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 1 through 10 of 83.00-
Money well spent - 2002 Kia Rio
By Roguebull - November 4 - 5:43 amBought Rio with 53K miles on it (still in warranty!), took the back seats out, used it as a mini ranch truck so I could drive my truck less. I live in the cold Pacific Northwest but the Rio has never failed to start on the first revolution. Ive had it off road, (which it is not designed for), and on snowy mountain fire trails. I carried lumber, pipe, dogs and feed bags inside with the windows up and the rear seats out. It got from 29 mpg to 37 mpg depending on how I used it. Only complaint: little hard for big man in western hat to squeeze in and out of. But it never let me down in 40K miles, did all it was asked to do and more, and thus is one of the best buys for the dollar Ive owned.
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Nice Little car w/a price U CANT beat! - 2002 Kia Rio
By David-WI - August 21 - 10:00 amI REALLY like this little car. Plus I COULDNT pass up on the price either. Granted it is a little 4cyl car but it has nearly everything you need at a base model price. I paid 12K even for this car and got nearly everything I wanted. I had the dealer install after market cruise and I am set!! The A/C works just fine, it has a roomy hatch and it looks great!!! All for 12K!! How can you go wrong????
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Excellent deal - 2002 Kia Rio
By kerri9494 - December 7 - 2:00 amJust brought this car home, so I dont know about the reliability yet. However, Im happy with everything. The seats are firm and supportive, theres no body roll on corners, the leg room in the front is ample (although much less in the back), everything WORKS. Its not a performance car, but heck, Im a soccer mom. I got in the car this morning, started it up, and it got me all the way to work safely, in climate-controlled comfort. What more can you want from a LOADED car (every option) that I got for $12,700?
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Sop far so good - 2002 Kia Rio
By OldBear3468 - June 2 - 2:00 amTwotanks of gas and one freeway trip equals suprising improvement in my 2003 Rio, which , though they have been out two months Edmunds fails to note. P is up to 104 and power windows are available. At 6 and 250 Im comfortable in the cabin at all speeds.
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Mixed bag - 2002 Kia Rio
By treacherousdad - May 8 - 10:00 amI love my little Kia... except that this year has many problems. You either get one that will last forever, or you get an utter lemon. My luck has given me the latter. These things have a nasty habit of bad grounds, blowing head gaskets, and having sensors go out... all at a premium cost if you can even find the parts. If the car were more reliable, I would recommend it to anyone. What I love is the handling. The car is fun to toss around in S-turns and roundabouts. I like the interior and it is comfortable. RPM spin a little high on the freeway, but then the motor is tiny, so what do you expect.
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16K miles in 6 months - 2002 Kia Rio
By Ed VanderVeen - May 2 - 2:00 amI bought my 2002 Kia Rio in July 2002 and so far so good. I drive 85 miles round trip to work each day and the gas milage on my full size pick up was killing me. My wife & I decided that I needed an inexpensive vehicle with good gas milage and a/c to drive to work in. The Kia Rio was the solution. So far I have put 16,000 miles on it (including a trip from Dallas to Chicago) and have had zero problems.
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trouble free miles - 2002 Kia Rio
By nan25 - April 8 - 7:31 amEverytime I get asked about the car i have said this. Bought her new with zero dealer add ons. Starting at 40K and today Id say "got 207K trouble free miles" Check engine light has been working for 11 yrs. Gotta ignore it, it rearly goes off. I am lazy but do the oil changes religiously & read the review warning about timing belts. Got that at 149,000. At 200,000 got front wheel bearings & someother stuff there for $700. Hatch latch broke, using a bunge cord. If you dont like yours I will buy it :)
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I LOVE my Kia Rio - 2002 Kia Rio
By SaltyDog - March 7 - 2:56 amThe Rio hadnt been out very long when I bought it so I was kinda nervous, but let me tell you. I would die without my beloved kia rio. I watched other people at work by gigantic mc-cars and felt so bad in my little kia, but NOW with gas the way it is. I can proudly say with gas at 3.25 a gallon I filled up with $26. The only thing that has ever gone wrong with the kia is the alternator had to be replaced when it was 5 years old. Thats it folks. Little things here and there. Door bell rings by itself, interior light comes on by itself, back seat leaks (think it comes from the trunk somehow) but who cares I love my Kia and I will have her until she dies literally.
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You Get What You Pay For - 2002 Kia Rio
By RaiderGirl - December 24 - 2:00 amVery well-priced for a single mom, but Im making up for it at the fuel pump; the Kia Rio Cinco is surprisingly UNeconomical in gas use. I can barely squeeze nine gallons into a nearly twelve gallon tank, and then I only get 200 miles on a tankful in the city. Also, it could accelerate MUCH better than it does. Other than that, its pretty reliable and very cool-looking. The interior is very roomy - I can fit my large dog in the back with the rear seat in the upright position with no problem. Overall rating: 6
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what a great car - 2002 Kia Rio
By adam` - November 24 - 10:00 amI love this car it has filled my expectations and more(and I have always loved korean cars)!!!! Very reliable and fun to drive. It feels like a very well put together car! (I already have 2500 miles on it)
