Used 2006 Kia Rio Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Better than expected
jequines, 02/04/2011
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Bought second hand for my wife and she loves it, I sorta like it. Has heated front seats which was surprising for a car like a rio. Gas mileage is excellent performance is adequate and comfort is adequate also. I was expecting this car to be horrible but she loved it so we got it. It has 60,000kms on it now with only 2 problems, spark plugs died at 40,000km no big deal, but timing belt slipped around the same time and had to be replaced for $800 not under warranty! Metal body is poor quality every stone chip begins rusting immediately unlike domestic galvanized cars. Overall I would buy again(for the wife).
Love my Rio!
Gudrun Gates, 04/11/2018
updated 10/25/2021
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Its 2018 and my 2006 Rio is still going strong! I've got about 180,000 miles on it and finally had to replace the clutch and brakes for the first time. It drives and handles great. It starts right up in the cold Minnesota winters. If you keep up on regular oil changes and maintenance it will serve you well! This is my third Kia and I've put 200,000 miles plus on all of them. Not the quiet ride of a luxury vehicle but the Rio is a great dependable car. and I bought my Rio new in 2006. I now have over 212,000 miles on it and it's still going strong. It's a fun car to drive with power enough for me. I love how it handles even in the snow. I highly recommend it.
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Hazard switch location
hjshaffer673, 04/13/2013
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
Just bought this vehicle with 71,000 miles. So far I really like it. Just one complaint. Hopefully its been moved since. I seriously dislike that each time I reach to change the volume of the stereo, may hand hits that emergency flasher button making me check that I didn't accidently turn them on.
Buy 'em for life...
Big John, 03/20/2010
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've owned 6 Rio's and still have 4. Speaks volumes? Always serviced on time. Run great even in winter. Great traction on any road in any weather. Decent acceleration. Cruise all day at 65 MPH and still get 35 MPG. Good visibility all around, comfortable seats, good sound system, great A/C, adjustable wheel, decent headlights, ample cup holders, arm rest. I prefer the manual transmission over the automatic as it requires less service. I own both versions. Finding Kia mechanics who know what they're doing is not easy. I've found better self employed mechanics than factory trained individuals. The warranty is basically useless at the mercy of lousy mechanics.
2006 Rio LX Automatic
hunternicholas, 12/22/2005
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Kia did a great job with this all new car, buy with confidence. I was amazed how the big name brands are building unsatisfactory cars, and cheating on the number of side air bags if they offer them at all. Don't trust a salesman here, check the fine print to see if they include a torso and head curtain air bags. You HAVE to HAVE both! The Kia Rio has both the torso and head curtain side air bags. Don't confuse these with frontal air bags. The build quality of my car is excellent. The power is excellent. I needn't press more than 1/8 on the pedal and the car moves right along just fine--that from an old gearhead. There are too many nice features to list. The gas mileage is excellent!
2006 Kia Rio
Rio, 10/19/2005
2006 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Kia Rio is an excellent car to drive, it's comfortable and everything is within easy reach. You can drive a long distance and never feel uncomfortable while driving. I think it's the neatest little car, handles great, comfortable and good on gas.
Enjoying my Kia Rio
Connie, 10/24/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Haven't had my Rio not quite a month but I am enjoying it. I tried out all the small cars and found this one to be the quietest, and most enjoyable. Had a 04 Dodge Caravan and it drives just as good and holds the road in all weather conditions and even holds the road passing a big truck. It doesn't sway like the 02 Camry I had. Can't believe how good they are making the new small cars now. Inside feels like I'm in a large car. Have plenty of room for all my stuff. The 4 door beat the hatchback as far as space. Get about 32 miles to the gallon. But only have 6 hundred miles on it, hope will get better with time. Mine is the basic no electric windows or locks. Found out I can do without them
06 Kia Rio LX
kiario06, 11/15/2005
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The new designed Kia Rio is awesome. Much roomier than the older models. My husband can actually stretch his legs all the way out - in the '04 he couldn't. Great on gas. Handling has improved along with shocks. Comes standard with 6 airbags. If there is a person under 70 lbs sitting in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag actually turns off. aA light comes up by the radio indicating that it has been shut off. This feature is in case you have a child in the front seat, or a dog in my case, the airbag wont go off to cause more damage to them in case of an accident. If you don't wear seatbelts I wouldn't buy this car. Chime goes off every 15 seconds if you're not wearing one until you click it in.
Not a bad car
xntexan, 06/28/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Pretty good car for the money. Auto transmission very sluggish, but the manual has decent performance. Comfortable ride but excessive road noise. Great fuel economy and spacious for small car. The interior panels are a bit cheap, scratch easily. Plenty of safety features. Overall I highly recommend for an economy car.
Great car for the $$
Ryan Wern, 11/24/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bought the car used in November of '06 simply for a commuter. I was just looking for a cheap car to get me to work and back and not kill me with gas prices being high. I was BLOWN AWAY with this car. It has great performance all around considering the small engine and low hp, and the mpg is very close to what Kia said it was. With just me in it, I average 37 mpg highway, which is all I really drive with it. I'm used to driving high horsepower American made trucks, so for me to actually say this thing has some power means something. Stock stereo is above average for any car, and the trunk is massive. I would recommend this car any day.
Nice car
David J, 04/28/2008
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
The car now has 14,000 miles and so far no problems. It handles/drives very nicely for a car of this class. I test drove a Nissan Sentra and a Honda Civic and they did not drive as good as this Kia. It is quiet on the road even at highway speeds. It performs well, engine is peppy. The automatic transmission shifts very smoothly. It steers/brakes excellently, turns nicely. Radio sounds great. Trunk has spacious room for this type of car, especially with rear seat backs folded down. I get 32.7 MPG combined with mostly city/heavy urban driving. You get good value for the money with this car.
The right balance
Rob, 08/08/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I think Kia did a great job on finding the right balance between looks, safety, fuel economy and price. You usually have to trade gas economy for looks or price for safety. I have to drive 100 miles a day and this car gets me there as cheap as possible through initial cost and gas mileage. I have fun getting to work too.
them Koreans are good!
Grandpa, 09/01/2018
updated 09/04/2019
2006 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Well, had to get a new battery. otherwise, going fine. Batt was 120 bucks. I remember at Pep boys, a new one was like 15 bucks or so. Heh, so much for inflation.
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Would buy it again
Tom, 08/13/2010
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I really enjoy the car's spacious trunk and interior. It drives very well for a car of this class and feels safe. I trust my lead-footed teenager with it. My only regret is that after four years it gives me no reason to trade it on a new Forte or Soul. My wife drives an 06 Kia Sedona and these are both reliable, satisfying autos. I hate taking it in for the annual inspection and having to walk through the showroom past the new models.
Not your typical econobox
mwrobe1, 05/04/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
A great commuter car for $13k. I'm 6'5" 235lbs and the Rio fit me the best out of all the subcompacts. Adequate power and excellent mpg. Front seats are very comfortable! Stereo system is pretty decent for stock. Fun to drive...easy to park...cruises nice and smooth on the highway. Handling is surprisingly sporty. Interior is styled and laid out well.
Quick, Quiet, Quality
Charlie in KY, 05/15/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Have owned for 5 months now, this car has proven its more than I initially expected. It has a peppy engine, good mileage (28 in town) very easy to drive and park. And with all the standard airbags and the great 100,000 mile warranty, I am looking forward on having this car for many years.
A Great car
BHunter, 10/19/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My first car I ever bought and I love it to death. I'm in the process of trying to upgrade it as far as performance and found a few things. But it's still a new car so there's not much out there for now. But it's still a great car through and through.
Gets You Where You Need To Go
GeeVee, 09/17/2017
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My wife bought this Rio in 2010 used for about 8000 US$ with an odometer reading of 40kmiles. There are a number of parts replaced in this Kia, first was the shocks, which was replaced at 80k miles. Two ignition coils were replaced on separate occasions. Batteries were replaced 3 times during the ownership. Tires were replaced twice. Timing belt was replaced recently at 129k miles. This car being 1.6L 4 cylinder powered, is decent enough for city driving and occasional highway driving. The trim we got has manual windows and no power locks which is an inconvenience as you had to reach out to unlock the doors. Good thing the car is small for me to reach the locks. I tried buying a power door lock kit from Amazon and attempted to install it by myself. I ended up breaking the door handle cable on the driver side. Another thing that annoys me for this particular car is the airconditioning, the A/C just turns on by itself, you can't turn it off, something is wrong with the switch. That and a dozen other problems that happened to the car, which is typical of a car of this age and price range. Don't expect it to perform as well as other bigger sedans in terms of speed, performance and comfort. Overall, we are satisfied with it and plan to keep it for a few thousand miles more before buying a newer one.
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- Performance
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My Mistake
maryannescott, 07/01/2007
2006 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
At 16,000 miles the battery lost a cell and left me stranded. I had the battery replaced at the dealership with out any problems,but they used another kia battery that will only last another 2 years. At 17,035 miles the transmission has started to lock up/over heat the car, will not go into overdrive and would'nt go in to 2nd gear. I will be having it towed on monday. I had called the dealer from the road saturday and they could not help me w/a loaner car or help arrange for a rental. I had a mechanic check the trans. flui d and had 2 other people witness that it was full and we checked 3 times. I am sure it is a weak defective part just as the battery was.
Wonderful Car
Andrew, 06/13/2008
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've had my Kia for just over two years and it's still doing excellent. I'm coming up on 20k mileage and nothing has broken or been replaced outside it's maintenance. Very reliable if taken care of, and well worth the money.
Great Car, Great Value, Great MPG!
Keith, 08/10/2008
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Was planning on buying a Honda Civic, but after test driving this '06 Rio, it seemed to be an equal in quality car, but cost $3k to $4k less than comparable Honda Civic. I've put 7,000 miles in 5 mo. So what if no power windows? I can reach across and hand crank the windows with ease! It developed a leak under the frontal area @ 32K miles. KIA dealer replaced seal, still leaked. KIA dealer then replace WHOLE TRANSMISSION @ NO COST TO ME!!! Their warranty is the REAL DEAL! I won't hesitate to buy another KIA. I consistently get 30 mpg in town and at least 35 mpg on highway. I added power locks and cruise for < $600. I LIKE MY '06 KIA RIO!!!
So far so good.
Go Green, 08/25/2009
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Our Rio has over 68,000 miles on it and has had no problems. Steering, brakes, everything on this car is still as tight as the day we got it. My wife had traded in her gas guzzling Jeep Cherokee and we laughed at her choice. When gas prices rose, I began using it for selling Real Estate and my clients are shocked when they find how roomy the back seat is. It is a great car for scooting around the city and taking a trip does not break the bank. With a fresh oil change I can get up to 38 mpg on the highway! City driving gets from 25 to 32 mpg. Fresh oil affects the mileage so keep it serviced.
Go ahead & laugh
Kim Wilson, 11/09/2005
2006 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Everyone seems so hyped on having the latest & greatest vehicle without regard to cost, mileage, etc. It seemed that bigger was better. How I proved them wrong. My Kia Rio is very peppy, auto insurance cost-effective, makes it to the gas pump every two weeks on $15.00 a fill, has a 10yr/100,000 warranty and has a great big trunk to put all my shopping in! And I can park in the compact car parking spaces! I have never had a mechanical/performance problem whatsoever in the three years I've owned, since purchased new.
best bargain
lhennigar, 03/14/2006
2006 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This vehicle is all around a great one / good mileage & reliable. Front seats are hard, though wouldn't trade it .
LX Kia 5 Speed Best in class....
tcip, 05/05/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Great car for the money. Huge improvements over 05 model. Great gas mileage. Very quiet at stand still. Car sits high up for a compact. Very roomy on the inside; has great handling around corners and turning radius. Kia has the competition beat; best in class model. Aggressive European styling.
Wow what a little surprise
Hauber, 04/04/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have always been a Civic owner, but their size and cost priced me out. I needed a reliable and inexpensive little car to get me around town. In my inexpensive car search my expectations were low, but the Kia Rio took me by surprise. It is a well built, cute sporty car that reminds me of the Civics I used to own. It feels solid, it is comfortable and an easy ride. It is simple but seems far more expensive then the money I spent on it. Plus I feel like a bit of an environmentalist driving a little car that doesn't guzzle gas. It is a smooth ride for the most part and can keeps up with the rest of the traffic. A VERY wonderful car for an AWESOME price and warranty.
Sleeper of the subcompacts
mwrobe1, 05/01/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Simply put, I'm 6'5" and 235lbs...the Kia Rio was the most comfortable and best "fitting" of all the subcompacts I test drove. Price, warranty, and mileage were big factors to my purchase. The car doesn't sound, look, drive, or leave you with any impressions of your typical "econo- box". After driving beaters as my commuter car for 13 years, the Rio was my first new car purchase. I actually look forward to the drive to and from work now.
Toyota Yaris Quality for a Kia Rio Price
AndyH, 12/22/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Test drove Toyota Yaris and the Kia Rio appeared to be a more refined and substantial ride. Out the door at $11,000 for an "06 LX Automatic with 500 miles vs. $15K+ for a Toyota Yaris with automatic made this an easy decision. 6 airbags for safety and a cute design on the exterior made this a perfect car for my daughter.
I was expecting too much
joudain, 04/11/2008
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My family laughed when I told them I was getting a Kia. It had such good reviews and I was looking for an affordable car. Well, barely two years late, I am laughing right with them. First my car stalls at a stop light. I managed to drive it to a dealership - my board had to be replaced. 2nd just happened yesterday. My car got overheated on the freeway on the way home - this is the first time in my life I had to have it towed! I cannot recommend this car to anybody. I wish I can turn back time and get a Toyota or Honda instead. No thanks, Kia, never again!
Better than I thought.
Steve Chase, 08/09/2006
2006 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
This car is easy to drive and park. I like the pick up the engine has, rides smooth, the air conditioning is great, cools down fast - living in Florida thats a real plus. Also like how the floor mats stay in place. Has a lot bigger trunk than I thought it would.
best for traffic
victoria, 12/05/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
LOVE this car far better than my 500SL Benz. Been rear ended twice and I rear ended someone - all under 15 MPH. All times the Kia literally bounced off without a scratch thanks to its wrap around black bumper and compact solid body. EXCELLENT in heavy traffic and easy to cut in and out quickly if needed.
Well Worth The Money
GoldyLockz, 04/24/2008
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Bought this car in '06, and I have NEVER had a single problem other then replacing an accent bulb. Gas mileage is excellent averaging at about 36 MPG and it being extremely cute doesn't hurt either! Awesome buy for it's class! And I personally think the sound quality is great and and the ride is super quiet.
My newly purchaced used Rio.
Marc Trainor, 08/19/2008
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm basically pleased with the car. It's a lot like my old Honda Civic I had with a 5 speed manual, but to me the Honda just "feels" and looks like it has better build quality. I only have 22K miles on it, so I guess only time will tell if it holds up. It doesn't have the power my Mitsubishi Galant has, but my Galant only gets 23 mpg city driving. My only other real beef is that I'm only getting 27.5 mpg with the Rio with combined city/highway driving. Other than that, it's a snappy little "bundle" with decent trunk room and back seat and has a fair amount of pep as long as your not trying to pass someone going up hill.
Rikki's Rio
Rikki Nelson, 05/18/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This little card is absolutely great. Great ride and very dependable. Great on gas too!
Kia Rio
Taralyn, 06/16/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've only had this car few days and I already love it! It's my first car and I'm very happy with it. It's cute and fun to drive. The gas mileage is wonderful. It gets me where I need to go and saves money on gas. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a fuel efficient car.
What You'd Not Expect
carlovermda, 11/24/2005
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
When purchasing the car, I read that the newly redesigned Rio would utilize Hyundai technology, being a vast improvement over the old model which was based on the old Ford Aspire platform. Though a little loud at hard starts, the engine is very smooth and not hard to get off the line. The seats are VERY comfortable which is a feature that some upmarket models still have not fully embraced yet. Overall NOW this car is a formidable candidate for anyone looking for an affordable car of high value and good quality.
This car gives you more for your money!
Eddie G., 02/21/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
When I first test drove the Rio I enjoyed the smooth ride and the great acceleration it delivers. Then I realized I'm still only driving a 4 cylinder.... who knew! It can really get up and go. With all the safety feature's and all the extras that the 2006 carries you can't beat it for the price.! My wife and I are very pleased with the gas mileage and not to mention the warranty. It takes the guilt and conviction out of purchasing a new car; we don't look at it as a purchase but an investment. Besides this car we own an SUV and a 3500 Chevy truck so while those big vehicles sit and only get driven when we "have to", the Rio will no doubt have its turn to show us how great it is!
Surprisingly impressed!
Doug Madaga, 09/30/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
First look at the Rio and I thought "not bad". Sat in the car and said, "not bad". Went for a test ride and said, "WOW"! Quite an impressive ride for a small economy class. Good looks, good price, superb handling and great gas mileage. With the solid warranty the car is virtually maintenance free for many years. Indeed I was surprisingly impressed!
Love this car
chris pienkowski, 12/09/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It is cute and comfortable with good gas mileage.
Great little car
Rapid, 12/19/2006
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I own a Camry but looked for a good car for my daughter. The Rio is outstanding. It's not a Camry but it is absolutely outstanding for its class. The value is unbeatable and to top it off, the warranty is icing on the cake. I test drove a 2002 Protege and it was not as smooth as the Rio.
Love My Rio
sempercool16, 03/04/2007
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is my first car and I bought it with my parents. It is the perfect car for me. I have a job and I go to school it is very enjoyable to drive. I mainly use it for around town, but seldom go highway. Its a peppy little car for its small little Kia engine. But its very fun to drive. Above all great car.
Kia - Excellent First Foreign Car
Robert, 11/08/2007
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Kia LX is the first foreign car I have ever purchased. I usually bought Dodge or Ford. Not any more. At age 52 I bought this car for the gas mileage and 100,000 mile warranty. Not one problem since I bought it.
Pretty good basic car
Julia, 03/10/2008
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I had my rio for 2 years almost exactly and it had 50,000 miles on it! It still ran great but I did keep having problems with the battery. I had to get 3 within that period of time and the third was malfunctioning. That didnt really bother me since it was easily fixed, covered by warranty and there were no other problems. The ride is noisy and random passengers would always think a window was cracked from wind noise. I was warned of that and it didnt matter to me. I liked the interior actually and thought it looked cool and cleaned well. Gas mileage was not nearly as good as expected. If possible spend more get civic, much better quality and gas mileage. But this is good for the money.
WORTH THE MONEY
PISTOLPETE, 01/06/2022
updated 01/06/2023
2006 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased car in 2013 had 54000 on it for 2006 now its 2022 at over 240000 only really regular maintenance and replace purge valve twice car is still really satisfied me will buy another kept timing belt replaced every 70000 still driving car is now jan of 2023 has over 260000 on it now
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- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value