Used 2012 Kia Rio Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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RIO 5 Door SX Is Best In Class
btatr, 01/09/2012
2012 Kia Rio SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
35 of 36 people found this review helpful
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!
KIA Rio5 an Excellent & Fun Value
rfbronk1, 11/23/2011
2012 Kia Rio LX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
44 of 47 people found this review helpful
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.
2012 Kia Rio for sale near you
Showing 3 of 64 listings
- LX SedanMSRP: $3,99554 mi away
- SX SedanMSRP: $6,90066 mi away
- EX 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,98869 mi away
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Great milage
georgeannv, 03/14/2012
2012 Kia Rio SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
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
sunbomb, 02/10/2012
2012 Kia Rio EX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
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.
I'm Happy...
mattman44, 08/10/2012
2012 Kia Rio SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
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.
All I wanted & more
davedito, 11/17/2012
2012 Kia Rio LX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
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
Judy Davie, 07/20/2016
2012 Kia Rio EX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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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High MPG Driving Method-2012 Kia Rio 5 EX
worknman, 11/04/2012
2012 Kia Rio EX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
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
Beyond Expectations!
commuter_dave, 03/25/2012
2012 Kia Rio SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
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
auntkatie24, 07/25/2012
2012 Kia Rio LX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
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
5,000 Mile Review
vod, 04/07/2012
2012 Kia Rio EX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
25 of 42 people found this review helpful
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.
Almost perfect except MPG came up well short
jjsteil, 02/20/2012
2012 Kia Rio SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 16 people found this review helpful
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
worknman, 04/05/2012
2012 Kia Rio EX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 18 people found this review helpful
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
carbon built up will catch a fire
spectrans, 02/11/2017
2012 Kia Rio LX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 13 people found this review helpful
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
Todd Flom, 04/26/2016
2012 Kia Rio LX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Great car for the price, good gas mileage and has a good look
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Disappointment!
commuter12, 05/11/2013
2012 Kia Rio EX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
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.
The Kia Rio SX is not what you want
sumafluma, 10/10/2012
2012 Kia Rio SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 6 people found this review helpful
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.