Used 2016 Kia Rio Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2016 Rio, so we've included reviews for other years of the Rio since its last redesign.
Very Happy So Far
gmmcnair, 08/29/2014
2013 Kia Rio LX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
52 of 55 people found this review helpful
I bought my Rio LX hatchback a little over a month ago. I have the 6 speed automatic, and just about nothing else as far as extras. I am not into fluff on cars, but this one is nicely equipped and has all the amenities that one needs in a basic daily driver. The little 1.6 liter engine is spirited off the line (slows down a little bit after that), and gives me decent numbers. I drive in a lot of heavy, stop and start, traffic, and I get about 26-28 mpg overall. Highway mileage hovers around 40....this is without the active ECO button engaged (turns the car into a slug).
Excellent fuel Mileage/Premium Options
Nathan Wood, 11/28/2020
2013 Kia Rio SX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
This is a review after 11 months of ownership. Overall, the Rio SX Hatchback 6M is a really great car. It would have 5 stars If it had better long term durability and less weird quirks. I'm the second (or third) owner of my Rio, and it needed a new clutch at 90k miles (I've seen/heard of cars going much longer with their clutch). The clutch is a wear part, but Kia is perfectly capable of using more durable material in the clutch plate surfaces. There are other quirks such as the GPS touchscreen which has a software glitch where no matter how many times you recalibrate it will never be properly aligned; it can only be fixed by $700 replacement (according to local dealer service center). So the GPS, while its features are good and it works well once you're on your way, it's a pain in the neck to use because it's so difficult to get the touchscreen to work. At 90k miles, the interior does show wear in the driver's seat and controls, but what car this price point and segment doesn't? On to the good stuff: With the 6 spd manual, the Rio gets supremely good fuel economy; averaging 34mpg overall with 29-32 mpg in the city, and up to 40mpg on the highway (inversely related to speed). The excellent 1.6L GDI engine is mated to a pretty decent 6 spd manual; the only thing I don't like is that 1st gear is so short while 2nd gear is so tall that with spirited driving the car falls flat on its face from first to second. However, I think this is a result of tuning for economy and not outright acceleration. It would be perfect if 2nd gear we're shorter. I've come to accept that quirk, though. Despite that, it's still a ton of fun to row through the gears, and having six speeds means you will be more actively engaged with the car and its motion. Also, from stock, this is probably the friendliest manual gearbox for young driver looking forore control! The shifter is super light and easy to move. I prefer weighty firm shifting so I installed a custom stainless steel shift knob from Raceseng.com (look for Hyundai Veloster gear; same vehicle platform). The steering, while utterly numb, is relatively responsive and suits the nature of the car. This is a design philosophy taken from premium brands where numbness is mistaken for smoothness. Good steering communicates road surface and keeps you more informed. The Rio steering rack works, but I wish I could feel more of the road. Again, can we really expect it at this price point? The suspension, an area crucial for hot-hatch style driving, is surprisingly compliant, while keeping the car decently connected to the road, and it will let you pitch the car into a corner! This adds a nice dynamic to the 6 speed gearbox when you downshift into second, rev match, and power through a corner. Road noise is a bit louder, but sound dampening material is heavy and doesn't make sense in this kind of car. The Rio exceeds expectations for handling! The SX comes with 205/45R17 tires, but the 17 inch wheels will receive wider rubber up to 215/45R, which gives more options for nicer, more grippy tires (I have Firestone Firehawk A/S performance tires for Michigan). My car has faulty tire pressure monitor (YMMV), which may have just been installed improperly, but holds air just fine. Finally, a quirk that I like about the design is that depending on the angle, this car looks sleek with the cateye headlights and it looks wayore muscular that it has any business doing with the bulging wheel wells and the chonky 5-spoke wheels. It's almost as if Kia thought about making a hot-hatch version of the Rio, but that would compete too well with the Hyundai Veloster built on the same platform. Gear head Tip: some of the performance parts are interchangeable. Maybe this review of overkill, and maybe some people won't read it all, but if you did, thanks for reading and hope you feel more informed about the Rio.
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Unbelievable value
Mr. Vic, 04/20/2020
updated 04/21/2021
2016 Kia Rio LX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
I've had this car for 3 years now. I bought it new for $11,250. I get 30 around town and about 38 on the highway. I just replaced the back brakes and rotors at 43,000 miles otherwise I've had no issues with this car. It may very well be the best dollar for dollar car I've bought. I sold the car with about 70,000 miles on it. One right rear shock that was making noise that Kia replaced for free and the plastic shield under the oil filter came loose (probably a techs fault) that Kia also replace for free. I sold it on FB in 10 minutes. I loved this car and I'll miss it, I just needed a truck and got a great deal.
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Great Little Car
Dan Ferguson, 05/02/2016
2013 Kia Rio LX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
I love this car. My wife and I bought it about 1 year ago used and it has not given us any trouble. Had 21000 K miles on it when we bought it and we've now got 37000 K miles now. Will be giving this to our daughter, though as she just finished med school and needs a reliable little car where she lives. Shipping it to her today. Got the LX package and it didn't have a few items that I added. For one thing, it had no cruise control, but there's an OEM change that you can do through your steering wheel to add it. Works like a charm. Would not hesitate to buy again.
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No sense to spend more
Ken, 07/31/2015
2014 Kia Rio LX 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
28 of 30 people found this review helpful
These are a great little value and all a person needs for the average commute. Most of us drive from A to B for errands and transportation anyway and how can you beat a great running car with low insurance rates and a 10 year warranty to boot. The only negative thing I have to say is that Hyundai/Kia found a way to get another $150 profit by omitting a spare tire and jack so get your dealer to either include one or sell it to you at cost. They're going to try to convince you that the roadside assistance they give you makes up for it but I can tell you I have sat on the side of the road for hours waiting for these people to show and then many times they can't resolve the issue anyway.
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