Kia Rio Review

I rented Kia Rio from Enterprise for one of my Vegas trips. It is a decision for which I repented right from the first hour of my journey. Kia Rio is not a car. It is an iron cage with a lemon like engine. Only reason I took this car is that it came under economy section.

Yes Rio gave me good decent gas mileage. But the comfort of riding was pathetic. May be due to its design or due to its cheap light weight materials the car is prone to wind. This makes it a pain to drive. Moreover the engine noise at peak throttle makes the travel feel tiring.

I think Kia has compromised little too much for placing a low end car like Rio in the market at attractive price for penny savers. But Rio is not the car to be chosen if you think intelligently. There are better gas saving models out on the road that too priced somewhere around.

After all, Kia Rio also falls far behind when it comes to features. The features are pretty basic. For a pleasure trip it was not at all pleasing if you don't have that comforting features. May be for an entry level car Kia Rio may just qualify. But even for that there are hefty competitors you can choose from.

And out of curiosity I have talked to my friends about Kia Rio. None of the owners love this car. One of my friends is trying to get rid of this car. But the poor resale value is taking a toll of him.

Talking about the looks of Rio, I should tell that this car does not look bad. Definitely it does not look cheap. There is moderate elegance and shine. It looks like a compact car more than an economy version. But Kia should definitely redesign the tires. They look too small in the car and give an awkward look.

The most awful thing I remember about Rio is in the interior. While the leg space, back space, cushioning and other interior adjustments are not disappointing, I was totally dumbstruck when I started using its steering wheel. It cannot be even called a wheel. It should be called a ring instead. Too small in size the steering adds discomfort while driving.

But even if I am not at all satisfied with my Rio experience, I may test drive a Kia Rio when I plan to buy a brand new car. As a matter of fact, inexpensive cars are making a comeback in the industry and Kia Rio is there in the forefront.