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.
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.
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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.
Kia Rio 1.2 DPi petrol – The entry-level engine is a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol that produces 85PS. It comes with a five-speed manual gearbox and can get from 0-62mph in 12.6 seconds. CO2 emissions are as low as 122g/km.
Kia Rio 1.0 T-GDi petrol – The mid-level engine is a turbocharged, 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol unit with 100PS. It has a slick six-speed manual and gets from 0-62mph in 10 seconds. It’s a bit cleaner than the 1.2 as well, with CO2 emissions of 120g/km.
Kia Rio 1.0 T-GDi 48V MHEV petrol – This is the most powerful engine available in the Rio. It’s the same turbocharged, 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit as above, but gains a mild-hybrid system to boost power to 120PS and reduce the 0-62mph time to 9.8 seconds. It also reduces CO2 emissions to 118g/km. A six-speed manual gearbox is your only option.
Kia Rio 1.4 CRDi diesel - This diesel engine came in 76- and 90PS turbodiesel forms. The 76PS version is very slow, while the 90PS is just slow. Their saving grace is fuel economy, with the 76PS offering 80.7mpg and 74.3mpg for the 90PS unit, and both can be used inside low emissions zones.
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.
Kia Rio 1 – As the number suggests, this is the entry-level Rio. It comes equipped with all the features you need, including air conditioning, DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB charging ports. It’s only available with a 1.2-litre petrol engine.
Kia Rio 2 – You get a lot more useful standard features in this mid-range Rio, including a touchscreen media system, cruise control and a reversing camera – all for not much more than the 1 costs. Choose from 1.2- and turbocharged 1.0-litre engines.
Kia Rio 3 – The upmarket Rio 3 looks and feels the part, with bigger wheels, chrome exterior trim and heated faux-leather seats. It comes with a mild-hybrid petrol engine.
Kia Rio GT-Line S – This adds bigger wheels and a sporty-looking bodykit to the standard features found in the 3. It also adds blind-spot warning and keyless entry to the equipment list. It’s fitted with the 120ps mild-hybrid petrol engine.
The Kia Rio’s exterior dimensions are:
Length: 4065mm
Width: 1725mm
Height: 1450mm
The Kia Rio’s boot space is:
325 litres
1103 litres with rear seats folded
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.