1. Home
  2. Kia
  3. Kia Rio
  4. 2003 Kia Rio

Used 2003 Kia Rio

Style:
2003 Kia Rio
See All For Sale
List price range
Consumer Rating
(68)
2003 Kia Rio
See All For Sale

Pros

  • Small price, big warranty, peppy engine, attractive styling.

Cons

  • Unrefined handling, five-speed manual's rubbery shift action, mediocre fuel economy.
Kia Rio years
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002

Used 2003 Kia Rio for Sale

Kia Rio 2003
181,125 miles
Used 2003
Kia Rio
Cinco
Auto Giants
18.9 mi away
ListNot Listed
View Details

Get more for your trade-in

Edmunds shoppers get on average $235 more for their trade-in.

Receive offers from our dealer partners fast.

See your car's value

Edmunds' Expert Review

The Rio and Rio Cinco are the lowest priced sedan and wagon on the market, and they feel that way. Buy one only if you must have a new-car warranty; otherwise, spend your money on a nice used car -- preferably a Japanese compact or a Hyundai Elantra.

2003 Highlights

For 2003, Kia gives the Rio a number of upgrades. Among these are a new 104-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine; various suspension tweaks to improve ride and handling; larger disc brakes; new engine mounts and exhaust tuning for a quieter cabin; and reinforcements to the steering wheel and column to minimize vibration. Inside, look for revisions to the instrument cluster, center console and door panels -- the latter will include storage bins and bottle holders -- as well as new seat fabric. New standard features include child-seat anchors, rear heater ducts, auto-off headlights, variable intermittent wipers and, on the wagon only, a CD player. In addition, Kia has added dual map lights and a sunglasses case to the sedan's Upgrade Package, and will offer the Power Package, which provides power windows and locks. Finally, both Rios get fresh front fascias and wheel covers; the sedan gets a sharper-looking tail and the wagon gets an optional body-color spoiler.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2003 Kia Rio.

Overall Consumer Rating
4.168 reviews
Write a reviewSee all 68 reviews
5(53%)
4(22%)
3(15%)
2(6%)
1(4%)

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great car for budget minded people
Gordon,10/03/2015
Bought new in 03 For $9888. The price was great but the car was fair. I bought it bare with no power. I thought having no power would mean no expenses, wrong I was. The door handle passengers side broke off in my wife's hand at 11k, by 35k all door handles had been replaced and at time I sold it at 144k all but drivers handle worked. Several repairs were made to this car and transmission was replaced twice, at 68k and 122k. Seats were uncomfortable and suspension was terrible and noisy
Love My Rio
rickierex,11/18/2002
I just love the way this car just fits around me, comfortable, solid performance and great gas mileage, and the looks are sleak and sporty!
The Lemon I bought ...
Tom T,07/08/2015
...at Big Red Sports and imports (Norman Oklahoma ). On the day i purchased my new car with less than 20 miles showing on the odometer. The car was new fresh new car smell looked great. I started Drive just 10 mile from the dealership home and the car broke down and would not start, I had to call the dealer and the Dealer "Big Red Sports and Imports" gave us a ride home while they towed our car back to the dealer ship. They had it a few days then gave it back apparently it was empty on gas is what the dealership said it had vapor locked due to no fuel. And i always thought dealerships that sell new cars filled the tank up.?? This car stayed in the dealer ship garage at "Big Red Sports and Imports more than it was in my garage at home." Lots of repairs fuel system repair master cylinder repair Engine replacement catalyic converter replacement and the list goes on. Finally I gave up and Traded it in. The dealership "Big Red Sports and Imports refused to acknowledge that this vehicle was a LEMON. This car cost more for repairs every month than the car payment was.
Disappointed.
addii,10/07/2010
I bought this car second hand from a guy who drove mostly highway. In the few months that I have owned it The hatchback has locked up several times, the driver's side door only works half the time (meaning I have to climb out the passenger seat). The car has stalled on me in mid-intersection. The engine light came on and car started to lug, had to pull over it lost all acceleration. The engine constantly revs and drops back down making it impossible to get to the speed you want easily. The back right window will not open from drivers panel. Overall I'm really unhappy with this car and regret buying it.
Write a review
See all 68 reviews
Write a consumer review of your vehicle for a chance to WIN $100!
See Official Rules for eligibility and other requirements.

Features & Specs

MPG
22 city / 30 hwy
Seats 5
4-speed automatic
Gas
104 hp @ 5800 rpm
MPG
23 city / 30 hwy
Seats 5
5-speed manual
Gas
104 hp @ 5800 rpm
See all Used 2003 Kia Rio features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
  • Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
    OverallNot Rated
    Driver4 / 5
    Passenger4 / 5
  • Side Crash Rating
    OverallNot Rated
  • Side Barrier Rating
    OverallNot Rated
    DriverNot Rated
    PassengerNot Rated
  • Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
    Front SeatNot Rated
    Back SeatNot Rated
  • Rollover
    Rollover4 / 5
    Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
    Risk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
  • Side Impact Test
    Not Tested
  • Roof Strength Test
    Not Tested
  • Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
    Acceptable
  • IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
    Not Tested
  • Moderate Overlap Front Test
    Not Tested
More about the 2003 Kia Rio
Used 2003 Kia Rio Overview

The Used 2003 Kia Rio is offered in the following submodels: Rio Sedan, Rio Wagon. Available styles include 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A), Cinco 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 4A), 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M), and Cinco 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 5M).

What's a good price on a Used 2003 Kia Rio?

Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.

Which used 2003 Kia Rios are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2003 Kia Rio for sale near. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2003 Kia Rio.

Can't find a used 2003 Kia Rios you want in your area? Consider a broader search.

Find a used Kia Rio for sale - 10 great deals out of 16 listings starting at $22,262.

Find a used Kia for sale - 2 great deals out of 23 listings starting at $11,118.

Find a used certified pre-owned Kia Rio for sale - 7 great deals out of 16 listings starting at $13,184.

Find a used certified pre-owned Kia for sale - 8 great deals out of 16 listings starting at $18,706.

Compare prices on the Used Kia Rio for sale in Ashburn, VA to other major cities

  • City
    Great Deals
    Cars for Sale
    Starting Price
  • Phoenix, AZ
    Great Deals82
    Cars for Sale3383
    Starting Price$16,136
  • San Antonio, TX
    Great Deals10
    Cars for Sale8445
    Starting Price$11,584
  • Dallas, TX
    Great Deals80
    Cars for Sale5900
    Starting Price$7,406
  • Detroit, MI
    Great Deals10
    Cars for Sale5877
    Starting Price$8,318
  • Jacksonville, FL
    Great Deals93
    Cars for Sale2906
    Starting Price$7,343
  • Baltimore, MD
    Great Deals13
    Cars for Sale1131
    Starting Price$8,924
  • Boston, MA
    Great Deals74
    Cars for Sale4248
    Starting Price$8,129
  • Milwaukee, WI
    Great Deals52
    Cars for Sale1096
    Starting Price$13,788
  • Nashville, TN
    Great Deals14
    Cars for Sale8136
    Starting Price$12,588
  • Las Vegas, NV
    Great Deals59
    Cars for Sale3568
    Starting Price$18,053
  • Tucson, AZ
    Great Deals69
    Cars for Sale4416
    Starting Price$16,092
  • Sacramento, CA
    Great Deals41
    Cars for Sale6087
    Starting Price$17,762
  • Long Beach, CA
    Great Deals58
    Cars for Sale2905
    Starting Price$7,852
  • Cleveland, OH
    Great Deals96
    Cars for Sale7442
    Starting Price$10,296
  • Virginia Beach, VA
    Great Deals3
    Cars for Sale2322
    Starting Price$17,433
  • Tulsa, OK
    Great Deals49
    Cars for Sale7832
    Starting Price$7,395
Should I lease or buy a 2003 Kia Rio?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

Check out Kia lease specials
Check out Kia Rio lease specials

Related vehicle information

Related Kia Vehicles