2005 Kia Rio Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the first generation, second generation and third generation Kia Rio, from 2001, 2007 and 2012, as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 2000-2013 Kia Rio.

Kia Rio is a small-medium South Korean car that has picked up significantly in Australia since the launch of the all-new model of September 2011. After two generations of Rios with conservative shapes, the 2011 Rio came with stunning styling that pushes it ahead of many competitors from Japan and Europe from a visual point of view. Build quality wasn’t too bad on the first generation Rios, sold from July 2000, improved significantly in the gen-two cars from August 2005 and is impressive from 2011 onwards. The bodies of the older models were generally better assembled than their interiors, though we do see the occasional rough one inside and out.Tip: Don’t forget that professional inspection.The Kia Rio is sold as either a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback and has good interior space that can seat four adults, though two grownups and two or three kids is a more practical load.On-road dynamics and build quality have improved over the years and the latest models provide a fair degree of enjoyment for the keen driver. However, some may find the ride a little too firm on rough roads. Try it for yourself during your private road test.A good set of tyres can work wonders for the handling and steering feel of older Kia Rios.Kia Rio is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine in the pre-2005 series. If worked moderately it will sound and feel fine, but drive it hard and it gets noisy and can be harsh. Engine performance is generally fine as this is a relatively light car. But it can struggle a bit on hills, so it's smart to find a hilly area to do some of your pre-purchase road testing.The newer, from 2005, Rios have a more modern 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that’s significantly more powerful, smoother and significantly better in the refinement stakes. The engine was further improved in the 2011 series Rios.A lower cost 1.4-litre engine was added to the range in March 2007, its performance is OK if you’re willing to work at getting the best from the car.Transmission options are five-speed manual and four-speed automatic in the first two Rio ranges. Six-speed units, both manual and automatic were a big feature of the all-new model that arrived in 2011, putting the car ahead of many of its rivals.The four-speed auto takes the edge of what performance the older engines do deliver. It’s smooth enough and obviously makes life simpler in the suburbs, the natural habitat of a vehicle like this.The experienced home mechanic can do a fair bit on a Kia Rio. Underbonnet access is good and these cars have old and tried technology. A workshop manual is a low-cost investment that can save you lots of hassles. Don’t do any safety-related work yourself, leave that to the professionals.Insurance is normally towards the lower area of mid-range, but seems to vary more than usual from one company to another. So it pays to shop around, as always make sure you understand what you get, and don’t get, for your premium.Poorly repaired crash damage will show as paint which doesn’t match from panel to panel; and/or a ripply finish in a panel. Check for tiny specks of paint on non-painted parts such as glass and badges. Look at the interior and boot for signs of general wear and tear.The engine should fire up within a second or so of the key being turned, even when it’s cold. As soon as it starts it should settle into a steady idle. There should be no smoke from the exhaust pipe even if the engine is worked hard. Letting it idle for about a minute, then flooring the throttle in a quick takeoff will aggravate the problem.A manual gearbox should be moderately light in its action and not crunch on any of the downchanges, no matter how fast they are made. The third-to-second gearchange is usually the first to give trouble. If the automatic transmission is slow at picking up a drive gear from Park or Neutral it may be because it’s due for a major overhaul.Check the brakes pull the Rio up squarely and that ABS, if fitted, operates when you push the pedal hard.Cars that have spent all their lives in the open air are far less desirable than those that have generally been kept under cover. Faded paint and dried out dashtops are the easiest way to pick ‘outdoor’ cars.

On sale here since July 2000, the Rio's sales started off relatively modestly but have picked up steadily over the years and there are now plenty on the used-car scene.In fact the Kia Rio has been on the Australian market much longer. It was sold here under the Ford Festiva badge from 1991 until the arrival of the 'real' Rio.Rio's styling was on the adventurous side when first launched, but was toned down in a facelift in 2002. The new model of August 2005 is far better looking than the older ones.Quite a few of these are now in the used-car yards and are the ones to aspire to if your budget is up to it. They are better not only in style but also in on-road dynamics and build quality.You can buy a Rio as a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback. Interestingly, the current models are smaller on the outside, but provide more interior space than the original versions. The back seat can cope with adults, but is aimed at those who are yet to reach their teenage years.Like the Festiva, the original Rio is nothing special to drive in the way of handling and road feel. It is safe enough, with understeering scrubbing off speed if you hassle it at corners too hard, but will frustrate keen drivers who want more precision.Good tyres can improve the Rio but can be costly and, sadly, you are unlikely to be able to recoup the cost of the quality tyres when it comes to resale time.The Kia Rios from 2005 are a real improvement in their handling and feel, but are still not really aimed at the keen driver.Interior noise levels are relatively high, especially if the engine is worked hard. The plastics have a low-cost look and feel. However, build quality is improving and as a general rule the later the car the better it is screwed together.The bodies are generally assembled to a higher standard than the interiors, though we do see the occasional rough one, more so in older cars.The experienced home mechanic can do a fair bit on this car. Access under the bonnet is good and the Rio is not trying to break new ground in technology. As always, we caution against doing any safety-related work yourself.Insurance costs are normally in the lower mid-range, but they can vary more than usual from company to company. So it pays to shop around.Under the bonnet Pre-2005 Rios are powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. If used moderately it will sound and feel fine — drive it hard and it gets thrashy. Performance is generally ok in this relatively light car, but if you load it up for a trip in hilly territory it may protest.The newer Rios have a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that is more powerful and smoother.Transmission options are five-speed manual and four-speed automatic. The automatic takes the edge of what performance the engine does deliver but works pretty well for what it is.Danger signs Check the interior and boot for a below-average finish or signs of mistreatment. The cabin can deteriorate rapidly.The engine should fire up within a second or so of the key being turned, even when it is cold. As soon as it starts it should settle into a steady idle.Acceleration should occur almost immediately the pedal is pushed. Any hesitation should be treated with suspicion.There should be no smoke from the exhaust pipe even if the engine is worked hard. Letting it idle for about a minute, then flooring the throttle in a quick takeoff will let you spot it.A manual gearbox should be moderately light and not crunch on any of the down changes, no matter how fast they are made. The change from third to second is usually the first to play up.If the automatic transmission is slow at picking up a drive gear from park or neutral it may be because it needs an overhaul. 

These cars may have low price tags, but no longer are they cheap on the inside.Kia's Rio may not set any benchmarks in the light-car segment but it is one of many entries tailor-made to the price-sensitive end of the market.The latest model comes with a host of features including driver and passenger front and side airbags, three-point seatbelts with pretensioners and rear three-point seatbelts.Power windows, mirrors and steering, remote central locking, airconditioning, driver's armrest, CD player, luggage cover in the hatch, 12-volt power socket and variable recline rear seats are also standard.Front and rear power windows are not offered in some of the large cars that are double the Rio's $15,990 tag.The Rio is powered by a 1.6-litre engine that produces 11kW more power than the previous version, now at 82kW and 145Nm of torque. The Rio shoots along, reaching 100km/h in 10.2 seconds.The manual Rio in the garage (we have not yet driven an automatic) is sprightly off the mark. It is zippy around the city and its small dimensions make it easy to park, not to mention the tiny 5m turning circle.The clutch is light and gear-changing action is smooth, although the five-speed gearbox feels a little clunky.The 82kW engine is one of the most powerful in the class and will happily spin to redline without protesting.On the road the Rio is smooth and quiet, soaking up most of the potholes on Sydney's roads. But when hitting bumps the car tends to bounce over them, making it feel unsettled.Steering feels a little vague and is light but the Rio gets around tight corners without too much fuss. Getting into the Rio is made a lot easier with both the front and rear seats raised. The cabin doesn't look, or feel, cheap and nasty. The interior is bare but the uncluttered design keeps things simple.Rear-seat hatch passengers can even recline the back seat rests.The quality of the build is emphasised by the no-fuss quietness of simple operations, such as power windows and door locks.The doors feel solid and don't sound tinny when closing.The passenger dash curves under the windscreen and gives the feeling of space and there is loads of leg room.There are two cupholders, and for those who don't smoke, the ashtray can be removed to reveal a third. The dashboard instruments have a funky European appearance and the steering wheel is a comfortable size.The non-slip mats in the storage compartments keep things where they should be, and the positioning of a separate power socket (not just the cigarette lighter) is perfect to charge the phone in car and still keep it easily accessible. ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution are available for $850.Rather than annoying chimes or warning bells sounding if the headlights are left on, the Rio has a battery-saver function that allows the lights to be left on if you want them to be. Once the battery gets down to a low level (if the lights are accidentally left on) all functions are automatically cut off so the battery never goes flat.The addition of a full-sized spare is a bonus.