USED Kia Rio Hatchback (05 - 11)

My car

Reliability - how about 136000 miles in 4 years without a hiccough and it keeps on going!! Handling - yeah alright not brill but not dangerous either Performance - Excellent. Diesel is good and strong and overtaking is easy Economy - well your paying for the performance. Steady 70mph expect 53mpg. Refinement - OK, not a premium car but not bad either. Cost of ownership - once the warranty ended I service myself, £20 minor service and £30 major including oil and genuine Kia filters. Only repair I've needed was the N/S anti roll bar bush because it was knocking, still that took 3 years to develop into an advisory at MOT. Everything is easy to service. £90 per year road fund.

My car

I've had a 1.5 diesel for the last 18 months and I still cant get over the ooomph that this little hatchback has! If you dont believe me, please go test drive one and put your foot as far down to the floor as you dare. (I should say I've also taken a 1.4 out for a spin - but that was very poor by comparison. Underpowered. So avoid the petrol version).

MPG is also very good and, so far, I've had no problems with it. Not a one.

The only downside is, perhaps, the interior. I've got airbags all over and the CD etc.. is fine. The seats are nice and supportive. Much better than the car I had before. But the plastic is, well, plasticky and a bit too plasticky at that. Had Kia stuck in a posher trim this car would be the bees knees!

My car

Further to the above I have today (18/11/08) received a phone call from Kia UK telling me that they will not honour this issue under warranty.

If poor geometry on a new car which causes tyres to go bald in 9000 miles is not a warranty issue, WHAT IS!!

I am posting this to help other prospective Kia customers make up their own minds as to the value of Kia's warranty.

Next time I shall stick to Citroen/Peugeot which I deeply regret not having done so 9 months ago.

My car

Earlier this year I purchased a new Kia Rio 1.4 Ice automatic. Until now I have had no warranty issues and the car seemed pleasant and nice to drive, despite the rather disappointing fuel consumption.Last week I noticed that the front offside tyre was completely bald on its inner rim.I immediately brought this to the attention of my local Kia dealer and they booked the car in for inspection.They did supply me with the loan of a nice Picanto courtesy car. I assumed that this work would have been covered by their guarantee, not to mention the cost of a new tyre, which is now illegal. When I went to pick up the car I was told the chamber was OK and the wheel alignment had to be adjusted as it was out on the O/S front wheel.Imagine my surprise to find that they had swapped the bald tyre around with one on the back! and then informed me that this was not a warranty issue and would have to pay for the work. I agreed to pay a reduced fee and would bring the matter up with Kia the following day. Kia also informed me that it was not covered by their warranty. I feel I have been cheated, as I am a very careful driver and could not have induced this fault without the damage being obvious on the tyre (pot hole strike etc) I am writing this review to warn other prospective Kia customers to consider the value of their warranty. I will update this review if I hear from Kia.