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2011 Kia Rio reviews

Kia Rio reviews by year of make:   2003  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  Read all reviews

Rey, Philippines

Kia Rio EX 2011

3 star review

We just bought this car last October, since it had the lowest down-payment offered in town for a brand new car. It was shiny and it looked good. I previously drove an ’88 2.0 Nissan Maxima and I was used to its high torque. When I drove the Rio for the first time, it was quite hard to balance the clutch since I have to rev at a higher RPM to start at first gear. This gave me a hard time on the intersections. Shifting to reverse is also confusing since it used a Euro-schemed gearshift. On the bright side, the car has an aesthetic appeal coupled with its good fuel economy and a good price tag along with its all-power amenities.

Submitted: 14/11/2011 16:54:38

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Syd Taylor, Staffordshire

Kia Rio 1.5 CRDI 2 2011

4 star review

Very competent in everything without going crazy over anything, this car shows the worth of the policy which dictates how Kia’s from Korea are marketed: as cars offering great value for money - and with a confidence inspiring seven year warranty too. And because the range starts at just £8,540 OTR for the 1.4 petrol version, the Rio is one of the most affordable small cars in the UK when you take into account fuel economy and low cost of servicing. Even the 1.5 diesel Rio 2 tested here, costs only £10,995. Try getting an equivalent Ford for that! Compact outside and roomy inside thanks to a tall roofline and wide cabin, that generous interior space makes it a sensible-shoes five door, five seat hatchback super-mini that is pleasant to be in.. And while it’s not particularly ’exciting’ in silhouette as a supersonic sculpture, it certainly looks ’youthful’ and sporty - but looks aside, it provides all that the average driver needs in today’s world of motoring mayhem: room for a family and luggage, economical running and more than a measure of practicality. Quality thinking invests the Rio with rational appeal and many will be attracted by the functionality and not be bothered about the image - and they can afford to be because Kia’s cars function so well. It’s proof that a car can achieve great ends with modest means. With the Rio no single aspect of the design has been allowed over-emphasis and yet nothing has been overlooked. If there were ever any doubt that one could aspire to enjoyable, practical and reliable motoring without going to extremes of elaborate specification, half-baked homage to evocative names over which washes blank unthinking admiration and spending a fortune, that doubt must be dismissed by the Kia Rio. While the 1.5 109bhp diesel version is not the car for Mike Mercury, 110 mph is fast enough for Captain Sensible on today’s miserable roads. It’s a fairly light car, which doesn’t have the lead-loaded feel of a Volkswagen but it certainly is a well put together quality product. Fixtures and fittings inside and out are silver plate rather than sterling silver but everything seems durable enough to last for years. In the trim level 2 variant here, you get - amongst other things - air con., all round power windows, extra airbags, and smart alloy wheels: electronic stability control (ESC) is standard too. Settle comfortably behind the wheel, take in the basic ergonomic layout and you’re ready to go in an instant - unlike last weeks ’executive express’ which required a post graduate level of understanding to drive the sound system and understand the numerous beeps and bongs warning you of everything from naughty white line crossing to your unzipped trousers. Light and easy to manoeuvre in town and running straight and true at speed, the Rio is a balanced car that is a delight to handle whether parking or powering round twisty bends. The little diesel engine is a surprisingly eager beaver. 80mph cruising is reasonably quiet and the only time you hear a muted growl is under hard acceleration through the five gears. Despite ample torque, I did find a trace of transmission snatch when I lazily stayed in fifth in an urban situation. The Rio is no thunderblaster whizzbang but I was most impressed with how brisk it proved to be when pressing on and no matter how much I used the spurs, economy seemed to be unaffected. A very easily achievable 65 mpg overall is well within anyone’s capability and I have no doubt that should you choose to pussyfoot around in one of these, you’d get 70mpg. Not only does a Rio beguile you with its value, once you drive it, it will beguile you with its manners too. So, if your heart is set on a supermini, try romancing this Rio and you certainly won’t settle for less.

Submitted: 27/03/2011 17:10:14

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Rodney Matthews, County Down

Kia Rio Strike TDi Diesel 2011

4 star review

A wee flier with a roomy boot. Rough gear change 1st to 2nd. Very economical and £30 for tax for a year. Great paintwork. My first ever car with alloys. Well pleased!

Submitted: 26/01/2011 17:01:17

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Jon, London

Kia Rio MY11 2011

3 star review

As yet I have not found any reviews of the Rio MY11 (that is a Rio for the year 2011) I have had one of these now for a week. The car cost approx £9,700 and thus far has only disapointed in minor ways ie the handbrake does not stop the car from rolling even on an almost flat surface, there is no cigarette lighter supplied, etc. The major let down re any Kia product is the dealers, I have been lied to, cheated and treated with little or no respect whatsoever. To improve their market position Kia must get their act together at the point of sale, and that means getting rid of the current dealer network and replacing it with a competent replacement that sees the customer as an important part of the future economic cycle of the mark. This car could have made a 4 star review if it had not been let down by the indifferent dealer network.

Submitted: 04/11/2010 20:10:44

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