia has an extended warranty that may be purchased directly from the company, but you can also acquire coverage from third parties.
Independent extended warranty providers frequently provide more options for coverage, older vehicle coverage, a larger network of repair facilities, and more comprehensive benefits. Endurance and CarShield are two companies that we suggest.
Endurance: Best Coverage
Up to 8 years or 200,000+ miles of additional warranty coverage are possible with Endurance. Additionally, Endurance offers some of the market’s most comprehensive contracts. There are five different coverage options available, ranging from straightforward powertrain coverage to complete bumper-to-bumper warranty protection.
CarShield: Best Value
Additionally, CarShield provides extended warranty protection for cars with up to 300,000 miles on the odometer, potentially doubling the Kia factory warranty’s scope of coverage. CarShield offers a solid reputation in the market, a wide range of coverage options, and some of the most affordable contracts available.
For more information, see our comprehensive CarShield review. To get a free, no-risk CarShield quote, click the button below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kia is a dependable automaker. Overall, Kia receives a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 on RepairPal, placing it third overall (out of 32 brands).
Both Kia and Toyota are well-known for their dependability, and both have a 4.0 out of 5.0 RepairPal reliability rating. Kias may be marginally more reliable, while RepairPal puts Toyota seventh overall and Kia third.
Kias require an average of 0.2 unforeseen repair shop visits year, according to RepairPal. This is half of the 0.4 visits per year average for all brands. You have a one in five risk of needing an unforeseen repair each year, according to this statistic.
Previously, the Kia name was associated with low-cost, subpar vehicles. This is partly because the brand’s automobiles had a lot of issues when it first appeared in the United States. Since then, Kia has made fleet improvements and has earned a reputation for having great reliability.
Yes, Kias have a reputation for lasting just as long as other trustworthy cars like Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota. Although the powertrain is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty for up to 100,000 miles, many owners keep their Kias for much longer.
What drawbacks exist with Kia vehicles?
Kia may have improved in a number of areas, such as the electronic and hybrid market, but some of their models still fall short when it comes to safety. For instance, reviews of the Kia Seltos have been mostly negative due to the lack of safety features that are commensurate with the vehicle’s pricing.
Both hill hold and brake assist are absent. At the moment, features like an electric parking brake are rather widespread. The Kia Rio, which lacks adaptive cruise control, a review camera, and even blind-spot monitoring, is the same.
Do Kias compare favorably to Toyotas?
With both Toyota and Kia, exceptional dependability is the name of the game. According to a J.D. Power research from 2019, Kia has the highest initial quality in the non-premium segment in the United States. The 2016 Kia Soul, 2016 Toyota Corolla, Prius, and Prius V were all rated as being among the most dependable vehicles on the road by J.D. Power.
Are Kias costly to repair?
With an annual repair cost of about $474far less than the $652 average for vehicle maintenanceKias tend to be substantially less expensive to maintain than the average car. This is because they are an affordable brand with strong reliability ratings.
The sticker price of a Kia is just the beginning of the costs you’ll incur over the course of ownership, but you’ll receive a lot for your money. However, it’s essential to maintain your Kia properly to make sure it functions smoothly. Additionally, bear in mind that some Kias will cost more each year than others.
Do Kia Rio issues frequently arise?
The Kia Rio has a few frequent issues even though it is a very dependable car. Fortunately, the most of them are just minor and can be resolved with a straightforward replacement.
Is the Kia Rio subject to any recalls?
Certain 20202021 Rio automobiles are being recalled by Kia Motors America (Kia). The inner oil seal of the brake master cylinder may have been damaged during manufacturing, which would impair braking effectiveness. Tip: Not all vehicles from the same year, make, and model are subject to recalls.
Does the Kia Rio’s engine have issues for 2021?
Brakes once more top the list of issues with the Kia Rio. The engine and the fuel/propulsion system are also the subject of concerns.
This recall also covers the 2020 model, requiring the replacement of 87 vehicles’ brake master cylinders. The brake master cylinder may have jagged edges that could harm the inner oil seal, which is the cause of the alert. If this occurs, there will be less effective braking, raising the possibility of a collision.