2003 Kia Rio Review

ChrisB
5/23/2008

Ownership Status: I own this vehicle.
Recommendation: I do not recommend this vehicle.

Pros Cheap car Good mileage if you stay under 70 mph

Cons Poor service Bad warranty Not really reliable Not much power (105 hp or so)

Got problems right out of the dealer with the car stalling when on idle. Went back to the dealer and they fixed it on the warranty, some problems with the spark plugs connection. Then the car was running fine, nothing great, but being short financially, it was taking me where I needed to go. I went to three different dealers for service and always got rude and ordinary service at best. I followed Kia's maintenance plan which is on the expensive side to make sure the warranty would be honored if anything happens. I also had to pay for repairs every year that were never covered on the warranty ($500-$600/year), and I'm not talking breaks pads or normal wear and tear on belts and such. Then all of a sudden, before the 60,000 miles, but just after the 60 months warranty past, the timing belt broke which cause the whole engine to die. Called the dealer, he wouldn't do anything for me. Contacted Kia and they just said warranty was over, nothing they can do. I had to dish out $2,000 to put a 2005 engine in. The shop I dealt with for this engine told me that Rios from 2000 to 2004 all have a tendency to die at or around the 60,000 miles mark. True or not, I can't tell but mine did die at that point.





Looks ok at first sight, but then you realize how cheap it is.





Not enough power. But if you coast at 60-65 mph on the highway you get good mileage. Don't beat it.



It all depends on how you drive it.



Cheap at purchase, but expensive to maintain.





Piece of advice to Kia owners, don't bother following their maintenance plan, they will find a way not to respect the warranty anyway.