Used 2009 Kia Rio Consumer Reviews
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Great First Car
Many reviewers complain this car isn't powerful enough, or sporty enough and the tires are too small-the list goes on; I disagree. I have never had a problem accelerating into interstate traffic or maneuvering. The interior is surprisingly spacious (huge trunk) and quite attractive with the SX enhancements. The mileage is excellent. Yes, this is no luxury vehicle and it doesn't have impressive horsepower, but if you're shopping in the subcompact market you're not likely concerned with these factors. The drive is almost sporty and the tire size hasn't been an issue. You're not dishing out extra $ for bells and whistles and you really won't miss them. I love my new KIA for drives great and small!
Great little gas saver!
I bought my Kia Rio new, with 28 miles on it, and now have over 60k miles on it. It came with a great warranty and I've had all scheduled maintenance required to keep the warranty active. I have never had any trouble out of it. The only cons I can mention is that the brakes sound like they are grinding when you first apply them in a damp or wet environment, but after the first application that sound goes away. I have them checked every time I go in for service and they are always ok. The other thing is the fact that the ride is a little noisier than I prefer, but you will find that to be the case with all small cars. I average about 33-35 mpg. Keep up the maintenance, it will last!
- Rio5 LX WagonMSRP: $3,89550 mi away
- Rio5 LX WagonMSRP: $5,995116 mi away
- LX SedanMSRP: $6,995135 mi away
It saved my life!!! lots of love!
I am writing this 2 days after I totaled my 08 Kia Rio. Very sad day. My main problem with this car is the rear defroster stopped working twice. after the 2nd time, i never bothered to get it fixed. I used to affectionately refer to it as my POS Kia, though it did get GREAT gas mileage and was always a fun and sporty drive. I loved zipping along the highway, the city, suburbia in my Rio! however, the best thing about this car is how it saved me during the worst accident i've been in. My back tire was bad, I slipped on wet highway, hit a guardrail, spun into oncoming traffic, had a head on collision with a F250 and walked away w/o a SCRATCH. Thank you for holding up, Rio!
LOVED THIS LITTLE CAR!
PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO ALL OF THE HORRIBLE REVIEWS ON THIS CAR! Every type of car can have these issues. Honestly, I had my little kia for 3 years, and it never failed me. Even with all of the bad weather that we have up in Wisconsin, it kept going strong for my kids and I. The only issue that I ever had was that the headlights are supposed to be automatic, but if I didn't manually turn them off, sometimes the batter would drain. but that only happened a few times in all the years that I had it. besides that, never had a single issue. I have several friends and family members who also have these cars, and they never have major issues either. great car for a small family.
Motor mounts
Reliability, gas mileage, handling. However, interior plastic is of low quality and motor mounts should last longer than 63,000. Motor mounts on models later than 2007 are not covered under the Kia 10 Year warranty.
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Great value!
I'm getting great gas mileage, and despite mixed rated for 29, I'm getting 34+ mpg. The gearing is just about right, giving its power (and efficiency) in all the right places -- with the manual trans you won't feel like you have such a small engine (reviews on internet says the auto can feel sluggish). The car has a lot of nice touches -- arm rest, aux input, stub holder, center console orientation, the list goes on. All of the small things add up to get a comfortable ride. I can't think of any downsides, although friends have reported the back seats feel a bit cramped. I bought it used, and I think when it comes time to buy a new car, I'll go with a Rio (or Hyundai's version, the Accent).
Very poor quality
We have now had two major break downs in 8000 miles. One new transmission and one new front axle .My wife drives the car and has never drove it hard.I will never buy an other KIA , wish I hadn't bought this one.
Worst car purchase ever!
Purchased new. Non-stop quality issues. Windshield delaminated at 16 months and again at 48 months. Has anyone had a windshield fail with stress cracks (in exactly same spot) twice within 48 months? Radio stopped working at 30 months. Knock sensor failed 15 months. Electronic control module failed 18 months. Air bag sensor failed. Too many failures to list. I call car "Elvis" -- shake, rattle and roll! Getting in-warranty repairs done a huge hassle, tried three different dealers. Last dealer's solution was "you should buy a new car". Kia factory rep never returns calls. Once car out of warranty Kia's attitude is too bad, we are not responsible. Follow up to previous review. It is now 2016 and car continues to be a maintenance nightmare with no support from Kia. Engine noise has become significantly loud, still very uncomfortable ride even with replaced up-graded shocks/tires. Mileage continues to decline as car ages. Lots of exterior/interior trim failures.
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I'm reviewing a Kia Rio not a Lexus LFA
I bought this car in 2011, so two years old with about 20k miles on it. Less than $10k. It is a plain jane except for auto, AC and a good stereo. On and off it has been in outdoor storage for a year or so at a time so it only has 40k miles now, but I have had ZERO problems with it. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross country. I would recommend it to anyone who needs basic transportation with good gas mileage and a small family, or anyone who lives in a city. It's easy to park and maneuver. Hey, the powertrain is still under warranty! 5/60 bumper is done but the 10/100 powertrain is still in affect.
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Will Never Buy Another Kia
I bought this car new in 2009 and today the cars second transmission failed. The car has 151,541 miles on it. The car has also had a coil pack put on each cylinder at least once. When the car was still under warranty the dealer flat-out refused to fix the actual issues with the car because the scheduled maintenance on the car wasn't up to date, yet the salesman never disclosed details about the warranty at time of purchase or provided literature about the warranty. CD player quit working at about 24 months Heater core issues at 30 months. Car needed realignment every 10,000 miles. Tire shop said it was a "Kia" thing. Lots of road noise on the freeway. Windshield always foggy.
THIS CAR SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this car has had problems since 1 year after buying it brand new i have had transmission promblems about 5 or 6 times and they say its something else the service people mess up stuff that i have to take back to have them fix the still havent fixed my transmission they are very rude and i would not tell anyone to buy one of these cars they will screw you over on the warenty and when its over they will finally tell you whats been wrong with your car the whole time so that you have to pay for it they need to do there job or go out of business
Great Affordable Commuter Vehicle
I bought this car a month ago and so far my experience with it has been great. I am a commuting college student so I was looking for something that was affordable and had good gas mileage. As far as performance goes I haven't had any problems with acceleration and it handles fairly well. The interior of the vehicle is nice looking and doesn't feel cheap. One of my favorite features is the stereo system. I had installed an aftermarket system in my previous vehicle and was thinking of doing the same with this car. After listening to it though I think I have changed my mind because it sounds great for a factory system. Also, the AUX and USB inputs are great for MP3 players.
It's a Kia...
Within the first year of owning the car, both front wheel-bearings went out. Twice each. Needs an O/D or 6th gear, MPG dwindles at highway speeds. The interior is rather gray, 'bout four different shades of gray, makes your soul sad. Have a issue with the driver- side window crank; keep smacking my knee on it, knocking off the knob. You also can't really sleep in the hatch, bit cramped, and the floors not flat. As unpleasing, and some times annoying this all may be, it's still a good little car. Its a grate car to buy new, by the end of the warranty you can just throw it away. It handles like a go-cart, gets good MPG in town, CHEAP, and they fix almost anything for the life of the car.
No issues
Bought my 2009 Rio new. I got over 255000 miles on it. Runs like the day I got it. Changed timing belt at 90000. Change oil religiously every 3500.
Excellent gas sipper
If you're looking for an inexpensive ride that's great on gas, the Kia Rio is all you need! I bought the 4 door base to use as my "run around" car and I am getting 39 MPG based on about a 60% stop-and-go and 40% highway driving ratio. It's the best no frills car out there, easily the best bang for the buck. I never thought I'd buy a Kia/Hyundai, but with gas prices being what they are and just needing some basic wheels, this car hits the target dead on!
Dependable transportation
I've bought my 2009 Kia new. It is a very dependable car; driven it from east coast to west coast and never a problem. It is not the most comfortable seats for long distance travel and since it's a small compact not as smooth a drive as a larger sedan. Low maintenance and dependability is why I love my Kia.
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lemon car
I bought a kia rio sedan in 2008 have had a new transmission put in to date still having problems with transmission automatic shift from park reverse or drive to revervse is very slow I am left seating in the road waiting for it transmission to shift I feel this is a safety issue and kia should correct it after many many time taking it to shop they tell me I dont know have to drive and there is nothing wrong with my car, it is the worst car I have ever had will not buy another one nor would I recommend anyone else to buy one.
Will never buy again!
I bought this car back in 2008. I have had to replace things i shouldnt have had to replace already. Replaced bearings, rotars, i go through tires like no ones business, and timing belt has to be replaced about ever 30,000 miles. (rio's are known for that) other than that the car is pretty good, but i would never purchase one again. They will last forever, but you have to always be replacing something.
Best little car I've ever owned.
I bought this car used with 29,000 miles and it has been an absolutely great little car. It has a 5 speed manual transmission and is the upgraded model the SX model. It is a basic no non-sense economy car, but it has been so reliable. I well built car, Kia really makes great cars. It is simple to work on and you can change your own oil with ease. It now has 95,000 miles and yes it's had some maintenance issues like all cars. I've replaced the battery twice in 8 years, that's normal. I've had it tuned up twice, ignition coil has gone out on each cylinder, not a huge maintenance bill. I've had the timing belt, clutch, and all the belts and water pump replaced because it was time to switch the timing belt at 60,000 so the mechanic said while switching the timing belt might as well replace all the belts and go ahead and switch out the water pump as well. With 105 degree temps here in Texas so making sure the car had the cooling system flushed and check for preventive maintenance. So all-in-all a very reliable affordable car. Wish US auto makers could achieve this type of reliability with small compact cars. If you are in the market for a easy reliable affordable commuter car, look at buying the Kia Rio the model from 2006 - 2011 was the same model with very little change. 2012 Kia Rio finally changed the model. Highly recommend this car.
Great Car at a good price
Purchased this car pre-owned with only 4000 miles on it. I haven't had any problems out of it to date. I do notice that when i drive it after sitting over night the rear brakes tend to be touchy and squeak some. The engine also tends to have a little rattle to it when it is cold. Not sure why it does that but once it warms up it is flawless. it may have something to do with the CVT.
I HATE THIS CAR
My car also is slow to shift from park reverse or drive to revervse. It also has been in the shop five times because something is draining the power from the battery that no one can figure out why. It has been thru two batteries and they put in a whole new fuse system... i drove it three weeks and the battery is dead again. They still cant figure it out so while it sits in the shop i have to borrow parents and friends cars because good ol kia doesn't provide loaner cars and i dont have the money for a rental. All this for a car i've only had four months!!!
great little car, but.....
this is our second Rio 'shopping trolley'. best value and size in it's class by far. Fuel consumption is disappointingly high and the transmission had to be replaced the morning after we got it. Fine now and these things happen. Tyres are utter crap and noisy as hell. Otherwise it's a good 'mum and pop' runaround, and provided you are patient with the lack of acceleration you sort of get attached to them. For the price and 5 year w/tee, plus low service costs it's a winner.
Worst car ever!
Do not even consider buying this car. I bought new, from day one non-stop major and minor problems. Kia's only suggestion regarding repeated problems "buy another car". And this is from the Factory Rep while the car was still under warranty! Extremely uncomfortable ride and very loud cabin due to excessive road and engine noise. Mileage not great. If I could give one star I would. Only good thing, very cheap to purchase (reason why?).
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Still Truckin
What can you say when gas prices are over $3, 35 MPH +. I am concerned as others have expressed that the slow shift in the auto transmission may result in some type of future problems. My car at 46000 miles is getting worse. The service dealerships are too few and far between. Otherwise so far so excellent. No problems just regular maintenence. I own 2 Hondas and have the Kia as a work car and drive it excessively. I don't even get into the Honda's, a real shame that I am paying for them.The lx version with power package has 6 speakers and one is blown, so annoying. Great system for such an inexpensive car though.
Our little zoom zoom
I really love this car. But the seats are awful. I was rear ended in this car by a car traveling 45 mph, my back is sore, but the car looks like it's never been hit. The guy that hit me said it was like hitting a sponge. Also, too bad there's no trade in value to these cars.
Maybe Just a Lemon
I recently bought a 2008 Kia Rio and after only having it for two days my transmission went out. There was only around 8,000 miles on the car when I bought it, so i figured it was going to be very reliable...Well maybe I just got unlucky but it made me never want to buy a Kia ever again. Besides the transmission going out, I felt that it was a pretty attractive car(granted I had gotten a black Rio which meant that the tacky plastic trim was not as noticeable). It was a rather smooth ride, but I did feel kind of unsafe in it because it was so small. Besides the transmission going out, I guess it was cute little car...
Decent for those starting out.
I bought a 2009 Rio LX sedan at 75,000 miles and it was an okay car, if nothing special or fancy. It was generally reliable and gave me no big issues. I loved the gas mileage and filling it up could not be cheaper in any other four door car. I did have to replace a wheel bearing after hitting a rough train track but it was reliable other wise. The interior is basic yet functional. No standouts or luxuries. The seats do feel cheap as do the interior materials and switches but nothing broke. I recommend a Rio for anyone buying their first car or for a small family. It's not a bad car and definitely changed my mind about Kia as a brand.
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DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!
This is the worst car I have ever owned. It is constantly breaking down, I have to take it to the shop for repairs on average 3 times each year. I would never suggest this vehicle to ANYONE!
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Don't buy
This car is junk. It handles horribly in the snow. After only two years I had to replace both wheel bearings, my check engine light came on, I've had to replace all four tires. It's too small and it hate that I don't have keyless entry. This car has ruined my experience with Kia so much that I will never purchase another.
Piece of garbage
Bought this car a month and a half ago. Today it won't start. Looks like it might be the fuel pump... At 70k miles. Should have read the reviews on this car.
Rio5 not well known but a good car
I bought this car as a commuter car. It is great. I get 34 mpg combined driving. It is cute, the girls love it. I did not buy it for that though. It made sense to me a good value in a nice package. I drive a lot and was driving a big truck, the monthly payment and gas for this car is cheaper than the gas for my truck. I read many reviews on the internet and reliability is up there too. For a sub compact it is quiet. Lots of features for the money. It has a small engine but has enough power to get me up hills at the speed limit. I'm very happy with it.
Great mpg, lots of problems
Over 10 years and 110,000 miles this car has had problem after problem. First the failing spark plugs, then the crankshaft sensor, then finally the timing computer went. The manual transmission can get 40 mpg with city driving if driven conservatively.
base model
Started driving the base model and it is really easy to manuver. The steering is hard, but got use to having to hold onto the steering wheel at all times. Sporty, nice interior, gasoline mileage doesn't look to promising at the moment, but may get better. Some models they advertise on lot, 44 mpg, but window sticker shows much lower, very much lower. Overall, for the price, you may do better, but the warranty is really the good part.
Mileage over rated
The mileage rating of 41 MPG is very over rated and was the selling point for me. However, for a subcompact the car performs well, and even at high speed is quite and handles well. The second big selling point for a sub compact was the quietness of the car. This area outdid the other higher price cars on the lot. The sports package put the extra touch on the inside. All and all it is a good car, but I'm getting about the same with my Honda as far as MPG and the reason I treaded was for better gas mileage, so in the end I lost. Breaks do squeak.
My Experience with my Kia Rio
I bought this car about a month ago. Everything is fine but it has a very weird squeaky noise with the rear brakes. I've taken it to different places and nobody knows whats going on with it. The car is cheap and is no luxury at all. Everything inside is very simple. Is a little bit small, but i dont care about it because i use it to commute. Fuel economy is OK. Car is very quiet on both streets and highway. Tires are a bit small. I think that what you get for the money is fair.I like my car. I just wish We could find out whats going on with the brakes.
Needs better gear ratio
It gets perfect gas mileage as long as you do not get on the interstate-run 4000 rpm in 5th gear @ 80 mph-runs 3000 rpm in 5th gear @ 50 mph-needs 6 gears or different ratio for top end- accelerates fast through 1st and 2nd car is very quiet
THIS CAR IS AMAZING
i got a used 2009 Kia Rio sedan at first i was scared it was my first car in high school and i have had no problems since it is a nice red color it had about 35,000 miles when i got it and now has 200,000 miles if i this car ever breaks down i will get another one it's a smooth ride feels like a small sports car i recommend this car very much
08 Base Rio
Bought this to replace my 95 Honda Civic. Need a dependable work car for long commutes. Base is no frills, less things to fail or wear out. Love no power steering! So far, this ride is great. Comfortable, solid and classy for the $ spent. ($10K for a brand new ride with a 100K power train warranty.) Does not even have a radio, but is wired for one with speakers. Most folks replace the factory radio anyway, so this is a great approach for a custom ride.
Love it.
I bought this car to replace my first car (1996 Grand Am). I was in dire need of something new or newer as my Grand Am had 200K miles on it and died 3 weeks later. This was the first car I looked at and loved it immediately. This car looks great in black. My Rio's shift timing is a little awkward compared to other cars I've driven, but I'm used to it. I got the red pinstripe on the side and the matching red/grey interior. Mine seems to be the only one of it's kind in my area. The audio jack is welcomed as well as my mp3 player used to run through a tape-deck adapter in my Grand Am. The space given the car size is really impressive. As an art student, I can appreciate the extra space.
one month
The basic Rio is pleasantly surprising. All is well with it, except filling the gas tank today, I got 30.1 mpg. On the lot where I bought my Rio were signs on some of the Rios stating 44 mpg. Now, I know that is highway miles, and the sticker only said 27 city, 34 highway, but something is amiss here. I am thinking, if I get 44 highway, then I think I should get at least 35 city. And driving it slower than two thirds of other vehicles, I think that should have been accomplished. I am disappointed in the mileage I got for 9.98 gallons, traveling 301 miles. The reason I bought it was for the mileage. But.....
Kia Rio 2009 LX
I just bought a new 2009 Kia Rio LX. I love the look and feel of this vehicle and for the size I believe it is a great buy. I am a little dissapointed with the mpg and I believe it should be getting well over 30 for how small of a vehicle it is. I believe that to be the only flaw in this vehicle. It drives well and looks sharp.
Wife loves car
My wife loves her Rio 5. Already had to have a new transmission put in car with 750 miles on it. Wish it had more power under the hood. Around town it is a nice little car to drive but we live in the Ga. mountains and more power under the hood would keep it from down shifting all the time. We get 30 MPG on average , not bad for where we live. If the new transmission lasts we will be happy with the car.Would have rated car better on quality and reliability if not for bad transmission.
Needs Improvement
The Rio is an excellent commuter car. However, paying 17200 for this car new with the warranty was a mistake. Purchased w/out A/C, power steering, or power options. Dealership said A/C absolutely could not be installed. The car accelerates fine as long as you are willing to rev the engine all the way up to 4000 rpms. Handles well even w/out powersteering.
Boring car but gets from point A to B
The car is boring, but I understand that it’s a commuter car. The seats are decent. The gas mileage is pretty good. The ride is smooth until you hit a big pothole. If you are looking for a cheap car that gets from point a to b, this is the car for you.
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It does what it says it will do!
This car is a great economy car. It drives well and the gas consumption is great. The warranty is fantastic. The bearings in the front wheels went and were replaced by Kia dealership without hesitation and no cost to me. Very reliable and gets you from point A to point B comfortably, cheaply and with no problems.
GREAT 👍 CAR
Great car to own I have a 2008 Kia Rio sadan....and it has 182,943 miles and I'm only paying $800
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New Kia
My wife and I just recently purchased a 2008 Kia Rio and traded in her 01 Ford Escape. She is very happy with the car. It cost her about half to fill the gas tank than it did before and she can drive for almost twice as long. The interior is very sporty with black and red stitched seating. My question is Why would anyone want to buy a base model Rio when the price of a almost fully loaded one isn't much more.
great car
I bought the '08 Kia Rio because of the good gas millage and its dependability. I put about 90 miles a day on my Rio and get 35 mpg. It is fun to drive. This is my first car. I had always owned a truck or SUV but needed the better millage. The only thing I see my Rio needs is maybe a couple of storage compartments at arms reach of the driver.
New Rio 5 LX
We got the 2008 Rio 5 LX with 5-speed manual. We are very pleased with our choice so far. The car is attractive, fun to drive, and it is good enough power-, handling-, and feature-wise for us. Shortly after break-in, we took the car to TX (1800+ miles each way). Never dawdling, with two adults and two kids, fully loaded with toys and gear, we got 33 mpg. Not bad! It would do better, though, if Kia put a 6-speed in this model. 3500+ revs in 5th for typical Southern and Western U.S. interstate driving is too much. If I often drove on Southern or Western interstates, I would be less pleased with the car. But in the hilly, trafficky Northeast, where I live, I highly recommend it!
beware
this is in response to some who say they need to purchase a good car great on gas. This car does ok with those two aspects but I recently had to take the car in to have the motor taken out of the car for the air conditioner. Not under warranty when they say it is your fault and you have put papers in the glove box!!! Who says you can't put papers in the glove box, there was nothing saying we couldn't, but now that the air conditioner has sucked in my oil change receipt, because of their design flaw in leaving a hole in the glove box, I shouldn't have to pay for this, now they are saying I cannot have my car back if I don;t because they fixed it!!! Did they fix the hole?????