Kia Rio

Susyblue

Hi there,

Was wondering if anybody has any experience of a Kio Rio hatchback? Or just the Kia reputation in general. The car in question is 1.3L 2005 car.

Thanks:D

Mitch Connor

With regards Kia in general, I have a new(ish) Pro'ceed and I really like it. Feels well made, responds well enough and has a few features I really like. Have had no reliability problems so far (12k done so far) and no complaints. One issue i do have is a feel it is a bit thirstier on the fuel than it should be.

bazz26

The C'eed and Proc'eed have come along way but the Rio was from before all that began at Kia. The last Rio is based on the Hyundai Accent afaik.

To be honest if you just want cheap a to b transport then the Rio probably ticks all those boxes. Don't expect much more though and it would want to be very cheap to tempt me.

Stky10

Susyblue wrote: »

Hi there,

Was wondering if anybody has any experience of a Kio Rio hatchback? Or just the Kia reputation in general. The car in question is 1.3L 2005 car.

Thanks:D

GF has a 2005 Rio. She's never had a problem with it. Its a 1.4L petrol and she gets about 45mpg.

Susyblue

Is 45mpg good or bad Stky10?

Its cheaper than other cars of the same age i suppose (2005)-6950. It looks quite attractive and modern on the inside, as regards its workings I dont know.

Plus I presume the 5 year warranty that comes with kias will still be valid, anyone know?

Its looking like that or a SEAT Ibiza( prob a year older). Theres seems to be little enough choice at this price budget in the dealers bearing in mind I want a hatchback thats 04 minimum.

EPM

I've driven both the old and new.

Old model was woeful but clung to the road ok. Horrible car though.

The new one is lightyears ahead. I didnt think it was bad at all. Felt solid and for the price it's a good buy. 45mpg is quite good for a 1.4 petrol. If you can find the diesel you're onto a winner

Saab Ed

Kia Rio's should come with some kinda health warning like the ones on cigerette packets. Really driving a Rio should be enough of a reason to be certified. Awful to look at , awful to drive, just awful awful awful.
Unless its free and full of petrol dont do it..... And even at that sell it and buy a proper car....Just say no

Stky10

Susyblue wrote: »

Is 45mpg good or bad Stky10?

For a petrol, I'd consider it quite good. My brother claims his 1.6L 01 Focus gives the same though.

Tragedy

Is it the old shape or the new shape?
1.3 was only available in the previous model, but you said it looked modern on the inside and the previous model certainly didnt.
Spartan and drab p'raps.

Had a 2004 1.3 LX for the last year, dad had it for 4 years and 80,000miles previously.

As a city car, it's grand. Surprising amount of space, boot's quite generous, seats arent the worst. Clutch travels quite far though and the gearchange is rubbery. Easy enough on petrol too.

€6,950 is FAR too much though. I'm selling mine in the next wee while and only looking for €2,000, although mine is high milage and has a fair amount of scuffs and scratches - it's mechanically sound and interior is spotless.

Don't spend over €4,000 on one, you'll regret it.


And if you'll be doing significant motorway/national road milage, steer clear. Though that applies to most small engines hatchbacks.

CharlieCroker

My parents have a 2006 newer model saloon.
They had a Megane before that so just wanted something reliable.
The 1.4 has plenty of poke, and spec on the EX is great:
Alloys
Fogs
A/C
Remote Locking
Loads of Airbags
CD
Armrest
Full Electrics.
I'm a petrolhead so wouldn't be my cup of tea but drove the car back from West Cork last week and was suprised by it. Suspension is a bit bumpy but apart from that I couldn't fault it.

Balfa

Susyblue wrote: »

Is 45mpg good or bad Stky10?

Its cheaper than other cars of the same age i suppose (2005)-6950. It looks quite attractive and modern on the inside, as regards its workings I dont know.

Please don't take this the wrong way! But from the questions you're asking, it sounds as though you'd be perfectly happy with a Kia Rio. If it looks good on the inside to you, don't let anyone else tell you the inside is shabby.

I drove a 2002 Hyundai Accent until the start of last year when it went to the brother-in-law. It's been great for us, and it's still going great for them. I wouldn't buy a 1990s Korean car, but virtually anything this decade will be pretty good quality. I'd say they're so close to the big Japanese names in terms of mechanical reliability that it makes no difference.

There are a lot of "car snobs" (meaning no insult) on this forum, and if you have the money, fair play to them to balk at the idea of driving a Kia. But you'd be very hard pressed to find a more "sensible" car than a Kia or Hyundai.

Also, from a personal perspective, I love the way the Accent and Elantra drive. They're no speed-demons, but they're sharp and communicative. And I just test-drove a 2.0L Spectra (the big brother of the Rio) on Saturday, and it's no different. Not fast, but feels nippy.

Balfa

Tragedy wrote: »

And if you'll be doing significant motorway/national road milage, steer clear. Though that applies to most small engines hatchbacks.

Again, my (mechanically identical) 2002 Hyundai Accent was bought at about 30k miles and we kept it until 100k. And it did the vast majority of those up and down 8-lane freeways like Interstate 35, and 635 here in Dallas, where people look at you funny when you try to tell them that you can buy cars with less than 8 cylinders, so I disagree with the above point.

Tragedy

That's nice, but I like my leg not being cramped, my body not aching from the seats which are ok for city journies but not 2 hour motorway drives, and my ears not being dulled by the deafening noise of my 1.3l rio doing 4,000 RPM to stay at 120km/h.

Personally speaking.

Balfa

Tragedy wrote: »

That's nice, but I like my leg not being cramped, my body not aching from the seats which are ok for city journies but not 2 hour motorway drives, and my ears not being dulled by the deafening noise of my 1.3l rio doing 4,000 RPM to stay at 120km/h.

Personally speaking.

Ah, yes, when I test-drove the Spectra on Saturday, I was very disturbed by how little leg-room it had (what was most frustrating was that with the front seat all the way back, there was still tons of rear leg-room - why don't they just make the rails longer??). Yet I drove the Accent for years. I'm 6'0 but the brother-in-law who has it now is like, 6'3! It's sad how bigger cars spoil you. Before the Accent I drove a Daihatsu Domino, ffs!

EPM

An elantra communicative?!?

techie

I have 2 Kia Cee'ds, as said above these are the new generation models and can't be faulted.

I have driven the older Rio and wasn't that impressed, the newer one is a LOT better but still has plastic surround around the radio which I imagine would lead to squeeks later on.

Overall the 05 should be a decent car to own.

hobochris

I have an older style Rio(04) 1.4,While the ride isn't the most amazing, I have found it has a little more poke then some of the other 1.4's such as the avensis.. as for the 4000rpm for 120kmph not sure about that now... its 3000rpm on mine. at 5000 rpm it does about 100-105mph. mine tops out at about 110-115 mph though. wont go past 6000rpm.

If you don't care about the snobbery & want a reliable a-b car its not the worst little run around.

Don't pay more then €4000 for one though, they don't hold their value as people tend to turn their nose up at them.

Balfa

EPM wrote: »

An elantra communicative?!?

Compared to a Nissan Tiida, Chrysler PT Cruiser, US Ford Focus (different to current Irish one), Dodge Caliber, yes. Probably about the same as a Chevy Cobalt (Astra-related).

Why, what are you comparing it to? And are you offering the OP any better suggestions? Or just being a smart-arse?

EPM

Balfa wrote: »

Compared to a Nissan Tiida, Chrysler PT Cruiser, US Ford Focus (different to current Irish one), Dodge Caliber, yes. Probably about the same as a Chevy Cobalt (Astra-related).

Why, what are you comparing it to? And are you offering the OP any better suggestions? Or just being a smart-arse?

I have already offered my opinion to the OP on both old and new model Rio's.

Admittedly I wrote that commet on my mobile when I couldn't see you were US based. But having driven an (Irish) Elantra communicative is one word I wouldn't use when describing it. Having driven the previous Astra and the current one I would say IMHO that the Elantra is not at the races in comparison (and there are better than the Astra too).

Zube

hobochris wrote: »

its not the worst little run around.

So what's worse? The Accent, maybe?

EPM

Zube wrote: »

So what's worse? The Accent, maybe?

The Atoz...scary on rounabouts...

Tragedy

hobochris wrote: »

I have an older style Rio(04) 1.4,While the ride isn't the most amazing, I have found it has a little more poke then some of the other 1.4's such as the avensis.. as for the 4000rpm for 120kmph not sure about that now... its 3000rpm on mine. at 5000 rpm it does about 100-105mph. mine tops out at about 110-115 mph though. wont go past 6000rpm.

If you don't care about the snobbery & want a reliable a-b car its not the worst little run around.

Don't pay more then €4000 for one though, they don't hold their value as people tend to turn their nose up at them.

There is no 1.4 in the oldstyle, just 1.3 and 1.5 and the 1.3 tops out at 100ish.
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Summary.aspx?model=396