Faults:

So far nothing.

General Comments:

I actually didn't want to buy this car. But the car sold itself.

Firstly, it's efficient. I get roughly 7~8 l/100kms, depending on how much I'm hammering it.

I keep trying to find its weak points. I live around the Adelaide hills and do flat driving as well. It pulls up some of our steepest roads quite happily in 4th. I've never had a four cylinder car do that. Always had to shift down to 3rd, or 2nd.

Cornering? It stays solid to the road on the corners. I'm not trying to push its limits, but I know I can corner harder in this car than others I've owned.

Interior space is respectable. Rear seats have leg room. Boot has carry space. Front seats have decent support. The car is not so small that you sit on top of your passengers, but it's not a big car.

Instrumentation is good. I like that the intermittent wipers have variable speed control.

I like that the fold down rear seats aren't a pain to put back again.

So what are its weak points? Car radio volume adjustment is not fine. Clutch is a little bit high. Side mirrors are quite deceptive with how far away vehicles appear to be. Speedo is a bit dark, you really need your headlights on to force the dashlights on and see the display properly. The interior is adequate, rather than luxurious.

I've owned it for seven months and thought by now I would have exposed its weaknesses. I keep finding its strengths.

I regularly drive at 110kph and feel quite secure. I used to have a 1996 Festiva and at that speed felt like I was in a tin can, one mistake away from being a mess. The Rio never gives me that feeling. It's a pleasure to drive.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I had a 1997 Hyundai Excel that I was using for work. It was difficult for me to drive long distance as I'm 6'4".

In the Rio I have heaps of leg room & head room.

I found the economy is good, but will improve as the Rio is broken in.

I found that the dealer was very helpful.

I bought a Rio LX green manual. I thought about the EX version, but decided against it as it really only gave me an arm rest, extra airbags & ABS brakes.

I had decided against the Rio, and maybe getting a Cerato or Hyundai i30, as the Rio has no cruise control option. The dealer advised me of an after market cruise that they can fit, which I did as well as tinting the windows. I found it works great; the car cruises at 60 - 100 kms easily. Better than the standard cruise control that my wife has on her Hyundai Elantra.

Overall very happy. Highly recommend anyone to buy a Rio or any Kia model.