Kia Rio (2005 – 2011) Review

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.

Real MPG average for a 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.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

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.

Inside of the Kia Rio (2005 – 2011)

• Boot space is 270–1145 litres

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.

Child seats that fit a Kia Rio (2005 – 2011)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Driving Kia Rio (2005 – 2011)

• 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.

Kia Rio (2005 – 2011) Models and Specs

On sale until August 2011

On sale until May 2009

On sale until April 2009

On sale until May 2007

On sale until April 2006

Good

Bad

What to watch out for

Model History

• June 2005
• March 2007
• February 2009
• November 2009
• August 2010