2012 Kia Rio Reviews

Graham Smith reviews the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Kia Rio as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the first generation, second generation and third generation Kia Rio, from 2001, 2007 and 2012, as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 2000-2013 Kia Rio.

NEW The Rio was the car that kicked Kia's Australian sales into gear in 2000. Before that the cars from the Korean carmaker were best known for their for the cheap-and-cheerful pricing and not much more. Beyond the pricing the build quality was average at best, and the reliability wasn't that great either. But like

Kia Rio is a small-medium South Korean car that has picked up significantly in Australia since the launch of the all-new model of September 2011. After two generations of Rios with conservative shapes, the 2011 Rio came with stunning styling that pushes it ahead of many competitors from Japan and Europe from a visual point of view. Build quality wasn’t too bad on the first generation Rios, sold from July 2000, improved significantly in the gen-two cars from August 2005 and is impressive from 2011 onwards. The bodies of the older models were generally better assembled than their interiors, though we do see the occasional rough one inside and out.Tip: Don’t forget that professional inspection.The Kia Rio is sold as either a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback and has good interior space that can seat four adults, though two grownups and two or three kids is a more practical load.On-road dynamics and build quality have improved over the years and the latest models provide a fair degree of enjoyment for the keen driver. However, some may find the ride a little too firm on rough roads. Try it for yourself during your private road test.A good set of tyres can work wonders for the handling and steering feel of older Kia Rios.Kia Rio is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine in the pre-2005 series. If worked moderately it will sound and feel fine, but drive it hard and it gets noisy and can be harsh. Engine performance is generally fine as this is a relatively light car. But it can struggle a bit on hills, so it's smart to find a hilly area to do some of your pre-purchase road testing.The newer, from 2005, Rios have a more modern 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that’s significantly more powerful, smoother and significantly better in the refinement stakes. The engine was further improved in the 2011 series Rios.A lower cost 1.4-litre engine was added to the range in March 2007, its performance is OK if you’re willing to work at getting the best from the car.Transmission options are five-speed manual and four-speed automatic in the first two Rio ranges. Six-speed units, both manual and automatic were a big feature of the all-new model that arrived in 2011, putting the car ahead of many of its rivals.The four-speed auto takes the edge of what performance the older engines do deliver. It’s smooth enough and obviously makes life simpler in the suburbs, the natural habitat of a vehicle like this.The experienced home mechanic can do a fair bit on a Kia Rio. Underbonnet access is good and these cars have old and tried technology. A workshop manual is a low-cost investment that can save you lots of hassles. Don’t do any safety-related work yourself, leave that to the professionals.Insurance is normally towards the lower area of mid-range, but seems to vary more than usual from one company to another. So it pays to shop around, as always make sure you understand what you get, and don’t get, for your premium.Poorly repaired crash damage will show as paint which doesn’t match from panel to panel; and/or a ripply finish in a panel. Check for tiny specks of paint on non-painted parts such as glass and badges. Look at the interior and boot for signs of general wear and tear.The engine should fire up within a second or so of the key being turned, even when it’s cold. As soon as it starts it should settle into a steady idle. There should be no smoke from the exhaust pipe even if the engine is worked hard. Letting it idle for about a minute, then flooring the throttle in a quick takeoff will aggravate the problem.A manual gearbox should be moderately light in its action and not crunch on any of the downchanges, no matter how fast they are made. The third-to-second gearchange is usually the first to give trouble. If the automatic transmission is slow at picking up a drive gear from Park or Neutral it may be because it’s due for a major overhaul.Check the brakes pull the Rio up squarely and that ABS, if fitted, operates when you push the pedal hard.Cars that have spent all their lives in the open air are far less desirable than those that have generally been kept under cover. Faded paint and dried out dashtops are the easiest way to pick ‘outdoor’ cars.

Named after a South American capital city; designed in Europe and the USA, built in South Korea and fine tuned in Australia. Is it any wonder the importers say the fourth-generation Kia Rio will appeal to many buyers downunder?The Kia Rio landed here in late 2011 and was joined by three-door hatch and four-door sedan variants midway through 2012.VALUEThe Rio 1.4 S manual three-door hatch comes on to the market at $15,290, plus on-road costs, and is covered by Kia’s five-year, unlimited kilometre factory warranty. The Rio gets a decent audio unit with CD, radio and USB / AUX / iPod connectivity and four speakers. You get a lot of well equipped, cute looking car for a very modest price in the Kia Rio and we will be surprised if it doesn’t significantly increase sales numbers over the superseded model.TECHNOLOGYThe base model three-door S we have just reviewed comes with a 1.4-litre petrol engine producing 79 kW of power at 6300 rpm and 135 Nm of torque at 4200 revs – that’s nine kW and ten Nm more than the 1.4 motor it replaces. The figures don’t seem to add up to much at first glance but the efficiency of modern engines has this unit performing perfectly well in the day-to-day urban environment and on the open road.DESIGNIn design terms, the new Kia Rio leads from the front with its so-called ‘Schreyer’ chromed radiator grille, a nod to Peter Schreyer, the Chief Design Officer at Kia. Known as the Tiger Nose, Schreyer says: “Tigers are powerful, yet kind of friendly. The nose is three-dimensional – like a face, not just a surface with a mouth drawn on it. From now on, we'll have it on all our cars.”Out the back, the hatch is distinguished by a roof-mounted spoiler and stylish lines. The result is a body that is identical to the five-door, offering the same dimensions and the same striking looks. ‘Tidy’ is the best way to describe the cabin interior, with minimal, but mostly, helpful information set out in an easy-to-read manner. Three large dials directly in front of the driver present speed, revs and fuel status.The steering wheel, with tilt and telescopic adjustment, also carries cruise control and audio buttons, making for safe switching while on the move. The audio unit, with CD, radio and USB / AUX / iPod connectivity, features four speakers. Rear leg room is on the meagre side and hard plastic surrounds place the Rio well and truly in the cheap car segment. Which is fair enough – it is a cheap car.SAFETYFive-star crash safety is a Rio requirement with six airbags. A new Vehicle Stability Management program monitors active safety features such as ABS braking, stability and traction control, as well as the motorised power steering that can take over when stability reaches its threshold.DRIVINGAcceleration off the mark is the one thing that drags the Rio 1.4 down, but only slightly. The test vehicle, a six-speed manual, was deceptive in its willingness to get a move on. If you ignore the gearshift indicator, which suggests you should go up a cog, it doesn’t do a great deal to improve real world performance, and probably increases fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.On average the Rio manual used about seven to eight litres of fuel per hundred kilometres on suburban runs. This drops to an impressive five to six litres if you treat it carefully on open road trips. Kia Australia engineers had a major input into the new Rio’s ride and handling, shaking down each model in exacting conditions over 2000 km on the same stretch of road in and around the Hunter Valley north of Sydney. They also put them up against rivals from the light-vehicle segment.Handling is sharp and well-controlled for a car in this class. However, the downside is that the ride may be firmer than some like on roughish surfaces. Try the car on that sort of road if comfort takes precedence over handling in your mind. The suspension is well sorted thanks to the aforementioned extensive Aussie shakedown, and brakes are on the sharp side but, with familiarity, on test became easier to handle. The hill hold is a feature welcomed by many sloppy drivers these days.VERDICTGenerally, there was little to complain of with the Rio S three-door’s behaviour on the road except some above-average tyre noise on course bitumen.MODEL RANGEKia Rio S 1.4-litre three-door hatchback: $15,290 (manual), $17,290 (automatic)Kia Rio SLS 1.6-litre three-door hatchback: $19,990 (manual), $21,990 (automatic)Kia Rio Si 1.6-litre four-door sedan: $21,690 (automatic)Kia Rio S 1.4-litre five-door hatch: $16,290 (manual), $18,290 (automatic)Kia Rio Si 1.6-litre five-door hatch: $18,990 (manual), $20,990 (automatic)Kia Rio SLi 1.6-litre five-door hatch: $19,990 (manual), $21,990 (automatic)Kia Rio S 1.4Kia Rio SPrice: from $15,290Warranty: 5 years/unlimited kmCrash rating:  5 starsSafety: 6 airbags, ABS, Vehicle Stability Management program, stability and traction controlEngine: 1.4-litre 4-cyl 79kW/135NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWD; 4-speed autoDimensions: 4045mm (L), 1720mm (W), 1455,m (H)Weight: 1131kgThirst: 5.7L/100km, 135g/km CO2

VW Polo Trendline and Kia Rio S Hatch go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Kia is moving forward with their latest models and the three-door Rio SLS is no exception. It’s definitely another in ongoing improvements for Kia, and it’s no wonder it claimed the 2011 Carsguide Car of the Year gong.From $19,990 for the manual and $21,990 for the auto the SLS is priced closely against the $19,490 VW Polo -- itself a Carsguide Car of the Year in 2010 -- and the $18,990 Ford Fiesta.Both the Polo and the Fiesta have great reputations for dynamics, and are both more a driver’s car. But the Rio shines in its own ways, and one of them is value for money - especially considering the equipment list. Standard features in SLS spec include MP3 and iPod compatible CD player, Bluetooth connectivity with media streaming, steering wheel audio controls, speed dependent volume control, rain-sensing wipers, dusk-sensing automatic headlamps and front fog lamps.And the 5 year unlimited km warranty - which applies to all new Kia vehicles - is generous when you consider the standard is 3 years.The Rio SLS has a 1.6 litre, four cylinder GDi petrol engine teamed with a six-speed manual or the six-speed automatic transmission tested here. Kia points to the 1.6 litre engine as class-leading with 103kW of power (at 6300 revs), which is teamed with 167Nm of torque (at 4850 revs). The quoted combined fuel economy is 6.1L/100km with 145g/km CO2 emissions.The design of the SLS received a mixed response. We got comments ranging from “over styled” right through to “good looks and latest gadgets.” Clearly, the design isn’t for everyone – but then, what is? The exterior is eye-catching and well calculated with chrome radiator grille, chrome rear muffler, rear spoiler, LED daytime running light with static cornering lamps, LED rear combination lamps and 17-inch alloy wheels.For those who haven’t looked at a Kia since the bad old days, you can be assured that over the past few years things have turned around since former Audi designer Peter Schreyer joined the Korean brand. Slip into the cabin and you’ll find the modern aesthetics of the exterior are reflected throughout. The black interior is stylistically pleasing against the metal look interior trim on the console, fascia and door handles. The SLS has a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and leather trim on the seats. But be warned, you get a lot more ‘pleather’ than leather in the SLS.For a vehicle of this size the SLS has spacious driver and passenger seats but the backseats aren’t so generous- a taller passenger should definitely call shotgun. There’s also a reasonable sized boot with 288 litres of luggage space. The SLS doesn’t require a key to be powered, instead has a push button start with a smart key. The dashboard is positioned in a way that makes everything easily accessed, as the shift knob and handbrake slant slightly towards the driver, a similar feature found in the Optima Si. The trip computer markings are a bright red colour, which helps to clearly display the essential info, but is a bit too bright at night unless you dim it hugely.The SLS has a 5-star ANCAP crash rating. Major safety features include driver and front passenger airbags, anti-lock braking, electronic stability, vehicle stability management, hill-start assist, door open warning light with speed sensing auto door lock and child restraint anchorage points.The SLS is willing and ready from the get go, as the 1.6-litre engine gives the small car energy on the road.  It’s the perfect car for the city, as it zips in and out of traffic with ease and has good visibility for changing lanes. The six-speed automatic transmission is fine for around town and it handles climbs fairly well.The electronic power steering makes manoeuvring easy, however the steering feels a bit disconnected on hard corners. It’s also not the quietest hatchback out there, as you’ll hear plenty of road noise enter the cabin. As with any small car, the dimensions of the car make parking a breeze. However, rear visibility isn’t as good as at the front due to the wide arched pillars at the back - a rear view camera and reverse parking sensors may be the answer. Even with these few setbacks the SLS was still an enjoyable ride with plenty of life.While it’s not for the enthusiastic driver, the Kia Rio SLS competes well in the small car market; affordable, efficient, and with plenty of features.   

Growing fast and making headway in the Australian market is fast becoming a habit with Kia, which launched a number of new models last year. The Korean brand promised additional Rio variants and we're coming to grips with the SLS - the three-door that has the top-spec 1.6-litre engine teamed to the six-speed auto.The Rio 3-door SLS sits at the top of the pricelist - $19,990 with a clutch pedal or $21,990 with the auto - which is not bargain basement for a little car, in fact it's VW Polo money. That said, the SLS has the same features list as the top-spec SLi five-door - climate control, Bluetooth phone and audio link, USB and aux-input for the six-speaker sound system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with controls for the phone, sound and cruise control, power mirrors, trip computer, LED daytime running lights, 17in alloy wheels with Continental rubber, and automatic headlights. Add to that rain-sensing wipers, a keyless start system and leather seats and the SLS starts looking like value for money. A 1.6-litre direct-injection, variable-valve engine is shared with SLi five-door, providing 103kW and 167Nm - the powerplant isn't cutting edge technology but it's a solid little engine. The six-speed auto - which has a "manual" shift that won't hold a driver-selected gear - is smaller and lighter than the previous transmission and when left to its own devices has a predilection for fuel economy. The Rio three-door retains the same sharp looks and dimensions (although the front doors are longer than those of the five door), which means it has the stance and solid proportions of the debut model. The SLS sits on the same 17in alloys but gets a dual chrome-tipped exhaust for a sporty look at the rear - no prizes for guessing where the inspiration for that came from .... VW exhaust pipes anyone? Inside, there's an Essendon-esque black and red colour scheme and a surprising amount of space - at 191cm I can get well set-up behind the wheel without eroding all rear leg-room. The boot is unchanged over the five-door hatch at 288 litres, which isn't bad for the light-car class. When the Rio was re-launched the expectation was five stars and ANCAP didn't contradict the Korean brand's staffers - the SLS has just inherited the 5 star rating of its sibling, with six airbags, stability and traction control among the safety features on its list. Even in the mocha-brown colour the little Korean is a striking machine - there's no shortage of brattish stance and it's presence was not lost on many pedestrians. From within, it's a black-and-red bonanza, but it's comfortable and has decent space front and rear, to the point where I can sit behind myself, although the headroom feels a little less than the five-door. The rear and three-quarter rear vision aren't great - form has won out over function so rear sensors and a camera would not be out of place for safety's sake. The little hatch is well-planted on the road, with good body control but when sitting on the 17s the ride is too firm - maybe if it had a two-litre turbo and a GTI badge then the ride quality might be justified.The locally-developed suspension does the job in the corners but it's a little jittery if the surface is less than pristine. The six-speed automatic needs a solid shove to kick down and cover ground at pace, having economy foremost in its mind; even shifting gears yourself is not beyond the reach of the transmission's electronic reach, over-ruling the manual mode. The light-car market is fast becoming a feast of fashion, with feisty and attractive models on offer from French, Italian and German marques - the little Kia can sit comfortably among the choices and make it even more difficult for them to make a choice.

Riding on the back of self-proclaimed fame is a most dangerous journey that often ends in copious tears or global ridicule. Witness previously unknown Selena Gomez who remains newsworthy (apparently) only up to the minute she parts ways with boyfriend Justin Bieber (he's a singer) and then she may be confined to a social vacuum.Kia's smartly-dressed and Australian-tuned Rio small car won Carsguide's Car of the Year for 2011 but the car you see here, today, isn't the same as that winner. It's important to recognise and acknowledge notoriety and cast caution to hangers-on, don't you think?This is probably the first time you'll hear me say that a Korean car is a bit overpriced. There's a lot of goodness in the Rio and it has a high level of appeal but it marks a turning point where the Koreans are demanding more cash for their cars.The "S'' model has a 1.4-litre engine (compared with the 1.3-litre Yaris and 1.6-litre Fiesta - see below) and costs $18,990 including the $2000 auto gearbox option. That's $2700 less than the 1.6-litre COTY version which is a better drive. But I admit the 1.4 is well equipped with top-end safety, all the latest audio features and even a full-size spare wheel.Cute. It's subjectively the best looking in the light-car segment and that exterior neatness carries over to a German-influenced cabin. The dash screams Volkswagen Golf while the seats are broad and very comfortable.There's a lot of black plastic but, like Golf, shows purpose. The boot is big, the rear seat room fits two adults and the seats fold down. I don't like the big gaps in the front seats' rake adjustment. But I like the fact it has a fold-up key and an ignition barrel on the steering column without any fussy push-button starter.The test car is Kia's entry-level version of the 1.6-litre COTY winner. It has a smaller, technically-deprived version of the 1.6 engine. The 79kW/135Nm engine misses out on the direct-injection (read: responsive and fuel efficient) of the 1.6 but chugs along without much fuss or fire.The four-speed auto spends most of its time throwing cold water over any whiff of performance from the engine. Pleasing is the more efficient and simpler four-wheel disc brakes. Most rivals have antique rear drum brakes. Australian engineers have worked hard on the steering and suspension and has made this one of the best handlers on the market.The picture is pretty much the same across Australia's new car market - a five-star crash rating, six airbags and electronic stability control. Rio adds a hill-holder system. There are four disc brakes, a proper spare tyre and heated side mirrors. It's certainly on par, and sometimes betters, its rivals.Unlike the peppy direct-injection 1.6-litre, the 1.4 is dull.  It's made for the city and suburbs. The four-speed auto chokes the little engine and diminishes its appeal to motorists who are confined to the suburbs.There are times when, notably when exiting a corner, there is almost no communication between the accelerator pedal and the engine - and that's scary. Acceleration is reasonable but any sign of driver enthusiasm is met by a wall of noise.