- 113,476
- 377 below average
- 4,595 good
- Rialto, CA
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- autoshopper.com
- 377 below average 113,476 red automatic
2009 kia rio review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Inexpensive, fuel-efficient, practical, enjoyable. introductionthe kia rio is a fuel-efficient subcompact with a roomy cabin and agile handling. Rio comes standard with six airbags, a safety feature normally associated with expensive luxury cars, not subcompacts. Tires are 175/70r14 on 14-inch steel rims. There's no air conditioning or power steering. It comes with a sporty mesh fabric on the seats, an eight-way adjustable driver's seat with a fold-down armrest, tachometer, rear defroster, dual 12v power outlets and a convenient shopping bag hook on the back of the front passenger seat. Carpeted floor mats 95) and a rear spoiler 300) are the only options. the rio lx sedan 13,225) comes with air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering column, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. Tires upgrade to 185/65r14 with full wheel covers. The lx sedan comes with the manual or an automatic transmission 14,075). A power package 600) includes power windows, power door locks with keyless remote, power heated outside mirrors, tweeter speakers, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. The rio sx sedan 14,875) and rio5 sx 15,125) are also available with the automatic. Optional are 16-inch wheels with 205/45r16 tires 200). Otherwise, sx models offer the same options as the lx. safety features for all models include front seatbelt pretensioners along with six airbags: dual frontal, front seat side-impact and full-coverage side-impact curtain. Abs is optional. walkaroundthere is nothing wimpy looking about either of the kia rio models. Both share a solidly handsome front end with a strong nose and big headlights that give the car a purposeful appearance. The subtle bevel below the big side windows wraps neatly around the trunk, giving the rio more the look of a european sports sedan than a korean econobox. all models come with hefty black bodyside moldings that do not detract too badly, as they align nicely with the wraparound edges of the front and rear bumpers. The fender flares actually look a shade too big on the base and lx models, which have skinnier tires. The flares fill out much better on the sx with its lower-profile tires and 15-inch wheels. despite significantly more carrying capacity (and identical passenger room), the rio5 hatchback is 8. 8 inches shorter than the sedan; for the record, it's an inch and a quarter shorter than even the hyundai accent coupe. We think that gives the rio5 a trim and sporty look. The rio5 looks taller than the rio sedan but it is actually the same overall height. It's a couple of inches lower in height than the scion xd or honda fit, and a bit lower than the chevrolet aveo. the rear of the rio5 is distinctive, with backup lights that wrap around the taillights and almost look like part of the body. The c-pillar curves down to the taillights, and the tailgate has full width glass, making the rear view more attractive than on many hatchbacks. the kia rio is based on the same platform as the hyundai accent. interiorthe kia rio is a roomy car. At 92. 2 cubic feet, the subcompact rio's total passenger volume is comparable to that of the two most popular compacts, the honda civic (90. 9) and toyota corolla (92. 0). the seats are on the soft side and don't offer the lateral support we'd expect on a sports sedan. Below the radio, three big knobs for the climate controls are mounted on a bulge in the center stack that brings them closer to the driver's hands. A chrome kia logo brightens the center of the steering wheel hub. sporty trim makes the sx models nicer and more appealing to driving enthusiasts. Metal pedals and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob add tactile as well as visual excitement, while matching red stitching on the steering wheel, shift boot, and seat bolsters helps tie the whole interior together as a cohesive whole. A slot in the center stack holds parking passes or toll tickets. cargo capacity is increased via a folding rear seatback with a 60/40 split for added versatility. The rio5 has a total cargo carrying a capacity of almost 50 cubic feet with the back seats folded down, substantially more than in other hatchbacks in this class. Even with the rear seats up for passengers, the rio5 has an impressive 15. 8 cubic feet of cargo space. The sedan's trunk measures 11. 9 cubic feet, which is not bad for the class. driving impressionwe've driven most versions of the kia rio and are impressed with it. we spent time in an lx automatic sedan and a rio5 sx manual. We enjoyed shifting the manual as it definitely makes for a more sporty experience. However, the lx with the automatic transmission was no slouch. Cars in this class traditionally suffer a big performance and fuel economy hit with an automatic, but the rio confirms that modern transmissions have largely addressed these deficiencies. the automatic rates slightly higher on the highway, according to the epa, with 35 mpg compared with the manual's 33 mpg. There's nothing exceptional about rio's macpherson strut front suspension or twist-beam rear axle, but kia designed them for long wheel travel, a characteristic long favored by european automakers for combining a comfortable ride with responsive handling. The rio is far from being a sporty car, but the sx handled nimbly without too much body lean or sloppy motion. The lx, with its skinner 14-inch tires, was not quite as secure, though most drivers will not complain. the power steering, which stiffens up as the engine speed increases, felt taught with just the right amount of feel dialed in. We did not try a base model, which comes without power steering. standard-issue brakes are 10. 1-inch discs up front and 8. 0-inch drums in the rear. That's a good upgrade and we strongly recommend it. We found the rio5 sx the most enjoyable, with its combination of hatchback versatility and sporty and luxury touches. All rios come with a comprehensive set of passive safety features; even the base model boasts six airbags. All models get kia's generous five-year/60,000-mile warranty coupled with a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. newcartestdrive. Com correspondent john rettie is based in santa barbara. model lineupkia rio sedan 11,495); lx 13,225); lx automatic 14,075); sx manual 14,025); sx automatic 14,875); rio5 lx 13,325); rio5 lx automatic 14,175); rio5 sx 14,280); rio5 sx automatic 15,125). assembled inhwasung, south korea. options as testedpower package 600) includes power windows, power door locks w/keyless remote, power heated outside mirrors, tweeter speakers, steering wheel audio controls; carpeted floor mats 95). model testedkia rio5 sx manual 14,280). The kia rio is a subcompact that is inexpensive, stylish and a spacious little car. It delivers sprightly performance, great fuel economy and agile handling. The kia rio is front-wheel drive with independent front suspension, a semi-independent rear suspension, 14-inch wheels on the base and lx trims, and 15-inch on the sx trim. Anti-lock Brakes✔ Tachometer✔ Power Windows✔ Power Locks✔ Air Conditioning✔ AM/FM✔ Alloy Wheels
4,595 Rialto, CARialto, CA at autoshopper.com