Overview & Reviews

One of America's least expensive cars now comes in sedan or wagon flavor. Dubbed the Rio Cinco, the five-door Kia provides 44.3 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seat down.

• Unbeatable price, peppy engine, decent build quality relative to price point, inoffensive styling, great warranty package.

• Unrefined ride quality, power windows and cruise control are MIA from the option list.

User Reviews:

Showing 31 through 40 of 83.00

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  Love it!!! - 2002 Kia Rio
  By Amy Hammcock - January 18 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car in the world!! I have had it for a month and it is the best purchase in my life!!!You will love it if you buy it!!!

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  Never again - 2002 Kia Rio
  By commdeus - November 28 - 2:33 pm

  This was an awful car to drive. It was uncomfortable, had little power, no acceleration, and started breaking down about a year into its life. The paint job was of poor quality. Corrosion started in its 4th year despite biweekly washes and bi-annual waxes. I was only too pleased to return it after its lease ended. It has put me off Kia all together.

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  Awesome Wagon - 2002 Kia Rio
  By kialover15 - September 12 - 6:26 pm

  We recently bought a 2002 Rio Cinco, and we are loving our decision. This car was purchased by my grandfather. This is his work car, and soon, I will share it with him. (I get my license in July.) We sold a 1994 Cadillac Deville. A nice Caddy, no problems, but with gas at 4.18 a gallon, there was no option but to sell it. Once we got the Rio, we were a little unhappy, no AC, but when we filled it up for the first time a got 31 mpg, we were fine with no air. The gas mileage kept getting better too. The highest is 34 mpg, complete city! Great car!!

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  Mixed feelings. Under-rated, but I wont buy a Kia again. - 2002 Kia Rio
  By harmonia2927 - September 12 - 5:08 pm

  This was my first college car. I bought it in summer of 2010 with 96,000 miles on it. I blindly went into buying it, no research done. I ended up falling in love with this little car. I drove it to school and back SEVERAL times (10 hour drive), and went on many road trips in it. It also made it up my mile-long dirt road at home. Im surprised it lasted. PROS: great gas mileage, runs well with normal maintenance CONS: noisy engine, doesnt accelerate well with the AC on, tin can, cheaply made, manual windows and locks, tiny back seat I drove it to 118,885 miles. It could have lasted longer, but I hit a deer and totalled it. :( Lesson learned, I wont buy a Kia again. But it was fun.

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  2002 Kia Rio - My Goldmine - 2002 Kia Rio
  By TRzDaddy - August 2 - 2:00 am

  The car runs perfectly. It has plenty of power, unless there is someone in the backseat over 45 pounds. Everything works well. The dealer service has been excellent. They seem so earnest in pleasing their customers. What a good idea! My only complaints are that the sun visor doesnt fold flat against the windshield and that the clock on the radio doesnt stay on - it has to be reminded to go back to clock everytime you change the station. The only thing that has gone wrong is a window crank with stripped gears. The dealer fixed it during an oil change, under warranty.

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  01 Kia Rio - 2002 Kia Rio
  By Nate812 - June 19 - 10:00 am

  For the price - you get what you pay for. No dragging in this car! Ive gotten it up to 110mph but it started feeling light so I backed off. The only real complaint that I have is that the car needs atleast 5 (more like 10) more HP. Getting on the highway is not bad, but acceleration from 45-65 is sluggish in 5th and not recommended that you dowshift to 3rd. On high mountians with sharp climbs the car gives off a "odor" what I think is just the engine working too hard. Pluses!! Lots of trunk room and great gas mileage...

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  Good transportation - 2002 Kia Rio
  By Good CAR - April 25 - 2:00 am

  I have a 01 Rio.It’s not a sports car. It gets you from Point A to B. Good all around town car. Car handles good on the highway. I have notice a wind noise. The car has a good ride. Radio plays good and sounds good. AC Works great! It has options that some Entry Level Toyotas or Hondas don’t have. Such as a trunk light! They are some minor things The airbag light was on, Had it fixed. Drivers side door handle broke, Dealer fix it. It now has almost 49k miles and still running good .I have notice that the transmission will Lag in first gear (Auto)if you don’t let it warm up in the winter time.The brakes are a little touchy at first.

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  My Rio Wagon. - 2002 Kia Rio
  By Liseannedg - March 14 - 3:23 am

  The price could not be beat. Enjoy the ease of a hatchback. Very family friendly. Easy to tell that materials, i.e., hatchcover are not of highest quality. Otherwise, great car.

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  Dont waste your money - 2002 Kia Rio
  By total garbage - January 5 - 1:16 am

  I bought this car and have had nothing but problems. the dealer is crappy they dont even work with the buyer. The car makes a horrible squealing sound when driving, the bolts from the steering wheel fall out when driving the car. the air bag light stays on, the car rattles when driving, this car is a total lemon and I am not afraid to share it with anybody, You couldnt pay me enough to drive another Kia. when I am able to get rid of this one it needs to go to a junkyard so no other poor soul has to deal with the cost of monthly repairs to keep it on the road.

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  Great value - 2002 Kia Rio
  By Larry Hofmeister - July 3 - 10:00 am

  For a $7000 car this thing has been very impressive. Runs like a watch, comfortable to drive, great mileage and nice looking car.