An Honest Owner Review After Living With A Kia Rio For 10 Years! | Drive.com.au

[@lanceuppercut7436]

I’ve had my 2014 SLS Rio from new and it’s in really excellent condition. I get a lot of “it looks new” comments. It’s been reliable, economical and fun to drive these past 10 years. I also still really enjoy the looks especially with the polished chrome alloys on it👌🏼

[@hookey1000]

love this, real review from a real owner and not about a brand new car! these will guide so many decisions for people well into the future...

[@ark14700]

In a world becoming increasingly dominated by SUV's and crossovers, I love small cars, they're so light, efficient and cheerful to use. Helps that they're on the top league of rallying 😊

[@ConnorKD1876]

i have the 2014 model, 107bhp 1.4L engine, it’s my first car since passing my test, i’m not gonna lie i love it, i’m a massive car guy and will always want a more powerful car in the long run but for my first it’s powerful enough to keep up with my mates, and it’s not overly expensive to insure in the UK when first cars after passing typically are, actually is quite nippy at times and with a few look mods it can look the part of a sporty type hatchback that is still affordable and reliable, yes it has its issues mostly the brakes and road noise as you mentioned but my model has cruise control, heated seats and everything you could ever want for a car for daily trips to and from work, KIA are a solid choice for most cars from the looks of it would defos get another in future 🇰🇷

[@theadvocate4698]

I put some noise insulation mat in mine and it is much more "refined", great cars!

[@jacquelinewhite6556]

I'm about to buy a 2014 model! It's in excellent condition - I hope it lasts me for years.

[@dylanedwards132]

Love my 2013 Rio. A classic!

[@avoohanian]

Still driving my 2011 Optima with the delightful 😅 Theta 2 2.4 GDI just hitting 175,000km with hardly a problem. Stone chips from motorway, chrome knob on radio starting to flake away and various knicks from parking at work. Theta 2 loves a top up of a litre of synthetic bliss every 600kms or so which is one thing to keep an eye on with Hyundai/Kia motors. Also service every 7500kms to stop sludge build up. Have been looking for a new car for 5 years but just can’t find anything that does it for me like my Optima.....😂

[@TinLeadHammer]

A video that pretends to be a humble vlog but in fact has been professionally produced with a least 100% increase in personnel compared to a vlog. A good balance between atttactive visuals and owner's impressions.

[@Drivecomau]

It helps that the owner is the head of our video team :)

[@theadvocate4698]

Mine is a 2015 kia rio 1.6 gdi manual. Very good basic car, never felt cheap or underpowered, a little bit of rust but a solid reliable machine!A fun cheap basic car!

[@kafkef117]

how can be rust on your car? Its just 9 years old car

[@theadvocate4698]

@@kafkef117 I live in canada, we put salt on the road 4-5 months each year...Cars rust over here...

[@peeetah3133]

Excellent video. Hope to see more of this type of review from real owners. The presenter was excellent too, hope to see more from him

[@krudmuphinstudioz]

I've had my Kia Rio SX for about 8 years now (a much more highly equipped version in the US) and it's absolutely been the best car I've ever owned. I've had sports cars, luxury cars, and any number of more prestige vehicles, but none of them were as good all around as my Rio has been. It's been the perfect daily driver. It's small, lightweight, good on fuel, handles well, is geared perfectly for city driving, and is honestly one of the most enjoyable cars to drive. I'm a big fan of hatchbacks, and also really adore the way this generation of Rio looks, especially in the rare SX trim like mine. It's extremely well equipped for its age, especially considering it is in the often neglected subcompact category. The car has also been insanely reliable. I'm at 90,000 miles now and have had no serious issues or broken parts. It is starting to age, and certain inevitable things are wearing out. It does consume a bit of oil now, and the ride quality has gotten very even though I cannot for the life of me figure out which components are causing it. I only wish I could go back in time and buy my Rio brand new again. I'm getting to the point where I might have to replace is soon, but my standards have been set so high by my beloved Rio, that nothing feels like a worthy replacement. In a world full of SUVs, pickups, and EVs, i'm just wishing I could buy another new car like this one, but that's becoming increasingly impossible here in America. It's so frustrating. I wish my Rio could last forever and not deteriorate.

[@theadvocate4698]

Same here, my 10 years old rio is a fun and reliable little bugger! Should have bought a brand new one last year, they are gone in canada now... :( ...i'm hoping the K3 hatch is coming here, finger crossed!

[@garyhunt7265]

I hade the Rio 3 1.4 Diesel 2012 what a fantastic car, did 86,000 miles over 11 years and never missed a beat other than wear and tear as in new clutch and new brake pads and discs. would recommend this car to anybody. It was still going strong when I sold it last year to buy a new ford puma and got a great trade in price for the Rio lovely reliable car and as much as I love the puma I still miss my old Rio.

[@Gilaric]

New clutch sounds awful

[@gregburville3368]

Very interesting review. That was the car where Kia really turned the corner. My daughter just sold her 2014 base model 3 door auto Rio. Brakes pads and rotors were an issue, always dealer serviced and no other problems to speak of. Just one small point: Suzuki Alto wasn't its rival. Alto is Picanto sized. The rival for the Rio was the Suzuki Swift.

[@Drivecomau]

Absolutely, brakes must be an issue for more people then. Yes good point still more power then a swift 😉 -Lucas

[@aimanfitri0iv]

holy shoot it's still going strong it is pretty solid and reliable in the past ten years wow damn it's so robust 🤯😍

[@kenrichards5699]

Bought the same in white in late 2014 our daughter and for about the same dollars, $13,500, drive away. Incredible bargain considering there is very little now under $20k. Thanks for the great review, agree with everything you have reported.

[@rctrucker8310]

4yrs and counting still driving my kia rio hatch 2013. Super reliable just the usual PMS. Does not put hole in pocket.😂😂😂

[@prakashnarismulu3332]

Great honest review and realistic to what consumers need

[@ellen7460]

Had a 2014 Kia Rio and was so sad when it was written off. It was automatic and drove like a little go kart. I still miss all the buttons! I got a 2023 Kia Rio to replace it - was sad to hear it’s now a discontinued model. I just have such an affinity for them even if they aren’t anything ‘special’!

[@jessijacobs8]

I can totally relate! The Rio is an amazing car to race, handles well, hugs the road, low to the ground and parking is a dream!

[@mattvjmeasures]

I have my 2009 Kia Rio LX. 59,000km on the clock and still going strong. It's a great little car.

[@E_Stew]

I own a 2017 Kia Rio Hatchback Ex. I bought it new. What I like most is the design of the car, and that it's a hatchback. What I least like about it is that it doesn't get good gas mileage for such a small car. Mine doesn't have a rear view parking screen, no folding mirrors and no spare tire. Other than these negatives...I still only have 30,000 miles on it. I literally used it to drive back and forth to work, which was only 15 mins away from my home. 😏

[@danroy1973]

Mine is a 2015 rio and I love it....mostly. I've had to change the brakes 4 times. That sucks balls but other than that, it's held up nicely in Canada, with our winters.

[@DinoLondis]

My 2018 LX still feels new.

[@SpoofyAnn]

Amature!!! 😂 my cerato koup just had its 13th birthday in November and I still love it and going strong !!!!!

[@SpoofyAnn]

Stijl looks new too !!!

[@Drivecomau]

Nice, unlucky for some haha - Lucas

[@adharmadharma]

I have 2014 Rio Si 1.6 L - 6 Speed hatch as my 2nd car - my wife loves it since it's easy to park. None of issues mentioned apart from the brake pads need to be replaced (no sure if my wife drives like maniac LOL). The knobs on cruise control button are bit temperamental/intermittent. Also the other grief is the 1.6 GDI engine seems only like Premium 95 Octane. It's starting to knock/ping when I put 91 octane. Other than that - It's great zippy car to drive around in the suburb (1.6L is better to drive IMHO).

[@racineurr.8924]

Hi from Canada. Thanks for tis wondeful 10 years review. Very intersting to learn how is doing your Rio after 10 years. I drive my Rio since 2012. It's a North American model "EX" (middle trim) with a 1,6 4 cyl and138 HP (sorry for the KW...) and a 6 speed auto transmission with 78,000 km. It's in mint condition. As you say, it has done for me all what I wanted it to do assuming it has mostly done big suburbs boulevards and a little highway. New brakes 2 times, new oxygen sensor and that's about it. No electrical problem, no AC problem. Still runs very very fine. Sir, have you a new car today? A new Kia? If you have not traded yourt Rio, why didn't you. As for me, since I know what my Rio is capable of and incapable of too, I am appreciative. Thaks again for your video.

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks for sharing! Unfortunately i had to sell it for a bigger family car, I didn't want to get rid of it but purchased a new Toyota RAV4 Hybrid so watch this space in 10 year - Lucas

[@gpierre90]

Hi, I'm more of a Hyundai person, I know people will be typing below my comment saying, they are sister company's and share some parts, true, anyway I prefer the i20, I have owned the 2010 model granted not long and it was my first car only two months, I sold it and bought a 2014 Suzuki Swift 1.2L which I loved, I have owned that one for about 4 years but bought a 2017 Hyundai i20 Manual and that one was much better than the old one. Owned it for about two years. The key did not fall apart thank God, but the rubber boot button did and I replaced it. I have sold it two years back as manual cars are getting very hard to sell now in my neck of the woods and people preferring automatics. I now own a 2016 Honda Fit, very reliable car so far.

[@johanpotgieter4818]

I have a 2013 sedan. I love it. Best car i owned in my life

[@davidbernard7256]

i have the 2012 kia Rio. only had 2 service done at the dealers the rest by myself. with over 210000kms on the clock i now have to change the front brakes. last 12 months the paint has faded on mirrors and roof. Great little car cheap to run. cannot fault it! if i can offer any advice stick to kumho tyres!

[@JeremyEmata]

I do like this thing, especially on our roads it's something you don't see often.. I've got the 5 door with the 1.4 with the 4 speed, at the same time it's, the top of the line minus the sunroof, and my only real issue is the fuel consumption... I can barely get 200km out of a tank.

[@yonatanpantouw3705]

Still driving 4matic 2013 for daily use....and still running well...fuel saver...really nice city car

[@jessijacobs8]

Stumbled upon this as I am literally selling my 10 year old Kia Rio 1.4 Tech Auto 2015 model... 😂😅 I LOVE my Kia! There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It has just hit 87000km because I hardly drive it that much since lockdown. It was my dream car purchase and has served me so well.....if I had a spare parking space I would be keeping it forever. But I realised that to keep it longer means I would get nothing for it if I ever wanted to sell it or trade it in, also with it out of warranty I'm paying for it's service. And moreover Kia has discontinued their Rio range in my country. Your car looked like it served you well and I truly enjoyed seeing someone else have their car as long as I have 😊😅 🙌

[@Drivecomau]

Thanks for sharing Jess and it sure did, i was sad to sell my one for a more family friendly car - Lucas

[@Eye-it-azz]

I’ve had mine for 10 years, has 245k miles

[@서승만-p5i]

한국 사람 입니다. 리오 2014년 4월 디젤 수동 중고 구입하였습니다 지금도 훌륭한 차 라고 생각합니다

[@elzoog]

I just bought a 2012 Kia Rio for a few thousand dollars (wanted a reliable car that I could just pay cash for). It has 92k miles. I hope I can keep it long enough to see 150k on it. Assuming it makes it to 245k, I don't think I will live long enough to see that.

[@eyeballbilly]

I’ve had the car 10 years and all this time it’s been doing those flawless hill starts for me. I’m shaken I thought it was me!

[@QuercusQuest]

The rubber on my Kia Rio 1.4 from 2012 also broke. Now my boot doesnt open anymore. Need to get it fixed.

[@JoeBytowner]

Here in Canada we get a huge (LOL) 1.6L engine, but no hill holder for my 6 speed. My 2014 Rio has been stone reliable.

[@racineurr.8924]

When did you trade your Rio and a what kilometer? As I state in my comment, mine (2012 EX) has 78,000km and goes like a new. Waiting it dies on me I guess.

[@JoeBytowner]

@@racineurr.8924 I purchased it three years ago with about 50,000km. Today it's at 122,000 Km and no issues. Brakes replaced once. In Canada it's a good idea to get the brake caliper pins lubricated before every winter, because they can stick and then the brake pads will wear out prematurely.

[@deelowco]

I'm definitely a kia guy , I got a rio too

[@lukuscannon9697]

I currently have a 2013 Kia Rio SI have owned the car for 3 years. I have owned three generations of the Rio the first second and the third dating back since 2012 I have found each model very reliable. Not much going wrong with it mechanically Only major thing I had to repair on the first generation was a clutch plate, timing belt and radiator and bearings and brakes and rear shockies

[@Drivecomau]

Three generations! You like Rio's more than i do awesome - Lucas

[@lukuscannon9697]

@@Drivecomau yeah I did had a soft spot for the rios now I'm wanting to move on to a Kia soul just for something unique and different

[@user-wj5zv5fk2o]

Nice video 👍 I bought my Rio 4 back in 2017, one of the first delivered in Spain, a year later I move to Germany....Driving my Rio of course 😁. Since then my little Kia has been in 15 countries and recently reaches 100k km. I am starting to think that it could be the most travelled Rio in the world 🌎. I have done tough trips with this car as for example, 1.3k km in a day, +20°C exterior temperature difference in a day from 35°C to 10°C, 12h almost non stop because a 4h traffic jam, reached many times 180 km/h in Autobahn trips 🏎️. Kia Rio is the perfect definition of a good value for money rate.​@@Drivecomau

[@-Hussainnn]

I have 2022 Rio full options It's amazing

[@seanfoster7071]

what a ride! great review.

[@orieraymond1263]

Thanks for this

[@Drivecomau]

No worries :) - Lucas

[@catha86]

I have always thought it looked good but now when I´m about to buy my own first car I am looking into this. I still think its quite expensive but probably a good bang for bucks

[@sjoormen1]

I own rio now for 6 month after 11 years of proceed. I don't know, I hope for the best.

[@murillolopes4151]

Here's the corrected version: I got my Rio 2013 LX+ GDI with a 6-speed manual transmission 12 months ago. I bought it second-hand with 106,000 km (around 65,000 miles). Initially, I did not like the car, now I'm somewhat like it. I bought in a hurry, I was nor planning to get a Kia, but turns out I did. Now I am planning to upgrade the speakers for more bass, and I'm also looking into better sound insulation due to excessive road noise. Recently, my driver's window control broke, and the cruise control cancel sometimes does not work. Everything else is working fine. Has anyone upgraded the lights to LED lights?

[@theadvocate4698]

I did, easy to do and amazing bright light...got my bulb from BPS lighting for around 300$ total, it is worth it! also did the sound proofing with amazon basics, for a 100$ and an afternoon work, my rio is way much quieter! Easy job too!

[@murillolopes4151]

@@theadvocate4698 Thank you for your replay. I will look to upgrade the sound proofing ASAP. Thanks

[@jaisabai4155]

That huge dent behind the rear door! An optional extra? Rio too wide? Ahhh, a full size spare wheel. Those were the days 👍 Nice report and a good idea.

[@Drivecomau]

I didn’t want to mention my wife’s driving 😅

[@jaisabai4155]

​@@Drivecomau Understood! 🤕

[@Eye-it-azz]

This is like my mom’s car, car has never left the State she lives in. 😂 Low mileage isn’t good for cars, the city stop and go frequent braking isn’t good for the engine.

[@robertlundholm8156]

Im driving a 2016 Kia Rio 1.2 special edition. It only has 49000 km on the odometer.

[@maxwheatley4497]

The back seat is called the second row in the UK?

[@tibireno]

What about the hydraulic valve lifter noise ? Hate it !

[@isabellebranly6183]

Ma kia Rio motion 2013 a 86000km, J avais eu de problème mais la des fois ne demarre pas... la batterie n a jamais été changé peut être c est la cause ou le démarreur...mon embrayage il faut bien l'enfoncer a fond.. la centralisation ne fonctionne plus très bien toujours une porte qui se ferme pas... je vais changer les disques et plaquettes qui n ont jamais été changé... . puis voir la batterie.et démarreur si ils est HS.. malgré sa trop faible puissance et sont manque de visibilité a l arrière. Je l aime bien..j espère qu elle durera encore

[@raderator]

I wish I'd gotten a MT Fit, Rio or even Chevy Spark before they all went away.

[@theadvocate4698]

Used car market is there! And since manual scares people, they are cheaper! :)

[@thepuntersperspective]

hang on ! you're telling me ONLY 54,435 kms ? Nan's red rocket needs to get out more good idea, nice report . Its one thing to review a brand new wizz bang, fang dangled product , but to survive 10 years of living kissing kerbs, swinging through round-abouts, the wear, the tear and kms ... id hate to be a car

[@Drivecomau]

Only to church on Sundays haha - Lucas

[@Arqade86]

I had a 2013 Kia Rio diesel and the engine blew up at 5K miles

[@user-vn3nh3fj8e]

Is this one of the kias that people have been stealing or is that only newer ones?

[@user-vk4vd7vr5t]

The 1.6 was a much better engine

[@ydmf2]

Paint protection would not have helped

[@lukehall3487]

It would have yes, but would still do it over the years if you didn't keep up with the top ups etc.

[@ryanharris8821]

I have a 2014 Kia Rio in an Auto as a company car. It is horrible, underwhelming and underpowered. The fuel usage is horrible. I’m just thankful I don’t pay for the fuel bill.

[@garyhunt7265]

Kia told me not to buy the Rio 1.4 as an automatic for just those reasons and as the gear box was so smooth and precise iy was never a problem.