Are you worried that your budget might be insufficient for a car? Then, check out the Kia Rio.
Start by checking out our article about common issues with the Kia Rio models.
The Rio is Kia’s cheapest vehicle, and it also manages to house an Apple Car Play system and beautiful interiors despite its low price.
Even though the Rio is so affordable, you are still going to spend money to get it. So, you may want to know how long Kia Rios last.
And we answer that question in this article.
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Here is the short answer to how long the Kia Rio lasts:
With proper care and maintenance, a Kia Rio can last for 200,000 miles or more. If you drive an average of 15,000 miles per year, you can expect the Rio to serve you for about 13 years or thereabouts. This can only happen if you keep up with maintenance and avoid abusing the car.
How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Kia Rio?
The average Kia Rio lasts for 200,000 miles. So, if you take proper care of your Kia Rio, you can expect the car to be just as durable.
In the last decade, Kia has upgraded its quality control and its vehicles now compete with Toyota and Honda cars. If you get recent model Kia Rios, you can rest assured it will last well over 200k miles if you are diligent with maintenance.
How Soon Should You Expect Rust on Your Kia Rio?
In most Kia Rios, rust appears about five years after the production of the vehicle. Kia Rio drivers who live in salt-belt areas may find their vehicle rusting before the fifth year of production.
Kia Rios usually starts rusting from their hood or roof and spread to other parts over time.
That said, you can apply anti-corrosion materials on your car every year to delay rust. Those who live in places with heavy road salt may need to spray dry coating for additional protection.
How Long Do Kia Rios Last Compared to Similar Cars?
The Kia Rio is quite durable. But does it last as long as its peers? The comparison below will help you find out how the Kia Rio fares in longevity when compared with other cars in its category:
Kia Rio vs. Nissan Versa
The Nissan Versa shares the same lifespan with the Kia Rio. Most Kia Rios last 200,000 miles, which is the same for the Versa.
However, the Rio is cheaper to maintain compared to the Nissan Versa. RepairPal estimates it costs $434 to maintain the Rio annually, while the Versa requires an average annual maintenance cost of $456.
Read more: How Long Do Nissan Versas Last (9 Important Facts)
Kia Rio vs. Chevrolet Spark
Kia Rios are more durable than Chevrolet Sparks. Chevrolet Sparks only last for about 150,000 miles, even with regular maintenance.
On the other hand, taking proper care of your Kia Rio can earn you about 200,000 miles on the vehicle.
Read more: How Long Do Chevrolet Sparks Last (Solved & Explained)
Kia Rio vs. Mitsubishi Mirage
The Mitsubishi Mirage is another car with greater longevity than the Kia Rio. You can get up to 300,000 miles on a Mitsubishi Mirage. In contrast, your Kia Rio may only deliver its best performance for 200,000 miles.
How Reliable Is a Kia Rio?
According to Repairpal and J.D. Power, the Kia Rio is a very reliable vehicle. J.D. Power rated the 2020 and 2021 models of the Rio an 87 out of 100 in reliability. Likewise, Repairpal gave the car a reliability rating of 4/5.
The Best and Worst Model Years for Kia Rio
The worst model year for Kia Rio is 2004. Carcomplaints.com states that 2004 Kia Rio drivers reported the most serious problems across all Kia Rio models. Many of these complaints were about engine failures.
About four customers claimed that their engines seized while they were driving. Other drivers complained that they encountered difficulties starting their vehicle’s engines on some occasions.
The 2021 Kia Rio is the best model year for the vehicle. Carcomplaints.com has not received any negative reports about the model year from its users.
In addition, the 2021 model has several safety features that were absent in previous model years.
Some of them are a lane keep assist, a lane departure warning, and an automatic climate control system.
Related: How Long Do The Toyota Yaris Last? (Solved & Explained)
What About Recalls for These Model Years?
The Kia Rio has been recalled several times. Below are the number of recalls for each model year:
- 2001: 3
- 2002: 1
- 2003: 3
- 2004: 2
- 2005: 1
- 2006: 1
- 2007: 1
- 2008: 1
Kia Rio Model Year List
Here is a list of the model years for the Kia Rio:
- 1995 Kia Rio
- 1996 Kia Rio
- 1997 Kia Rio
- 1998 Kia Rio
- 1999 Kia Rio
- 2000 Kia Rio
- 2001 Kia Rio
- 2002 Kia Rio
- 2003 Kia Rio
- 2004 Kia Rio
- 2005 Kia Rio
- 2006 Kia Rio
- 2007 Kia Rio
- 2008 Kia Rio
- 2009 Kia Rio
- 2010 Kia Rio
- 2011 Kia Rio
- 2012 Kia Rio
- 2013 Kia Rio
- 2014 Kia Rio
- 2015 Kia Rio
- 2016 Kia Rio
- 2017 Kia Rio
- 2018 Kia Rio
- 2019 Kia Rio
- 2020 Kia Rio
- 2021 Kia Rio
Are Kia Rios Expensive to Maintain?
The Kia Rio is not expensive to maintain. The average maintenance cost for subcompact cars is $456 per year. On the other hand, it only costs about $434 to maintain a Kia Rio annually.
How Long Do Kia Rio Brake Pads Last?
Kia Rio brake pads last between 30,000 to 70,000 miles. If you live in a city with busy roads and many traffic lights, your brake pads may deteriorate much faster.
Drivers have to stop their vehicles several times to move ahead in traffic. Stopping your vehicle continuously within a short period may take a toll on your brake pads.
If you want to increase the lifespan of your Kia Rio brake pads, avoid hard braking. Instead, anticipate a stop and carefully bring your car to a stop.
According to yourmechanic.com, replacement brake pads for Kia Rio cost between $137-$194.
How Long Do Kia Rio Tires Last?
The average Kia Rio tire lasts for 12,000 miles. If your Kia Rio tires start breaking apart at the sidewalls, it might be time for a replacement.
You can maintain your Kia Rio tires by rotating them every 5,000 miles. Regular tire alignment and balancing may also preserve the life of your tires. Experts recommend that you align your tires after every 24 months and balance them each time you hit the 12,000-mile mark.
You should also be reading our article which talks about How Long Do Kia Seltos Last?
How Long Do Kia Rio Transmissions Last?
Most Kia Rio transmissions last for 200,000 miles. However, you may need to change the fluid at some point to achieve this mileage.
Fluid leaks and burning smells in your Kia Rio may indicate that your transmission is worn out.
How Long Do Kia Rio Spark Plugs Last?
You can expect your Kia Rio spark plugs to last for 100,000 miles, especially if you are using a new model. Change your spark plugs as soon as you observe a decline in your vehicle’s performance.
What About Insurance Cost for Kia Rio?
On the average, U.S. insurance companies charge about $1438 a year for Kia Rio policies. However, some factors like gender and location may affect the price each driver pays for their car insurance policy.
These factors include:
- Age: Insurance policies for young drivers are more expensive than car insurance for older people. Car insurers charge so much for teenage clients because they are more likely to cause accidents than their older, experienced customers. In contrast, older people enjoy massive discounts on their car insurance policies. The reason for this might be that older people drive their vehicles less frequently.
- Sex: Many insurance companies offer insurance policies to female drivers at lower costs than their male counterparts. Unlike women, men are more inclined to engage in dangerous driving. This means that they have a higher risk of running into accidents. In addition, male drivers often demand more expensive claims than women during car crashes.
- Driving Record: Kia Rio drivers who have bad driving records may need to pay more than the average coverage cost to insure their car. On the other hand, insurers may grant discounts to customers with excellent driving records.
- Location: If you are a resident in a highly secure area, your car insurance policy may be cheap.
Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Kia Rio
Here are tips to help prolong your Kia Rio’s longevity:
- When your vehicle displays a warning signal, investigate the problem and fix the issue immediately.
- Avoid using low-quality replacement parts. Low-quality vehicle components often cost more than high-quality parts in the long run. Because they barely last long, you may need to change an inferior part about twice throughout the lifetime of a single genuine part. Also, using counterfeit parts may affect the performance of your Kia Rio.
- Apply wax on your Kia Rio at least once every two years to keep rust at bay.
- Refill your engine oil after every 7,500 miles.
- Always use synthetic engine fluid.
Sources
Kia Rio Reliability – 2021 Ratings | RepairPal
