Car reviews

Introduction

The first generation subcompact Kia Rio replaced the Kia Pride in 2000 and instantly became a popular choice amongst budget buyers. The second generation Rio made its debut in 2005 displaying a significant improvement from the previous version. It’s a simple yet reliable car that is highly practical.

Exterior & Interior

The design of the 2nd generation Rio cannot be called inspiring. Rather it has used inspiration from a number of other vehicles. It seems as if the Korean designers looked through an international car catalogue and just took the bits and elements that seemed beautiful. As a result it uses designs similar to the Saturn’s roofline and doors, Renalut Megane’s rear end and some bits from the European Fords. Because the sedan version of the Rio looks weird (same applied to the previous generation) the hatchback model is more harmonious and is the more popular choice. Although the Kia Rio doesn’t stand out from the crowd, it’s not a bad-looking car.

The good thing about the cabin is that it is spacious and practical. This is unusual for a supermini, but due to its well designed proportions, there’s plenty of headroom. The boot space in the hatchback version is 449 litres and can be stretched to 1227 litres with the seats folded. What lets it down, is the quality of execution. The interior design hasn’t changed a lot since the 1st generation Rio. It uses the same bland colours and low-quality materials.

There’s a limited amount of equipment in the basic GS trim and that’s why it’s a clever idea to choose the LX trim, at least you get a decent audio system and some safety equipment.

Drive

It depends on the engine choice. Driving a diesel Rio is not as bad as it may seem. The car accelerates to 60mph in 11 seconds, which is quicker than the petrol Rio.

The ride quality is average. The suspension doesn’t cope with the car and the body rolls a lot around the corners. Handling and control is not perfect, but you can live with it. There is nothing exceptionally bad with the Rio, for the price you pay you would expect the sort of handling qualities that the car comes with.

The car feels better on a highway than it does around the city. The faster it goes, the smoother the suspension.

Faults & Repairs

The Kia Rio offers great reliability for the price. It’s cheap to buy and inexpensive to maintain. The car only needs the very basic maintenance and servicing. Many Rio’s come with a significant mileage so try and find one with fewer miles as it will serve you better. The huge boot space is actually one of its main problems because so many used Rios have seen a lot of abuse. It’s worth checking the suspension and steering system before making a decision of buying one.