Used 2010 Kia Rio Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2010 Rio, so we've included reviews for other years of the Rio since its last redesign.
Great First Car
Shmork, 02/07/2009
2009 Kia Rio SX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
37 of 39 people found this review helpful
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!
Very poor quality
Randy Mizer, 07/05/2010
2009 Kia Rio Rio5 LX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
24 of 27 people found this review helpful
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!
mehigan, 04/27/2013
updated 11/13/2016
2009 Kia Rio Rio5 LX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
30 of 35 people found this review helpful
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
Brian, 09/30/2016
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
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
deheeren, 02/08/2015
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
31 of 38 people found this review helpful
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.
Great Affordable Commuter Vehicle
student05, 07/07/2010
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
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.
Best Bang For Your Buck!!
mtloveskg, 04/17/2010
2010 Kia Rio Rio5 SX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
This little car is amazing. First of all I am 6'3" 245 pounds and have plenty of room! MPG are 30.4 after 2k miles of mixed driving with AC on. Not too shabby at all! Amenities are bar none for this class (read below for more on that).
No issues
lzemo , 01/04/2022
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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.
Best Bang For Your Buck
mikeyt1818, 07/22/2010
2010 Kia Rio Rio5 SX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Fun car, sporty and peppy despite 1.6 liter engine. Great features on SX like leather wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, metal pedals, 16" inch alloys, rear spoiler, sport cloth with red stitches. Very sporty looking!
Dependable transportation
J.C., 12/24/2016
2009 Kia Rio Rio5 LX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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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Best little car I've ever owned.
Aarick, 09/11/2018
2009 Kia Rio SX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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.
Fun and Sporty little car!
mikeyt, 06/14/2010
2010 Kia Rio Rio5 SX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
I love this car. It is so sporty with all the cool features (see below). It is not as commonly seen as its rivals (Corolla, Civic, Fit, and Yaris) so it stands out a lot more!
great little car, but.....
bigkev, 01/06/2010
2009 Kia Rio Rio5 LX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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!
Jeannine Roman, 02/02/2018
2009 Kia Rio Rio5 LX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
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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My 2010 Kia Rio
kiaowner2010, 07/26/2010
2010 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
7 of 11 people found this review helpful
Not happy with dark interior, car is too hot inside & must have window covered by sunshade. Other than that, I haven't had a brand new car for MANY years, and I love this one. I was on the bus three years before deciding to buy this car.
Decent for those starting out.
TrabantFan1998, 07/27/2020
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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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Piece of garbage
V, 05/02/2020
2009 Kia Rio Rio5 LX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
3 of 7 people found this review helpful
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.
Needs Improvement
jrhorner, 08/19/2009
2009 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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.
Wife loves car
Randy Mizer, 11/07/2009
2009 Kia Rio Rio5 LX 4dr Wagon (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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.
Kia Rio 2009 LX
jblemons, 05/14/2010
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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.
Needs better gear ratio
tony, 07/19/2010
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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
My Experience with my Kia Rio
Inrm, 11/02/2010
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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.
Great mpg, lots of problems
Batbread, 08/08/2020
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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.
THIS CAR IS AMAZING
emily smith , 12/14/2021
2009 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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
So happy to be GONE!
stinalynn, 05/18/2012
2010 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
7 of 24 people found this review helpful
I bought this car because at the time, I had no choice. I needed a cheap car with a good warranty. Well, you get what you pay for! I had a small fender bender, hitting a car at 10 miles per hour. It resulted in a total breakage of the ball joint. My husband, an ASE certified master technician, took one look and could not believe the poor quality (he is convinced it broke first, causing the accident!) It was great on gas, but that's about it. I just got rid of the thing, for a beautiful Mazda crossover, and I've never been happier!
OK, for what it is.
Bill, 10/19/2009
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I can find not fault with the build quality. Thinngs shut and reveal gaps are very exact. The motor in 5th gear turns much higher than I would envision for the torque and horsepower required. Needs a 6th gear.
Great Budget Car
good budget car, 06/28/2009
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My Kia Rio has so far been excelent as far as a purchased car. The car is a bit cheeply made. One of the few problems I experienced was when I bought my car it had a bad fuel pump but it was resolved by my dealer. The car is overall very quiet on the highway no real complaints. As far as gas with the economy the way it is Kia's are the way to go. It makes about 30 to the highway however I have experienced up to 40 to the highway. I am a college student it fits my needs as far as room.
great car
wafa, 08/26/2009
2009 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm so happy with my kia rio, I love it roomy, quite, and great gas saver
Best little grocery-getter ever!
Dea, 01/24/2024
2009 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love this little car, I have been driving it since 2010, I am the 2nd owner, my dad was the 1st, he had an injury and could't drive with the tight steering any more (our base model is no power-steering) It's a very basic no-frills car but is a pleasure to drive, park, and ride in. Getting parts /fixing is almost never a problem, but the 4 tires can be hard to get sometimes, make sure you keep an extra timing belt on hand in the higher miles (trust me here). Gas mileage is an absolute dream! and so appreciated with the work this car has to do; its the kid, school. work. grocery transporter, has taken long 1800 mile vacation drives. and towed a 4x6 trailer. I love it and would buy another of the exact same if I could, the next owner will be my son for his 1st car at 230k miles.
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I will cry if something happens to this car
Kat, 03/12/2024
2009 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My 2009 manual Rio is amazing. I call her golf cart because of her small stature. I bought her off facebook marketplace 4 years ago for $1500 at 112,000 miles it just needed a new starter and the radio/AC didn’t work. It also came with an imprint of a road sign on the hood but that just added to the charm! I couldn’t afford much after I graduated highschool, so if it needed any expensive repairs I would’ve been SOL. Luckily my little Rio has been so good to me. I commute a good amount with college/work so I’ve put 40k miles on her since. Gas mileage is so good with this car, it has a little tank but MPG is good enough that it doesn’t really matter. It’s basically the size of a golf cart so you can park just about anywhere and maneuver really easy. The lights are automatic which is incredibly helpful for a airhead ADHD sufferer like me. The interior is definitely small, but as a smaller woman I can see and fit better this way. If you are a big boned individual you may not feel the same. When driving faster than 60 the engine is loud. At about 70mph she starts yellin because she’s sitting at 4RPM. But my girl isn’t a track star, she has 110 horsepower so it isn’t built to go fast n furious. The cloth seats are pretty awful if you don’t have AC, your car WILL smell like swass. I bought washable pleather seat covers tho so that isn’t a problem for me (anymore). I also replaced the broken radio with a fancy bluetooth one for like $100. It helps to know a local redneck who will install it for a case of beer. He didn’t complain about it so I’m assuming it wasn’t that hard. She handles okay in the snow/ice I think. I live in Wisconsin/Minnesota so I KNOW snow. I make sure I have good tires though because that significantly makes a difference. The only problem would be if you go in the ditch you will not be able to get out because she is not strong. But just don’t go in and you’ll be fine lol. This car burns oil, after about 2-3k miles there's only a smidge left on the dipstick. But that’s around the time you need an oil change anyway so I don’t really mind. I’ve had to replace the clutch at 130k but I learned stick on this car so I was not very nice at first! At about 150k my starter needed to be replaced again and I had to replace a wheel bearing. My transmission will probably need to be replaced at some point, she grinds when downshifting to 3rd gear but I just don’t downshift to third anymore so problem is solved for now as far as I’m concerned! I will definitely have to replace the timing belt at some point as well. You’re supposed to at like 90k but I severely doubt the last owner did that. I’m poor so I’ll deal with that when the time comes. All in all I love this car. It’s the first thing I’ve ever truly owned, and she has never left me stranded. I’m emotionally attached to this car, it’s been with me through it all. I will be keeping it alive as long as mechanically possible. When it goes I will be very upset, I may even host the first ever car funeral. May golf cart live forever. If you are a broke highschool/college/lost early 20s aged person, I highly recommend getting your own golf cart.