USED Kia Rio Hatchback (05 - 11)

My car

I have just bought this car. It is fantastic value for money - it has light steering, is comfortable, reasonably well equipped, nippy and economical.

My car

I used to own the 2003 Kia Rio, and to me it was a so-so car - but when this model came out, I took it for a test drive and I was really blown away by its looks, ride and the build, interior, and quality of the equipment. It was so much better than the previous model.

After testing it, I immediately put an order in for it, and now I have been using it for four months with no signs of any problems.

Its engine is quite powerful, too - now I can play catch-up and even beat other cars with engines of similar capacity, such as the Toyota Vios and Honda City to name a few. To sum it all up, it's quite a fun car to drive.

My car

I happened upon the Kia Rio 1.5 LX CRDi (launched Oct 2005) and was persuaded to take it for a test drive. I am so glad that I did. This car was hot off the mark in seconds - so much quicker than my MGF.

I absolutely loved my MGF in the summer, but it is certainly not a winter car. I have just returned from a journey through snow which I would have dreaded in my MGF. My new Rio never faltered! The drive is smooth, the power kicks in the second its needed, it has an excellent braking system, and the seating easily adjusts and is comfortable.

All the latest gadgets are available to enjoy. The only mental obstacle I need to get over is the fact that this is not a well-known brand and has raised a few eyebrows when I have told friends what I have bought. However, I can live with that! For the price, and the specification, I have just bought a lovely car, comfortable to ride, equipped with everything I need to make my journey pleasurable and safe.

I was looking for a car that would still be fun to drive for a great price, £9,300. This is certainly a great little car (although, much bigger than most small cars). My advice would be, don't knock it till you tried it!

My car

Just went for a test drive - expecting the worst.

Very pleasantly surprised. Nice to drive - and quite nippy acceleration, especially with such good fuel economy.

A bit cramped in the back - but not bad.

Folding seat arrangement in the back could be better but again not bad.

Nice price - super economy. Must be a winner