2020 Kia Rio Reviews

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

NEW The Rio was the car that kicked Kia's Australian sales into gear in 2000. Before that the cars from the Korean carmaker were best known for their for the cheap-and-cheerful pricing and not much more. Beyond the pricing the build quality was average at best, and the reliability wasn't that great either. But like

If you're in the market for a new small car well then you're pretty much spoilt for choice these days because there are just so many excellent models to choose from.

Kia's smallest and cheapest hatch. But don't be fooled because the Rio is a substantial and some might say desirable little car these days.

Light cars used to be the second car, the one that'd begrudgingly be taken to the supermarket when the real car was out. Not anymore. Light cars now make sense as the sole vehicle for city dwellers without kids - they're easy to park, will carry four adults in varying degrees of comfort and don't cost a fortune to fuel up.The rush to downsize means more than one in 10 cars sold today is from the light category. Carmakers have responded to that growing market with more standard gear at lower prices. They also understand a positive first experience could get you back to the dealership for your next vehicle, so you won't be ignored for looking at the “cheap” cars.They will try to upsell you into a higher model, though, so beware of alloy wheels and dual-zone aircon if steel rims and a power window is all you need. The average cost of the light cars in this field - entry level autos - is just north of $17,000. The Volkswagen is the dearest at $19,490 and is the only car here to demand premium unleaded petrol. It also feels to be the best built, but all of these cars are sturdy, reliable transport. Budget buyers should consider the Mitsubishi Mirage if outright performance isn't an issue. It costs $15,290, is the cheapest to refuel and annual servicing costs are just $250. The Mazda2 proves this segment isn't entirely price-driven. The little hatch leads the sales field this year, followed by the Toyota Yaris and Hyundai i20.They're not the cheapest cars to buy or run but they have a reputation for reliability and value that - at least in the case of the Mazda2 - has it campaigning strongly despite its age. Honda's Jazz has the best resale of this bunch, reflecting the brand's (slowly waning) reputation for producing better-built vehicles. The Barina is the thirstiest, needing 7.3 litres to travel 100km. That's half a litre more than the Mazda2.Carsguide has used the national average of $1.49.4 for unleaded petrol and added 8 for the 95RON fuel needed to keep the VW on the street. We have each car travelling 15,000km a year for three years. Price: from $17,290Residual value: 48 per cent $8299.20Servicing: $780 ($260 first year)Thirst: 6.3L/100km $4235.49   Price: from $17,490Residual value: 46 per cent $8045.40Servicing: $840 ($280 first year)Thirst: 6.1L/100km $4090.05   Price: from $17,990Residual value: 46 per cent $8275.40Servicing: $740 ($246.67 first year)Thirst: 7.3L/100km $4907.79      Price: from $15,240Residual value: 45 per cent $6858Servicing: $750 ($250 first year)Thirst: 4.6L/100km $3092.58   Price: from 17,690Residual value: 48 per cent $8491.20Servicing: $1284 ($398 first year)Thirst: 6.2L/100km $4168.26   Price: from $17,440 (Neo)Residual value: 48 per cent $8371.20Servicing: $1949 ($599 first year)Thirst: 6.8L/100km $4571.64   Price: from $17,990Residual value: 55 per cent $9894.50Servicing: $1711.58 ($537.42 first year)Thirst: 6.6L/100km $4437.18   Price: from $19,490Residual value: 50 per cent $9745Servicing: $1085 ($347 first year)Thirst: 6.0L/100km $4249.80   Price: from $18,590Residual value: 50 per cent $9475Servicing: $567 ($189 first year)Thirst: 5.9L/100km $3966.57   Price: from $18,290Residual value: 42 per cent $7681.80Servicing: $841 ($239 first year)Thirst: 6.3L/100km $4235.49  

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

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.

Named after a South American capital city; designed in Europe and the USA, built in South Korea and fine tuned in Australia. Is it any wonder the importers say the fourth-generation Kia Rio will appeal to many buyers downunder?The Kia Rio landed here in late 2011 and was joined by three-door hatch and four-door sedan variants midway through 2012.VALUEThe Rio 1.4 S manual three-door hatch comes on to the market at $15,290, plus on-road costs, and is covered by Kia’s five-year, unlimited kilometre factory warranty. The Rio gets a decent audio unit with CD, radio and USB / AUX / iPod connectivity and four speakers. You get a lot of well equipped, cute looking car for a very modest price in the Kia Rio and we will be surprised if it doesn’t significantly increase sales numbers over the superseded model.TECHNOLOGYThe base model three-door S we have just reviewed comes with a 1.4-litre petrol engine producing 79 kW of power at 6300 rpm and 135 Nm of torque at 4200 revs – that’s nine kW and ten Nm more than the 1.4 motor it replaces. The figures don’t seem to add up to much at first glance but the efficiency of modern engines has this unit performing perfectly well in the day-to-day urban environment and on the open road.DESIGNIn design terms, the new Kia Rio leads from the front with its so-called ‘Schreyer’ chromed radiator grille, a nod to Peter Schreyer, the Chief Design Officer at Kia. Known as the Tiger Nose, Schreyer says: “Tigers are powerful, yet kind of friendly. The nose is three-dimensional – like a face, not just a surface with a mouth drawn on it. From now on, we'll have it on all our cars.”Out the back, the hatch is distinguished by a roof-mounted spoiler and stylish lines. The result is a body that is identical to the five-door, offering the same dimensions and the same striking looks. ‘Tidy’ is the best way to describe the cabin interior, with minimal, but mostly, helpful information set out in an easy-to-read manner. Three large dials directly in front of the driver present speed, revs and fuel status.The steering wheel, with tilt and telescopic adjustment, also carries cruise control and audio buttons, making for safe switching while on the move. The audio unit, with CD, radio and USB / AUX / iPod connectivity, features four speakers. Rear leg room is on the meagre side and hard plastic surrounds place the Rio well and truly in the cheap car segment. Which is fair enough – it is a cheap car.SAFETYFive-star crash safety is a Rio requirement with six airbags. A new Vehicle Stability Management program monitors active safety features such as ABS braking, stability and traction control, as well as the motorised power steering that can take over when stability reaches its threshold.DRIVINGAcceleration off the mark is the one thing that drags the Rio 1.4 down, but only slightly. The test vehicle, a six-speed manual, was deceptive in its willingness to get a move on. If you ignore the gearshift indicator, which suggests you should go up a cog, it doesn’t do a great deal to improve real world performance, and probably increases fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.On average the Rio manual used about seven to eight litres of fuel per hundred kilometres on suburban runs. This drops to an impressive five to six litres if you treat it carefully on open road trips. Kia Australia engineers had a major input into the new Rio’s ride and handling, shaking down each model in exacting conditions over 2000 km on the same stretch of road in and around the Hunter Valley north of Sydney. They also put them up against rivals from the light-vehicle segment.Handling is sharp and well-controlled for a car in this class. However, the downside is that the ride may be firmer than some like on roughish surfaces. Try the car on that sort of road if comfort takes precedence over handling in your mind. The suspension is well sorted thanks to the aforementioned extensive Aussie shakedown, and brakes are on the sharp side but, with familiarity, on test became easier to handle. The hill hold is a feature welcomed by many sloppy drivers these days.VERDICTGenerally, there was little to complain of with the Rio S three-door’s behaviour on the road except some above-average tyre noise on course bitumen.MODEL RANGEKia Rio S 1.4-litre three-door hatchback: $15,290 (manual), $17,290 (automatic)Kia Rio SLS 1.6-litre three-door hatchback: $19,990 (manual), $21,990 (automatic)Kia Rio Si 1.6-litre four-door sedan: $21,690 (automatic)Kia Rio S 1.4-litre five-door hatch: $16,290 (manual), $18,290 (automatic)Kia Rio Si 1.6-litre five-door hatch: $18,990 (manual), $20,990 (automatic)Kia Rio SLi 1.6-litre five-door hatch: $19,990 (manual), $21,990 (automatic)Kia Rio S 1.4Kia Rio SPrice: from $15,290Warranty: 5 years/unlimited kmCrash rating:  5 starsSafety: 6 airbags, ABS, Vehicle Stability Management program, stability and traction controlEngine: 1.4-litre 4-cyl 79kW/135NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWD; 4-speed autoDimensions: 4045mm (L), 1720mm (W), 1455,m (H)Weight: 1131kgThirst: 5.7L/100km, 135g/km CO2

VW Polo Trendline and Kia Rio S Hatch go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Kia is moving forward with their latest models and the three-door Rio SLS is no exception. It’s definitely another in ongoing improvements for Kia, and it’s no wonder it claimed the 2011 Carsguide Car of the Year gong.From $19,990 for the manual and $21,990 for the auto the SLS is priced closely against the $19,490 VW Polo -- itself a Carsguide Car of the Year in 2010 -- and the $18,990 Ford Fiesta.Both the Polo and the Fiesta have great reputations for dynamics, and are both more a driver’s car. But the Rio shines in its own ways, and one of them is value for money - especially considering the equipment list. Standard features in SLS spec include MP3 and iPod compatible CD player, Bluetooth connectivity with media streaming, steering wheel audio controls, speed dependent volume control, rain-sensing wipers, dusk-sensing automatic headlamps and front fog lamps.And the 5 year unlimited km warranty - which applies to all new Kia vehicles - is generous when you consider the standard is 3 years.The Rio SLS has a 1.6 litre, four cylinder GDi petrol engine teamed with a six-speed manual or the six-speed automatic transmission tested here. Kia points to the 1.6 litre engine as class-leading with 103kW of power (at 6300 revs), which is teamed with 167Nm of torque (at 4850 revs). The quoted combined fuel economy is 6.1L/100km with 145g/km CO2 emissions.The design of the SLS received a mixed response. We got comments ranging from “over styled” right through to “good looks and latest gadgets.” Clearly, the design isn’t for everyone – but then, what is? The exterior is eye-catching and well calculated with chrome radiator grille, chrome rear muffler, rear spoiler, LED daytime running light with static cornering lamps, LED rear combination lamps and 17-inch alloy wheels.For those who haven’t looked at a Kia since the bad old days, you can be assured that over the past few years things have turned around since former Audi designer Peter Schreyer joined the Korean brand. Slip into the cabin and you’ll find the modern aesthetics of the exterior are reflected throughout. The black interior is stylistically pleasing against the metal look interior trim on the console, fascia and door handles. The SLS has a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and leather trim on the seats. But be warned, you get a lot more ‘pleather’ than leather in the SLS.For a vehicle of this size the SLS has spacious driver and passenger seats but the backseats aren’t so generous- a taller passenger should definitely call shotgun. There’s also a reasonable sized boot with 288 litres of luggage space. The SLS doesn’t require a key to be powered, instead has a push button start with a smart key. The dashboard is positioned in a way that makes everything easily accessed, as the shift knob and handbrake slant slightly towards the driver, a similar feature found in the Optima Si. The trip computer markings are a bright red colour, which helps to clearly display the essential info, but is a bit too bright at night unless you dim it hugely.The SLS has a 5-star ANCAP crash rating. Major safety features include driver and front passenger airbags, anti-lock braking, electronic stability, vehicle stability management, hill-start assist, door open warning light with speed sensing auto door lock and child restraint anchorage points.The SLS is willing and ready from the get go, as the 1.6-litre engine gives the small car energy on the road.  It’s the perfect car for the city, as it zips in and out of traffic with ease and has good visibility for changing lanes. The six-speed automatic transmission is fine for around town and it handles climbs fairly well.The electronic power steering makes manoeuvring easy, however the steering feels a bit disconnected on hard corners. It’s also not the quietest hatchback out there, as you’ll hear plenty of road noise enter the cabin. As with any small car, the dimensions of the car make parking a breeze. However, rear visibility isn’t as good as at the front due to the wide arched pillars at the back - a rear view camera and reverse parking sensors may be the answer. Even with these few setbacks the SLS was still an enjoyable ride with plenty of life.While it’s not for the enthusiastic driver, the Kia Rio SLS competes well in the small car market; affordable, efficient, and with plenty of features.