Kia Rio Review 2024

Kia Rio At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
If you want simple, honest transport then the Kia Rio fits the bill perfectly.

+Practical and easy to drive. Enjoyable on a country road. Great 1.0 T-GDI engine. Good value. Long warranty.

-Ride could be better in town. Some old-fashioned engine options.

New prices start from £13,415
Insurance Groups are between 2–8
On average it achieves 81% of the official MPG figure

The current Kia Rio arrived in 2017 and continued the upwards trend of this Korean firm in terms of styling, quality and appeal. While it may not have the outright desirability of a Volkswagen Polo or the deft handling of a Ford Fiesta, the Rio is a very sound, safe and dependable supermini choice. Low running costs are ideal for anyone on a tight budget, while the engines offer around 50mpg based on which one you choose. All that in one of the most spacious small hatches available. Read on for our full Kia Rio review.

Like so many reality television stars, Kia has been on a journey over the past few years and the Rio that arrived in 2017 throws this into sharp relief. Where so many of Kia’s cars are now among the sharpest-suited in their classes and unafraid to break with convention – Stinger, XCeed, ProCeed anyone? – the Rio is the counterpoint to all of this.

Does that make the Rio boring and all Captain Sensible? Well, yes, but that’s no bad thing when all you want is a very reliable, dependable and, well, sensible supermini. The fact it comes with a superb warranty, good engines, plenty of equipment and keen pricing is all to the good as well. In fact, all of the things the previous Rio did so well, too.

Cost-effectiveness is at the core of the Rio’s being and economy is strong, with almost every engine officially capable of more than 60mpg. Go for a diesel when buying used and the claimed figures rise upwards of 80mpg, but the real highlight is the 1.0-litre T-GDI petrol. It’s punchy, quiet and economical whether you pick it the 100PS or 120PS version.

The Rio is very easy to drive, with light, smooth controls. Around town it’s good for the most part, but the suspension does have a tendency to thump over potholes. Fortunately, things get smoother and more comfortable at higher speeds with refinement good on the motorway.

Inside, the Kia Rio is nicely finished, with sturdy build quality and a clear and intuitive layout. The centre stack features a responsive 5.0-inch touchscreen system if you skip the basic ‘1’ trim level, while the dials are simple and easy to read. There’s plenty of adjustment in the driver’s seat too.

Kia has also attempted to spritz up the Rio a bit with the GT Line trim that arrived in early 2018 and then the GT Line S. The GT Line comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, gloss black and chrome snout that Kia refers to as a ‘tiger nose’ and LED front lights. Okay, so it’s no hot hatch to take on the Ford Fiesta ST, but the GT Line does add a modicum of pizzazz to what is, we’ll grant you, a very worthy but somewhat dull line-up.

As small hatchbacks go, practicality is good. There’s enough space in the back for a couple of adults, with surprising levels of hat room and - unless there are tall occupants up front - decent leg room too. The boot is sizeable with 325 litres of capacity, beating the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.

It might not have the all-round classiness and capability of the SEAT Ibiza or Volkswagen Polo, or the dynamic sparkle of the Ford Fiesta, but the Rio is a very capable hatchback that does everything well enough. Factor in the seven-year warranty and it's a sound buy.

Looking for a second opinion? Check out heycar's review of the Kia Rio.

Kia Rio handling and engines

Driving Rating
The Kia Rio covers all the bases, from urban runabout to long distance cruiser.

Kia Rio 2024: Handling and ride quality

The Kia Rio doesn’t quite pull off everything as successfully as a Ford Fiesta or Volkswagen Polo with its firm ride around town.

On faster roads, there’s decent body control and very good stability, even in crosswinds where have some other superminis can be blown about.

The firm ride at lower speeds is more obvious in GT-Line S models with 17-inch alloy wheels that are standard. Go for the 1, 2 or 3 trims with their smaller wheel sizes and the cope better with the obstacles a typical street can throw at them.

The Rio has safe, predictable handling as it enters and exits a bend. A MINI does it with a bit more verve that means there’s always some fun in the offing if you want it whereas in the Kia it’s happy just to plot a route and leave the drama to other superminis.

Looking for a second opinon? Why not read heycar's Kia Rio review

Kia Rio 2024: Engines

Kia has dropped the diesel engine options from the Rio range. What we’re left with are a trio of petrol engines that starts with the 84PS 1.2-litre MPI. It has to be worked hard, which makes it quite noisy anywhere other than in town. Still, the five-speed manual has an easy shift action

The turbocharged 1.0 T-GDI motor comes with 100PS and it’s a three-cylinder design, unlike the 1.2’s four-cylinder configuration. It punches well above its weight, so 0-60mph arrives in 10.0 seconds.

The 120PS version of the 1.0 T-GDI serves up more of the same thanks to its extra power and nips from rest to 60mph in just 9.8 seconds. It has a six-speed manual gearbox, but Kia has ditched the seven-speed automatic as an option.

Kia Rio 2024: Safety

The Kia Rio is comprehensively kitted out with ESP stability control, ABS anti-lock brakes and tyre pressure monitoring system, plus six airbags and Hill-start Assist.

Every Rio has three-point seat belts for all occupants and Isofix child seat mounts for the two outer rear seats. All models now have autonomous emergency braking.

Choose any Rio except the 1 trim and you get a reversing camera and rear parking sensors. Without these safety-enhancing features, the Rio only manages a three-star score in Euro NCAP tests, but with them it improves that to a full five-star rating with impressive showings for adult and child occupant safety.

Kia Rio 2024: Towing

The Kia Rio can tow a braked trailer with a maximum weight of up to 900kg. The company doesn't quote a figure for an unbraked trailer, so it's safe to assume it will be very little.

Engine MPG 0-62 CO2
1.0 T-GDI 55 mpg 10.0 s 102–117 g/km
1.0 T-GDI Automatic - 11.0 s 127 g/km
1.0 T-GDI DCT 52 mpg - 124 g/km
1.0 T-GDI MHEV - 9.8–9.9 s 122–126 g/km
1.0T GDI 57–60 mpg - 102–107 g/km
1.1 CRDi 79 mpg - 94 g/km
1.2 51–60 mpg 12.7 s 109–130 g/km
1.4 50 mpg - 114 g/km
1.4 Automatic 45–46 mpg - 140 g/km
1.4 CRDi 76 81 mpg - 92 g/km
1.4 CRDi 89 74 mpg - 98 g/km

Real MPG average for the Kia Rio

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

81%

Real MPG

33–70 mpg

MPGs submitted

62

Kia Rio interior

Interior Rating
The Kia Rio’s driver is comfortable thanks to a supportive seat with height adjustment as standard on all models
Dimensions
Length 4050–4070 mm
Width 1725–1993 mm
Height 1445–1455 mm
Wheelbase 2570–2580 mm

Full specifications

Kia Rio 2024: Practicality

There’s reach and angle movement for the steering wheel, and the 3 and GT-Line S have a heated steering wheel. Space isn’t a problem thanks to generous head, leg and elbow room. The main dash pod is clear, with the speedo and rev counter in the driver’s eye line.

Kia provides plenty of storage with large door bins, twin cupholders and cubby between the front seats and a reasonable glovebox. In the boot, there's 325-litres of space for bags, which is nudging small hatch volume, or you can drop the rear seats and free up as much as 1103 litres of room for longer, larger items.

Rear access is good as the Rio is only being offered as a five-door. The flat cushion of the bench makes it easier to fit three people across the seat, even a trio of adults at push on shorter trips. This is something few of the Rio’s rivals can achieve. One neat touch to note is the USB charger in the rear of all Rios other than the 1 trim.

Kia Rio 2024: Quality and finish

The difference between perceived quality and actual strength of construction is ably demonstrated inside the Kia Rio. At its launch in 2017, it was a little disappointing to note the cabin materials had not made a huge leap onwards, yet this was more about the look than the solidity of the plastics.

Time has told us the Kia Rio is a very well constructed contender in the supermini class. It may not be the most stylish in terms of design or the textures used for much of its interior plastics, but you can be assured they will put up with all the use and abuse that a family can throw at them.

Kia Rio 2024: Infotainment

The Kia Rio 1 has a simple 3.8-inch display for its radio with Bluetooth, four speakers, and USB and aux-in ports.

Move to the 2, 3 and GT-Line S trims and you get upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen with DAB digital radio included and six speakers. This gives access to music via Apple CarPlay and Android Audio, while the same screen is used for a reversing camera. Another improvement over the 1 trim is the 4.2-inch Supervision display between the main dials.

With the 3 and GT Line S models, you get the full Monty touchscreen with navigation and Kia Connect that uses TomTom to provide information on traffic congestion, speed cameras, weather and to search local area information.

Kia Rio value for money

Value for Money Rating
The Kia Rio’s 120PS 1.0 T-GDI with mild hybrid assistance is the most economical thanks to its official combined figure of 54.3mpg under WLTP testing. This is for the Kia Rio 3 trim level.

Kia Rio 2024: Prices

The lead-in to the Kia Rio range is the 1 model with its 84PS 1.2 litre petrol engine and manual gearbox. At £16,170, this Rio is almost £4000 cheaper than the most basic Volkswagen Polo yet is as well equipped and matches the German on power, performance, and economy.

The next step in the Rio line-up is to the 2 trim with the same engine, which comes in at £17,520. To have a 2 model with the more powerful 100PS 1.0 litre turbo petrol motor costs £1000 more at £18,520.

A Rio 3 only comes with the 120PS 1.0 litre engine with mild hybrid assistance and it rings the till at £20,820. Alternatively, you can have the same engine in the GT-Line S version of the Rio from £21,820.

Kia Rio 2024: Running Costs

Fuel economy with any Kia Rio is not going to tax your finances a great deal. The least economical version is the 120PS GT-Line S model that sits on 17-inch wheels and returns a combined 51.4mpg, along with 125g/km carbon dioxide emissions that are the highest in the line-up.

Those figures are still decent for a turbo petrol supermini and, curiously, the best Rio figures come from the same engine but in the 3 trim on its smaller 16-inch alloy wheels. The 100PS 1.0-litre engine can muster 53.3mpg and 120g/km of CO2 emissions, which is the same as the 1.2 litre motor in base 1 trim. Take the 1.2 as a 2 trim version and economy and emissions slip slightly to 52.3mpg and 122g/km.

Those emissions mean you’ll pay £210 fo the first year of road tax, followed by £180 in the subsequent years at the current rates.

As for insurance, the Rio comes in low with ratings of between Group 4 and 9 depending on trim, so it could be a good car for any new driver to get started on the road with.

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Kia Rio models and specs

The Kia Rio 1 sits on 15-inch steel wheels and has plain black cloth upholstery. You get driver’s seat height adjustment, air conditioning, electric front windows, and a 3.8-inch black and white infotainment display with Bluetooth connection.

The 2 gains 15-inch alloy wheels and gloss black exterior detailing, rear parking sensors, and daytime running lights. Inside, there’s Premium Black Cloth for the seats, leather-bound steering wheel, electric windows all round, cruise control, and the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with reversing camera.

The 3 enjoys 16-inch alloys, rain-sensing wipers, rear privacy glass, and faux leather upholstery with heated front seats and steering wheel. Its infotainment also comes with satellite navigation included. Automatic air conditioning and infotainment with navigation and Kia Connect with TomTom updates for traffic and speed cameras completes the list.

Then there’s the GT-Line S with 17-inch alloys, ‘Ice-cube’ design LED headlights, and twin exhaust pipes. Half-leather-trimmed seats, flat-bottom steering wheel and carbon-effect trim inserts lift the interior feel. Choose the GT-Line S and you get all of this mixed with the luxury kit of the 3 trim.

Dimensions
Length 4050–4070 mm
Width 1725–1993 mm
Height 1445–1455 mm
Wheelbase 2570–2580 mm
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 1110–1253 kg
Boot Space 325–1103 L
Warranty 3 years / 60000 miles
Servicing 10000–20000 miles
Costs
List Price £13,415–£21,600
Insurance Groups 2–8
Road Tax Bands A–F
Official MPG 44.8–80.7 mpg
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult -
Child -
Pedestrian -
Overall 3

Currently on sale

Hatchback
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1 1.2 DPi 83 ISG Start/Stop 5dr £13,415 - 12.7 s
2 1.2 DPi 83 ISG Start/Stop 5dr £15,615 - 12.7 s
2 T-GDi 99 DCT Auto Start/Stop 5dr £17,365 - 11.0 s
2 T-GDi 99 ISG Start/Stop 5dr £15,310 - 10.0 s
3 T-GDi 118 MHEV 48v Start/Stop 5dr £19,600 - 9.8 s
3 T-GDi 118 MHEV 48v Start/Stop 5dr £20,600 - 9.9 s
GT-Line S T-GDi 118 MHEV 48v Start/Stop 5dr £20,600 - 9.8 s
GT-Line S T-GDi 118 MHEV 48v Start/Stop 5dr £21,600 - 9.9 s

On sale until December 2022

Hatchback
Version List Price MPG 0-62
3 T-GDi 99 ISG Start/Stop 5dr - - 10.0 s

On sale until June 2021

Hatchback
Version List Price MPG 0-62
2 MPi 98 Auto 5dr - - -
2 MPi 98 ISG Start/Stop 5dr - - -
3 MPi 98 Auto 5dr - - -

On sale until February 2021

Hatchback
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1 1.25 MPi 83 ISG Start/Stop 5dr - - -
1.0 T-GDi 118 Gt-Line S 6speed ISG 5dr - 55.4 mpg -
1.0 T-GDi 118bhp Gt-Line 6speed ISG 5dr - 55.4 mpg -
1.0 T-GDi Gt-Line 7speed DCT ISG 5dr - 52.3 mpg -
2 1.25 MPi 83 ISG Start/Stop 5dr - - -
GT-Line T-GDi 99 ISG Start/Stop 5dr - - -

On sale until December 2020

Hatchback
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1.0 T-GDi 6speed First Edition ISG 5dr £18,140 60.1 mpg -
1.0 T-GDi 99bhp 2 5speed ISG 5dr - 56.5 mpg -
1.0 T-GDi 99bhp 3 5speed ISG 5dr - 56.5 mpg -
1.25 83bhp 1 5speed ISG 5dr - 51.4 mpg -
1.25 83bhp 2 5speed ISG 5dr - 51.4 mpg -
1.25 83bhp 5speed Pulse ISG 5dr £14,795 58.8 mpg -
1.4 98bhp 2 6speed Auto 5dr £15,620 45.6 mpg -
1.4 98bhp 2 6speed ISG 5dr £15,000 49.6 mpg -
1.4 98bhp 3 6speed Auto 5dr £17,370 44.8 mpg -
1.4 CRDi 76bhp 1 6speed ISG 5dr £13,615 80.7 mpg -
1.4 CRDi 76bhp 2 6speed ISG 5dr £15,940 80.7 mpg -
1.4 CRDi 89bhp 3 6speed ISG 5dr £17,940 74.3 mpg -

On sale until May 2017

Hatchback
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1.1 CRDi 74bhp SE 6speed ISG 5dr £14,445 78.5 mpg -
1.25 83bhp SE 5speed ISG 5dr £13,145 60.1 mpg -

On sale until April 2017

Hatchback
Version List Price MPG 0-62
1.1 CRDi 74bhp SE 6speed ISG 5dr £14,445 78.5 mpg -
1.25 83bhp SE 5speed ISG 5dr £13,145 60.1 mpg -

Model History

September 2016

New Kia Rio unveiled

At the front, the Rio has the latest evolution of Kia’s ‘tiger-nose’ grille, now thinner in height and wider across the front of the car. Integrated bi-function projection headlamps – again, thinner and more sculpted than those of its predecessor – project a new U-shaped LED light signature.

The new Kia Rio will offer motorists a modern new cabin design, featuring sculptural forms and a more ergonomic layout than its predecessor.

Like the exterior, straight lines running the width of the dashboard characterise the shape of the interior, giving the cabin a wider appearance and increasing the sense of space for occupants.

The dashboard itself is now angled towards the driver, and at its center is a new infotainment system, a ‘floating’ HMI (human-machine interface), with a high-resolution touchscreen to power the Rio’s audio, navigation and new connectivity systems. The new HMI has allowed Kia to reduce the number of buttons on the center console.

The new Rio is available with a choice of black or grey cloth seat upholstery, or with black or grey faux leather. A ‘Red Pack’ for the Rio gives buyers black with red faux leather-trimmed seats throughout the cabin. The cabin itself features gloss black and metallic trim throughout, for a more modern finish.

January 2017

Prices of 2017 Kia Rio announced

Model

Price

Rio 1 1.25 5-speed manual ISG

£11,995

Rio 1 1.4 CRDi 6-speed manual ISG

£13,495

Rio 2 1.25 5-speed manual ISG

£13,745

Rio 2 1.4 6-speed manual ISG

£14,245

Rio 2 1.4 4-speed automatic

£14,995

Rio 2 1.0 T-GDi (99bhp) 5-speed manual ISG

£14,545

Rio 2 1.4 CRDi 6-speed manual ISG

£15,245

Rio 3 1.0 T-GDi 6-speed manual ISG

£16,295

Rio 3 1.4 CRDi 6-speed manual ISG

£17,245

Rio First Edition 1.0 T-GDi) 6-speed manual ISG

£17,445

July 2017

Rio Pulse launched

The Rio Pulse enters the line-up between the mid-grade 2 and high-grade 3 versions and costs £14,595 on the road. The price includes either Clear White or Midnight Black paint as standard, this is an extra-charge on other models in the Rio range, but applied for no additional cost on Pulse.

The Rio Pulse is easily distinguished by a red roof and red front vents, mirror caps and side skirt trims. A similar theme is extended to the interior, where there is black and red faux leather upholstery and red faux leather door inserts. The fascia trim is finished in red metallic paint.

There are 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/45 R17 tyres, a black radiator grille with chrome surround and privacy glass on the rear side windows and tailgate. Inside, the sporty leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshifter are complemented by stainless steel pedals.

March 2018

Kia Rio GT Line launched

Features 1.0T GDI engine with 100PS or 120PS (optional 1.2 and 1.4 petrol engines also available). On sale from April 2018.

17-inch wheels with 225/45 R17 tyres. Gloss black and chrome 'tiget nose' grille. 'Ice cube' LED goglights (like cee'd GT). LED DRL. Optional 'floating' ine of sight touchschreen with satnav and rear parking camera optional.

Available with Kia's latest 7-inch and 8-inch touchcreeen infotanimant systems and 'level 2 autonomy' driver assist systems such as Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, High Beam Assist and full LED headlights with Dynamic Bending Light.

October 2020

Updated Kia Rio priced from £13,395

An updated Kia Rio has gone on sale today - now available with 48V mild-hybrid technology for the first time.

It gets new looks and an upgraded infotainment system – an inch larger than before – is fitted to ‘2’ models and above. They also get a 4.2-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster.

The most notable news is the addition of a mild-hybrid petrol engine – the first in a Kia – wearing the tag EcoDynamics+ which pairs Kia’s 118PS 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a small electric motor to get it from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds.

Along with giving a torque boost when you’re setting off, the system also regenerates electricity when coasting and under braking, plus it allows the Kia to turn off its engine before coming to a complete halt – think stop-start on steroids.

As a result, it’ll return up to 52mpg under tough new WLTP testing – 2mpg better than the slower 99PS model.

Cars fitted with the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox get driving modes such as Eco, Sport and Normal, while six-speed manual cars have a drive-by-wire clutch for improved efficiency.

The range starts from £13,395 for an 83PS Rio ‘1’. The cheapest mild-hybrid model is the £18,895 Rio ‘3’ and the range is topped by the £20,895 GT-Line S mild-hybrid with the optional twin-clutch gearbox.

What to watch out for

01-01-0001:

Electrical problems reported with new Kia Rio 1.0T-GDI purchased August 2017. Faults have appeared with phone communication, radio clock memory and now with lights going on even though not dark. Returned end of October 2017 and car "looked at" with no fault found. Probably bettery related because car is not being regularly driven far enough.

What does the Kia Rio cost?