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The Kia Rio isn’t one of the obvious choices if you’re in the market for a used supermini. However, it’s good to drive and offers great value, so it’s well worth considering. If it looks tempting to you, and you’re considering a Rio, you can find out everything you need to know here. Our guide includes a full run-through of the trim level and engine options.
Although it has never sold in huge numbers, the Rio has been around for a few years now. That results in a good selection of used examples available to buy. Why not check out the selection of Kia Rio models in stock at heycar?
Kia’s signature ‘tiger nose’ front grille and angled headlights lend some distinction to the Kia Rio’s styling. High-spec models, with their extra chrome-effect trim, have a rather classy look to them, and there’s a sporty-looking version as well.
Inside, the dashboard is very easy to use and there are plenty of features, particularly on the high-spec models. Everything feels really solidly made, too. There’s space for four adults to travel comfortably and one of the biggest boots you’ll find in any supermini.
The Kia Rio is pleasant to drive, especially with one of the turbocharged engines, which feel pretty strong and give a good turn of speed. There’s a relatively small number of trim levels and engines available , but that just makes it easier to decide which one you want.
It’s not been a particularly big seller in the UK, but there are plenty of people who recognise its merits, so retained values are decent.
The engines available in the Kia Rio are very efficient, so running costs will be low. It often places near the top of owner satisfaction surveys, so there are no concerns about reliability. If anything does go wrong, you’ve also got Kia’s industry-leading seven-year warranty to fall back on even as a used car.
Other superminis include the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Skoda Fabia and Toyota Yaris. The competition is strong, but the Kia has its place among them, offering more space than most at a price that makes it great value.
A Kia Rio not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.
There are plenty of engine options for the Kia Rio, but we’d recommend the 100PS T-GDI petrol. It has a decent 171Nm of torque from 1500-4000rpm, so there’s lots of low-down punch to help with overtakes and slip roads, plus it’s very quiet and has official economy of more than 60mpg.
It works very well with the Rio whether in town, on the motorway or on a country road. It’s also available with 120PS, but there’s not much need to pick that version, since the 100PS option is such a good all-rounder. There is also 1.25-litre petrol engine.
If you want a diesel, Kia dropped the 76- and 90PS 1.4-litre turbodiesels from the line-up in 2018. This is not especially surprising when they were very slow sellers and just plain slow.
The Kia Rio is available with petrol and diesel engines, all with manual gearboxes. The diesels didn't last long in the line-up and were dreadfully slow, so they are best avoided unless you really are wedded to the idea of one.
The 1.2-litre petrol unit provides more than enough performance for nipping around town, but if you need to do longer journeys, the more powerful turbocharged 1.0-litre options take motorways in their stride. The most powerful Rio has a mild-hybrid system that helps improve fuel economy and emissions.
The Kia Rio is available with four trim levels, spanning budget-focussed to surprisingly generously equipped. Three of the trims are numbered, helpfully making the hierarchy absolutely clear. The sporty-looking GT-Line S arrived in early 2018 and sits at the top of the range.
The Kia Rio’s exterior dimensions are:
The Kia Rio’s boot space is:
You may find a handful of Kia Rios for sale that were registered before 1 April 2017, which comes with the 1.1-litre diesel engine or 1.25 petrol. This 1.1 diesel qualifies for free road tax and the petrol will pay just £20.
However, every other Rio model from 1 April 2017 going forwards will pay the standard rate for road tax of £180 every 12 months at the time of writing.
The Kia Rio is very affordable to insure. The entry-level 1 model is rated in insurance group four (out of 50), and even the top-of-the-range, sporty GT-Line S is only in group nine. That’s partly because the Rio is well equipped with safety and security features for this type of car.
Read our full Kia Rio review