Used 2012 Kia Rio Consumer Reviews
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RIO 5 Door SX Is Best In Class
The 5 Door KIA RIO SX is clearly the best car in its class and the driving experience can only be described as pure fun. There are other competitors in this class that are better in one or two areas, but none have the overall combination of a terrific engine with an excellent 6 speed automatic transmission, lots of interior room, fantastic looks, an abundance of safety features, high tech gadgets, nimble handling, and the best warranty in the industry. The RIO is extremely comfortable on long trips, which is unusual for a small car. Can you believe the outside mirrors are heated electronically and fold into the car with the touch of a button? And it has a rear view camera!
2012 Kia Rio SX Sedan
I needed to get a new daily commuter car as I drive over 70 highway miles daily. Look at what you get from Toyota, Honda, Nissan in this same segment and compare all the features. I went to each dealer, Toyota had a sticker price increase of $1500 "market adjusted value" on the Corolla! Nonsense! I wanted something that would get good gas mileage (+36mpg), holds a couple golf bags and more in the trunk, and if needed, my family of 4 when we're not in the sweet minivan. This car has extreme value at a low price... less than $18K out the door. You can electronically fold in the heated side mirrors, which have LED turn signals. The front lights have LED markers and the rear tail lights are all LED. Engine has the most horsepower in the segment and is direct injection technology. Big 17 inch wheels on the ground, USB port on radio which is built by Microsoft UVO and I could go on and on for the features. You will see many of these features only in higher segment cars. Japan auto makers are becoming dated fast with their features and technology and are overpriced for their value in today's market. KIA shares many of their platforms now with Hyundai and the quality of their build has dramatically improved with the RIO. I have been very satisfied for the first 1200 miles. If you are looking for good gas mileage, good trunk space, great features, LED lights aplenty, etc... do not overlook this car and forget completely about KIA in 2008. In 2012 they have transformed light years ahead of the competition.
- LX SedanMSRP: $3,99554 mi away
- SX SedanMSRP: $6,90066 mi away
- EX 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,98869 mi away
KIA Rio5 an Excellent & Fun Value
Our 2012 KIA Rio5 is our second car. For around town use it is terrific - we get an overall 35 mpg. The five door is very usefu and the comfort is just fine. The styling is fine and the car really is fun to drive. We have a family car that is for trips but the Rio 5 is for everyday use. We could not find another vehicle for less money with a better warantry. The build quality is nice and the red paint is beautiful - the cloth interior is nice - this is just the perfect second car for us.
Great milage
I drive a total of 60 miles a day to work and back home. I travel both on highway and city. I use the ECO feature when dealing with traffic and have on the average (depending on where I buy my gas) get 34mpg. I have noticed with lower grade stations, the perfomance is less. The pickup while using ECO is a bit regulated but with a quick click, you can turn it off and get the punch you need to pull quickly ahead. I replaced this car with a 2007 PT Cruiser which had horrible gas milage. I find the instrument panel great with the RIO SX model and love the rear screen view due to the limited viewing of the rear window. I would definitely recommend the Rio to other buyers. It is fun to drive!
Excellent good-looking car that is value for money
For a customer profile like mine (already own a minivan, looking for commuter car) this is a great option to have. The car itself would probably satisfy a lot of other profiles, but it is smack in the middle of my demo. Cargo space is not that great, but that is not why I bought this car. I bought this with the convenience package which included UVO (a cool addition) and the rearview camera. No need for nav if you already have a smartphone. Car handles beautifully and very little of the harsh rides associated with sub-compacts. Really like the looks and the interior. A lot of reviews have commented on how the interior does not look as cheap as other cars in the class.
Fun to drive, good MPG, Inexpensive
I bought this car new to replace my 91' Imperial and I'm averaging 33 (70%/30% C/H) mpg at the pump and I'm loving it. Although the ride isn't the smoothest, it's definitely better than many others I've driven in this class. When you turn the ECO setting off, you get a significant boost in power and throttle response. Handles great in the city, but acts like a small car would on the interstate. I love the SportShift, although not the quickest shifts, it is a blast through curvy roads. The high beams illuminate very well as do the regular lights. Steering has good feel and the car is very nimble up to about 45 when the electric steering starts to show. Design cues from Audi shows.
Great car for awhile
I fell in love with this Kia Rio SX as it came with all the gadgets, drove well and had great gas mileage. I knew I was going to keep the car for awhile, so I got the extended warranty package and even a dealership "lifetime offer" (free inspection, tires, oil changes). I was meticulous with the physical and mechanical upkeep with required services. As far as the gas mileage, well, we know that there was a glitch in the reporting, so I even got an annual reimbursement from Kia for the fuel economy difference. The car was very low for the cost of ownership. About a year ago it began requiring more frequent oil changes. Then it needed a catalytic converter and some other typical car repairs. However, I'm drawing the line now for keeping my beloved Rio as now the car is not keeping oil for more than 2000 miles. The service manager said I need a new engine. At 138,000 I'm quite disappointed. When I initially bought the car, the litmus test of acquiring another Kia was if the car made at least 200,000. It did not so I will not be buying another Kia.
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I'm Happy...
If you're looking for an SX with premium pkg, GOOD LUCK! There were 8 available east of Kansas when I looked. Traveled 350mi by train to get it. Features for price can't be beat. Things laid out well and user friendly. Smaller in back but bigger in front than Versa but I'd prefer the styling to the smaller space. I hate the transmission. Manual in SX please! Gas debate - computer is 4mpg high. With math I get 38 each tank in 70/30 hwy+. Comp says 41-43. Forget ECO use manumatic in city. Hwy keep under 75 with steady foot. Don't drive like a moron and you can get good gas mileage. Comp reads 403 at fill up. I get btw 330 and 360 per tank. 6K miles so far, hope to get over 40 after break in.
Short on MPG promised
Had the Rio hatchback for one year. Never came close to the 40 MPG. I drive 60 miles a day and average about 34. This driving at about 65 mph. The car ride was noisy until I bought some good tires. The car is peppy and keeps up with traffic. I now have 16000 miles on the car and haven't had any problems.
All I wanted & more
I purchased my '12 Rio 5 LX one year ago last month...almost 27,000 miles...and I could not be happier. A month after I bought it (at 2,000 miles), I drove from the Hill Country to Joshua Tree NP in southrn California, about 2,400 miles round trip. At 80mph, I averaged 35mph. Not what the sticker said for highway mileage, but they didn't test at those speeds, either. Sine then, I' driven to Caprock Canyons, Angel Peak (NM), and Myrtle Beach, SC (averaged 40mpg at 70mph). I just love driving this thing. If you're not getting decent mileage, you must be doing something wrong. Seriously wrong.
would buy again
This has been the perfect car for me. The 100,000 mile/10 year warrantee gives me peace of mind, and when I have had an issue, it has always been covered 100%. Even when my key attachment on my key fob broke. I am 5'6" and the driver's seat and dash are perfect for me. There is a significant blind spot at 5:00 and 7:00 but the mirrors compensate for that. Can be annoying when backing out of a shopping mall parking space. And passengers often voice surprise at how low the passenger seat sits. The only other negative is the road noise which on interstates can be quite loud. The car has a lot of trunk space with a deceptively large amount of vertical storage. The rear seats fold down for even more space to transport oversized objects. Overall, however, I am thrilled with the car and would definitely buy it again.
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check before you buy this car!!!!!
This is the first vehicle I have ever bought myself. When I first got it, it ran great! I was getting 34 mpg in the city, and about 39 highway. I have had this vehicle for 3 years, and within the last two year I have started having major issues. first off, you cannot get part for this vehicle from an auto parts store. you have to get it from a licensed KIA dealership. two, the engine shakes sometimes. when I am sitting at a red light it starts to shake like it is going to explode. and since the engine started to shake and the way the car is designed, the AC compressor is nicely placed right in front of the radiator overflow. so when the motor shook it burned a hole into the overflow, melting it and making me lose antifreeze and making the radiator cap break. in this specific car, you have to replace the whole radiator to replace the overflow. three, over heating issues and knocking from the motor. I take very good car of this car, it is in for maintenance every 3 months and have the paper work to prove it. but every single summer it over heats no matter how careful I am. four, going up hill... you can step on the gas as hard as you want and it will not go any faster. five, the van does not turn on all the time. I have had the Carfax pulled and there are no records of issues from the previous own. I hope this helps. but I will never buy a KIA again. I paid 9k for this car and I have put over 15k in fixing it. this car isn't worth the stress.
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High MPG Driving Method-2012 Kia Rio 5 EX
1.TURN ECO BUTTON ON AND LEAVE IT ON---2.PUSH THE GAS PEDAL SLOWLY-sudden pushing of the gas pedal turns off the ECO software and it stays off for minutes---3.when driving through the throttle dead spot from 20 to 40 miles per hour-PUSH THE THROTTLE DOWN SLOWLY UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS-then simply hold that throttle position-let the transmission pull the car up the hill---4.USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE-the Kia C-C is excellent but you must set it right to get the most out of it---USE THE 2 AND 7 RULE-always set your cruise control at mph numbers that end in a 2 or a 7-NEVER 0 OR 5!---5.your best highway mpg will happen at 62 MPH SET ON CRUISE CONTROL-SEE FAV-FEATURES
The White Bullet
The White Bullet has been good to me. In nearly 18,000 miles so far it has had minimal problems. One trip to the dealer for a computer update because of the knock sensor code putting it into limp mode. Other than that just regular maintenance. The manual transmission is great, I love it and bombing around town feels like driving a rally car. Excellent gas mileage on the highway but with many hours behind the wheel I have to say lack of lumbar support isn't great. City driving in "stop and go" traffic is a nightmare but only due to the manual transmission. It has good trunk storage but it could have a bigger door area as fitting larger items is difficult or impossible. A relatively cheap and very reliable vehicle with limited creature comforts earns this one a 3.75 out of 5 in my book.
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Beyond Expectations!
Having owned mostly German Cars in the past, trading in my 2000 ML for the 2012 Rio SX was initally met with trepidation. I was tired of spending over $500 per month on gas just for communting so I thought I would buy a car with the best fuel economy in its class. I am happy to report that the 2012 Rio SX has far exceeded my expectations. Not only, did this hatchback come with good looks, but the list of standard features should give Mercedes-Benz some cause for concern and to check out what Kia is doing these days. I can honestly say that there is NOTHING that I miss from my ML, except constantly being at the pump, and there is in fact more features here than my Wife's 2005 E500!
Great car BUT, MPG not as expected
i love my 2012 Rio5 SX Manual trans, however the Est. Fuel Economy hasn't come close to meeting what Kia says it does. It doesn't cost much to fill up, haven't gone over $30 yet, but I fill up once a week and if I fill up at 1/4 tank I am lucky if I have 200 miles on my tank. It estimates around 350 till empty when I fill up. I am a very reserved driver since I bought this so I can get as much out of it as I can so I do not "hot rod" it. the gauge that shows me how much MPG I am getting says I am getting routinely, 28-30MPG but if that were true I should be able to get atleast 300 miles to a tank and I am not even reaching that. Otherwise I love my car! Great options, good looking, runs good
One Great Car
This is my second Kia, my first being a 2007 Kia Optima, I was so impressed with the reliabiluty I purchased my second. The Rio is everything I expected and more. Very smooth, well built and a tremondous amount of features, many of which are not even offered in the compact class, nevermind subcompact. The gas milage estimates hold true for me. Normal in town city driving get me 30-32. I recently drove to boston from southern maine and filled the tank upon leaving. I drove 90 miles and then filled up again, used 2.3 gallons of gas for a mpg of 39.1. I consistenly drove at about 65mph. I have read all of the reviews and am baffled by the low gas milage some posters report.
5,000 Mile Review
We purchased an EX automatic to use primarily as a local runabout and occasional highway runs. Decision came down to the Kia or Honda Fit. Chose the Kia based on better responsiveness, quieter ride, interior comfort, interior design and lengthy warranty. Mileage has matched EPA estimates. Exterior styling is such a personal issue that no comment is necessary.
KIA RIO PINGING BAD?USE SHELL NITRO PREMIUM ONLY
Our Kia developed a severe pinging issue running regular gas especially with the ECO mode on. The Kia Forum website states that Kia is running a series of ecm ( engine control computer ) software patches to solve this issue. Many people on that forum have had the patches done and these patches have largely only helped for a few weeks before the bad pinging came back. I finally decided that I didn't want to destroy my engine no matter how 'great' the Kia warranty supposedly is. I started using PREMIUM - NAME BRAND GAS AND TURNED THE ECO MODE OFF. ****Shell Nitro premium gas is THE BEST GAS FOR THIS KIA. BETTER YET BUY A TOYOTA AND LEAVE THIS BRAND TO THE IDIOTS WHO DON'T READ THIS REVIEW! THIS CAR IS COMPLETE FUBAR!ENGINE LIGHTS SINCE TWENTY THOUSAND MILES-RUNNING LIKE A PERSON HAVING A SEIZURE HALF THE TIME. NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH HONDAS,NISSANS OR TOYOTAS WE OWNED. NEVER NEVER NEVER WILL WE BUY A KIA EVER AGAIN.IF SOMEONE GAVE US ONE WE'D SELL IT THE NEXT DAY. STAY AWAY FROM KIA!!!!YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!! After four gas tanks full of this, our Kia is running and shifting better and smoother then it ever did new. more below-
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This is really just an update
I've have a 2012 sedan and I was getting around 32 mpg. I've now got about 12k miles on the car in 6 months. I've had 1 minor issue. At about 11.5k mile the CE light came on. I took it to the dealer and they said it needed a software update. That did fix the CE. I've gone through a couple tanks of gas since and It does seem that my MPG is up a few miles per gallon. All and all it's a nice little car, looks good and cruises along pretty good.
Give the Rio a chance !
I've had my 2012 Kia Rio EX with the convenience package (back up camera, indicators on the mirror, touch screen display) bought it with 5 miles now has an outstanding 86,000 miles. In the summer I average 35mpg usually in the winter it drops to about 28 unfortunately. I'm still on the original factory brakes which I do need to replace asap, had a problem at 10k with evap sensor which dealer replaced at no cost even gave us a free lender for a week while they waited for part. At 80k a clack happened upon acceleration, pinging caused timing to jump kia dealer fixed with no problem and at no cost even with the system update being expired, however car still pings like crazy upon acceleration. The passenger seat sits really low, I can't sit passenger in my car and I feel bad for my passengers. Resale value is absolutely terrible for this car however. It's been a great car, and the warranty is amazing.
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Like the car but gas mileage is not there
Good little car. Great features. Good price. Good warranty. Good dealer service. Car scoots along good on the highway. By far the best looking car in the class.
Almost perfect except MPG came up well short
This is my 3rd KIA. 1st was a 2003 Sorrento then 2010 Soul ! which the RIO replaced. I have logged 1500 miles in the 1st month. Build quality is excellent. Interior fit and finish is excellent and the features you get for 20k cannot be matched by the competition. The car handles and drives much better than my soul with the 6 sp. trans. - pretty smooth although the 1.6L really works hard at 65 mph and up; always downshifting on slight inclines. The GDI engine is not living up to the 30/40 MPG on the window sticker. I divide miles driven by gallons pumped when I fill up; I'm getting 25 city and 30-31 hwy. Big disappointment! With the except of the low MPG the car does not disappoint
Terrible Gas Mileage in a Well Built Car
In Dec 2011,my wife and I bought a brand new Kia Rio 5Dr Ex in red. The people at the Kia dealership were great and practically one of the only reasons we bought the car when we did besides the supposedly excellent gas mileage. Unfortunately,this car get barely 30 miles per gallon hwy and 26 miles per a gallon city. And the great six speed auto transmission downshifts two gears on even the smallest hill,making the cruise control practically unusable for gas mileage runs. Our Kia is extremely well built and attractive. It is fun to drive too. But we really needed it to make the gas mileage Kia said it would. Now we will get rid of it to buy a 5 speed Toyota Yaris
Best bang for your buck EVER!
Fun to drive! Peppy engine! 35.8 MPG's mixed driving. Awesome UVO system and stylish. What more could you want?
Dont trust Kia
With the release of downgraded MPG ratings, this vehicle is not worth the price. The electronics in the car are cheap. Interior panels are showing wear after less than 7000 miles. My car is two shades of red with panels not matching.
carbon built up will catch a fire
if 87000 kia forte recalled due to fire hazard, what do you think, how many rios are affected? none? if carbon deposits are build up, pressure and temperature rises, and if lucky, a fuse will blow and a car will not operate and a dealership will tell you: no problem found; if not so lucky, you'll car will burn, like forte and then they will make up some wiring fault, ...these cars are good with low miles, but when you put enough miles, sooner or later, due to carbon deposits, they will loose power, acceleration, start to leak, and so on - and the manufacturer are simply ignoring the problem or covering with something else
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Stylish small car
Great car for the price, good gas mileage and has a good look
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Disappointment!
My 12 Rio5 has 37k highway miles. The car has been a total disappointment. The car has received road blast and rusted after the past 2 winters. Trim inside has just fallen down due to disappearing clips. "Leather" steering wheel delaminated. Vent fan bearings going. Tires were garbage and mileage was not as advertised. The car was a real waste of money. Needless to say, I will be at the dealership again next week. Save yourself the hassle and stay away from these Kia beauties.
good for me good for you
This is a real good value
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Great Gas Mileage. Priced to high.
The New KIA RIO is a eye catcher. We averaged 37 MPG around our Town. On the Highway we got 42.3 MPG, and it wasn't a Hybrid. Front Passenger Seat is mounted to low. Drivers Seat was fine with manual height adjustment. If you need Power leave the ECO button off. If you want Great Gas Mileage leave the ECO button engaged! We have had our KIA RIO LX Sedan for 21 mths. Parts are mostly only available at the Dealer! Parts are very expensive!
electricity went completely out
I just bout a used 2012 Kia rio lx like three months ago. Everything is nice ok and dependable for the most part. However the electricity went out in my car. Like for real. No headlights, taillights, radio, bright lights, dome light, key ignition circle, dashboard lights/signals came on. It didn't start or anything. Then the locks and windows didn't work. I tried to lock the doors with the key alarm and that still didn't work. So I just let it sit for awhile then came back to it. It started up and lights came on like nothing ever happened. What the heck went wrong? Is this going to be a reoccurring incident?
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The Kia Rio SX is not what you want
I bought the Kia Rio SX automatic thinking it would be something that would save me a lot of money, however, it's been nothing but a disappointment. The mileage is terrible. I live in a rural area, nice long windy roads, no stops, no traffic. Using it's "city" mileage reference, I get 24-26 in the city, on the highway I average a solid 29. I'm an old guy and I drive with a light foot. So far this car has over 20k on it and the gas mileage has not improved. You can see where kia tried to make it fuel efficent by limited weight, but it equates to cheap materials: cheap plastic, chinsy seating material that rips. Don't buy this car. It has been my biggest regret. Get a Fit.