Kia Rio (2005 – 2011) Review

Kia Rio
1.4 ISG 3 5dr
£8,699

View Kia Rio cars for sale

Kia Rio (2005 – 2011) At A Glance

Roomy, well equipped and keen value. Diesel is easy on the fuel. Four-star crash test rating.

Cabin finish is pretty average.

Insurance Groups are between 12–19
On average it achieves 82% of the official MPG figure

The biggest problem the new Kia Rio has it you've heard it all before.

Family car at baby car price. Lots of extras at a stripped out price. 1.4 engine for the price of a 1.2. All that kind of stuff. And even though the old Rio was a lot of car for the money, it wasn't really much of a car.

All that has now changed beyond belief. I got into the new Rio diesel a bit irritated because I'd arrived late after a dental appointment. Then I tried to cut short the route and went the wrong way. Then I hit traffic. So it wasn't until I was half way through the test run that I began to realise what a good car I was driving.

KIA Rio III 2005 Range Road Test

Reviews for Kia Rio (2005 – 2011)'s top 3 rivals

Suzuki Swift

Decent handling. Fun to drive.

Citroen C3

Clever design for the boot floor. Four-star crash test rating. Good balance of ride comfort and roadholding.

Mitsubishi Colt

Affordable to run, Ralliart version is great fun to drive, feels robust and reliable.

Kia Rio (2005 – 2011) handling and engines

Engines range from 1.4 to 1.6
Readers report Real MPG to be between 26–62 mpg

The diesel engine is so flexible it takes anything you throw at it. No sulking at low revs then a sudden outburst of torque. It just gets on with the job. "Need some acceleration to get past that 40ft truck with the shed-tugger in front? Certainly, sir. Happy to oblige. Ah, here's a roundabout. Don't worry, I'm not scared of it. Just push your right foot at the right point and I'll tug you round." It's so unlike the uninspiring stodgy pudding the old Rio was you cannot believe they came from the same factory.

The truth is, it does understeer. But the front struts are so well located it does so in a nice, predicatable, exploitable way. The steering is excellent, as full of ‘feel' as a Focus. The whole car just seems to take whatever you chuck at it and come out of it smiling implacably, like a Jeeves to a Bertie Worster.

The diesel is a chain cam common rail 1.5 that pumps out 108.6PS (107bhp) and 235Nm (173 lb ft) torque compare to the belt cam 1.4 petrol engine that offers 95.6PS (94bhp) and 125.4Nm (92.5 lb ft) torque. The diesel does 0-60 in 11.2, tops at 110mph, takes you 61.4 miles on a gallon on the combined cycle and chuffs out 121g/km CO2 which means £115pa VED. The petrol gets to 60 in 12.0 seconds, manages the same 110mph top speed, covers 44.8 miles per gallon on the combined cycle and dumps 150g/km CO2 back into the atmosphere so gets off lightly with £105pa VED. In truth, the petrol engine is also quite nice natured to drive, and is good to excellent by the general standard of 1.4 litre petrol engines. But the diesel is exceptionally good, for no more money.

KIA doesn't skimp on kit either. For £7,995 you get the car with either the diesel or the petrol engine and power steering, twin airbags, air-conditioning, CD/radio, electric front windows, tinted glass and plenty of other goodies including a full sized spare wheel. Step up to the LX which costs £8,995 with either engine and you're treated to extra airbags, front foglamps, electric rear windows, electric door mirrors, 15" alloy wheels, leather covered steering wheel and nicer trim (though the basic GS trim is fine).

And that's it. No discounts. No negotiating. You can have metallic paint for an extra £300, an automatic transmission on the 1.4 for an extra £1,000, or jump to ‘Dynamic' spec which includes luxuries like an electric sliding sunroof, electronic stability control and a rear spoiler, also an extra £1,000.

Since the only standard solid colour is white, and Tropical Red metallic is a gorgeous shade of red, £300 extra for metallic paint is money well spent. It's up to you whether you go for the extra spec of the LX. But I wouldn't bother with the Dynamic.

Engine	MPG	0-62	CO₂
1.4	45–48 mpg	12.3 s	139–150 g/km
1.4 Automatic	40 mpg	14.5 s	165 g/km
1.5 CRDi	60–63 mpg	11.5 s	119–121 g/km
1.6	46 mpg	10.2 s	145 g/km

Real MPG average for the Kia Rio (2005 – 2011)

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

82%

Real MPG

26–62 mpg

MPGs submitted

178

Kia Rio (2005 – 2011) interior

Boot space is 270–1145 litres

Dimensions
Length	3990 mm
Width	1695 mm
Height	1470 mm
Wheelbase	2500 mm
Full specifications

It's also good looking, which is something we don't always get from South Korea. An especially nice touch is the way the reversing light lenses of the Lancia-like rear clusters blend into the swage lines along the side of the car. And apart from the fiddly DIN fit CD/radio/MP3 player the interior is well thought out with nice touches like a slot in the centre of the dash for parking tickets and a separate 12v socket as well as cigarette lighter socket. Unlike European manufacturers, Kia has also seen fit to locate the parking brake on the drivers side of the console and the indicator stalk on the more logical right side of the column.

Kia Rio (2005 – 2011) models and specs

Dimensions
Length	3990 mm
Width	1695 mm
Height	1470 mm
Wheelbase	2500 mm

Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight	1079–1311 kg
Boot Space	270–1145 L
Warranty	3 years
Servicing	10000–12500 miles

Costs
List Price	£7,495–£11,810
Insurance Groups	12–19
Road Tax Bands	C–G
Official MPG	40.4–62.8 mpg

Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult	4
Child	3
Pedestrian	2
Overall	-

On sale until August 2011

Hatchback
Version	List Price	MPG	0-62
1 1.4 5dr	£8,545	47.9 mpg	12.3 s
1 1.5 CRDi 5dr	£9,665	62.8 mpg	11.5 s
2 1.4 5dr	£9,875	47.9 mpg	12.3 s
2 1.4 Auto 5dr	£11,000	40.4 mpg	14.5 s
2 1.5 CRDi 5dr	£10,995	62.8 mpg	11.5 s
Graphite 1.4 5dr	£10,690	47.9 mpg	12.3 s
Graphite 1.5 CRDi 5dr	£11,810	62.8 mpg	11.5 s

On sale until May 2009

Hatchback
Version	List Price	MPG	0-62
3 1.4 5dr	£9,295	47.9 mpg	12.3 s
3 1.4 5dr Auto	£9,295	-	-
Sport 1.6 5dr	£10,295	46.3 mpg	10.2 s

On sale until April 2009

Hatchback
Version	List Price	MPG	0-62
3 1.5 CRDi 5dr	£10,295	62.8 mpg	11.5 s
Sport 1.5 CRDi 5dr	£10,995	62.8 mpg	11.5 s

On sale until May 2007

Hatchback
Version	List Price	MPG	0-62
1.4 GS 5dr	£8,045	44.8 mpg	12.3 s
1.4 GS 5dr Auto	£8,045	-	-
1.4 LS 5dr	£9,045	44.8 mpg	12.3 s
1.4 S 5dr	£7,495	44.8 mpg	12.3 s
1.5 CRDi GS 5dr	£9,045	60.1 mpg	11.5 s
1.5 CRDi LS 5dr	£10,045	60.1 mpg	11.5 s

On sale until April 2006

Hatchback
Version	List Price	MPG	0-62
1.4 LX 5dr	£9,495	44.8 mpg	12.3 s
1.5 CRDi LX 5dr	£10,295	60.1 mpg	11.5 s

June 2005

New Rio launched at Detroit show January 2005 and in UK from Summer 2005.

Hatchback: 3,990mm long x 1,483mm high x 1,695mm wide.

Saloon 4,240mm long x 1,483mm high x 1,695mm wide. (Saloon did not come to UK.)

LX or EX trim. 1.4 litre 97PS, 125NM torque continuously variable valve timing petrol engines with manual or automatic transmission or 1.5 litre 110PS, 235Nm torque common rail EU4 diesel manual. Twin front, side and curtain airbags, active head restraints, ESP – available. Diesel: 110mph, 0-60mph 11.2 seconds, mpg 60.1 combined, CO2 121g/km (£115pa VED).

1.4 and 1.5 CRDi GS £7,995
1.4 GS (Auto) £8,995
1.4 & 1.5 CRDi LX £8,995
1.4 & 1.5 CRDi LX with Dynamic Option Package £9,995

Metallic/Mica Paint £300. Basic spec included a/c, CD/radio, twin airbags, electric front windows.

March 2007

Shown at Geneva Show March 2007: Kia Hybrid saloon created by Kia R&D to take part in ‘real-world’ test fleet activities, features a unique powertrain with a 1.4-litre petrol engine, mated to a 12kW, 95 Nm AC synchronised electric motor and a CVT gearbox.

The Alpha ll petrol engine is fitted with CVVT (continuously variable valve timing) and generates 90 PS of power with 126 Nm of torque. The high-torque permanent magnet electric motor is mounted between the flywheel and the gearbox and ‘assists’ the petrol engine during starting, accelerating and hill-climbing. During steady cruising the electric motor switches off, while during deceleration it employs ‘regenerative braking’ to store energy and re-charge its Ni-MH 144 volt power pack.

The computer-controlled system also allows stop/start motoring and switches both engine and motor off whenever the car comes to a standstill for more than a few seconds. Restarting is automatic.

The hybrid Rio is the first Kia to employ a CVT (continuously variable transmission). This type of compact automatic gearbox seamlessly shifts between an infinite range of gear ratios and allows the engine and powertrain to operate at peak efficiency at all times.

This Rio accelerates from 0-to-62 mph in 12.2 seconds, can reach a top speed of 112 mph and returns a fuel consumption of 53.4mpg. Compared to the standard petrol Rio, air pollutants are reduced by 37% and fuel efficiency is improved by 44%. The hybrid’s CO2 figure is 126 g/km.

Rio Chill announced 3-7-2008 with choice of 1.4 litre petrol or 1.5 litre CRDi and starts from just £7,995. The 1.5-CRDi engine emits just 119 g/km and comes with air conditioning, central locking and front electric windows, as well as a spoiler and 14" alloys.

February 2009

Rio Black special edition starting at only £8,745 for the 1.4-litre petrol and rising to £9,720 for 1.5-litre CRDi, the Rio Black special edition, only available with Midnight Black Mica paintwork, offers great value and extra equipment at a minimal price. Included within the special package are 16-inch alloy wheels, electric front and rear windows, central locking, front fog lights, colour coded rear spoiler, door handles and mirrors, six airbags and air conditioning. Continuing the frugal theme, the Rio Black has all this but CRDi only produces 119 g/km, meaning that it joins the Picanto Red with a VED of only £35 per year.

November 2009

Rio supermini receives Graphite makeover which makes the most of its recent facelift. Integrated mirror indicators, 15-inch alloy wheels, black bezel headlights and front fogs all enhance Rio from the outside while standard features such as air-conditioning, alloy pedals, a metallic centre fascia, leather steering wheel and gear knob makes what's on the inside count too. Rio Graphite is available in 1.4 petrol and 1.5 CRDi engines for just £9,395 and £10,395 respectively.

August 2010

Kia New Vehicle Warranty Terms & Exclusions:

There is no mileage limit during the first 3 years, except for vehicles used as taxis where a limit of 100,000 miles applies.
There is a 100,000 mile limit between years 4 and 7.
Paintwork is covered for 5 years / 100,000 miles.
Audio is covered for 3 years / 60,000 miles.
Batteries are covered for 2 years.
Normal 'wear and tear' on items such as brake linings and clutch linings, etc. are excluded from cover.
The warranty is transferable, at no cost, to subsequent owners and is valid across Europe.