2012 Kia Rio EX 5-Door HD Video Review

[NerdGuyFilming]

Just purchased one today. Very good vehicle. Decent power, amazing fuel economy (even better when you're not a person who drives with a lead foot), feels like a larger car while driving, but is very small and easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Great review. Great car.

[evoxpisces]

I'm in the market for a new car, and I took a look at this car the other day and was definitely impressed! Way bigger on the inside than it looks! Also drives smooth and the price is low! So this is definitely in my top 3 at the moment...

[hikari94122]

@evoxpisces I have the SX with premium package. I am a big guy ( 6'4" 220 ) and more than enough leg and hip/shoulder room. Actually more leg room than any car in its class. That's my biggest issue with a car. With all the features like push button start, keyless entry, nav, heated seats, back-up camera, moon roof, LED accent lights and so on, no other car for this price can come close. $24'500 with extended warranty 100g's 10 years bumper to bumper. Check out my review on it.

[evoxpisces]

@hikari94122 I checked out your review and now I like it even more! Thanks for posting!

[funkycomposer]

I'll Take It As An EX! :D lol

[funkycomposer]

I Like It & I Wanna Get That As An EX! :D

[MrCami1234]

I want this for my first Carr.!

[bramwellt]

That's great, but how does it stack up against a Ferarri Italia?

[huh0kay]

Appreciate the professional review. Not many on this car. Great Job.

[Texaswingman]

Nice review, purchased an '09 Santa Fe for my wife a year ago. It has been an excellent car with no problems. Still waiting for that Soul review though as that is the car I want. Any chance on a small car comparison? With so many new small cars coming out and fuel definatly not going down. We really need a good selection of quality cars. Again thanks for the hard work, tongue in cheek humor, and great videos!

[KymaticaHealth]

Ron Paul 2012....= NO WW3

[NoiseMostBeautiful]

Happy 2012 rio customer. Purchased primarily for my wife to drive to work and school, and it's amazing in that role. Got the EX with conv. package, good price for the options. She actually usues the fancy microsoft media station and bluetooth much more than I would. 5 doors are very nice for versitility. I give them a win on it, real world mpg is close to 40 for how I drive. Would have enjoyed the stick, but the automatic 6 is a nice trans.

[newfanglejr]

Typo at 5:13 - otherwise thanks for the review.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@newfanglejr Curious as to what that typo might be...

[newfanglejr]

@DrivenCarReviews The fella being interviewed is the manager of Product Planning, not Planing. Thanks so much!!!

[TheAllPod]

@DrivenCarReviews hey, i think he meant "planning"

you guys spelled it as "planing"

:)

[USA99VS1]

@DrivenCarReviews Product Planning, not Planing. Cheers!

[NoEcologyNoEconomy]

@DrivenCarReviews, typo = Product "Planing" vs. Planning. Unless there was woodworking involved somewhere.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@NoEcologyNoEconomy I could make some crack about it being the Korean spelling but that would be what everyone would expect. I'll do better next time.

[Kougajin]

@DrivenCarReviews Great review!

[Girisgreencrazeiful]

@DJTEVAdotCOM Uhh just cause they advertise it dosnt mean people wanted it

[BB2009LZ]

Shame on you...you ran a stop sign at 4:19!

[MsMakeupDarlin]

@BB2009LZ  Not me. I shoot my own video so that's Evil Twin driving.

[DJTEVAdotCOM]

Kia Soul was successful because they spent a crap load of money on advertisement. Now that the fun is over...the Scion XB is still the original underdog toaster which styling not as outdated as the Soul.

[DJTEVAdotCOM]

I thoguht they got rid of this model. I would never buy a KIA...screams out "cheap Korean car!"

[eadad]

KIA IS DOING WELL BECAUSE THEY KILLED SATURN!

[hernanbotbol1]

Thanks for an other great video!

[denisrenelara]

Something's that I find funny: 1) "no trunk test, remember I am in Texas" so Texans don't use toilet paper? 2) KIA Rio was designed in California while the Chevrolet Sonic was designed in Korea.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@denisrenelara Yeah, really weird about Texans not using TP, huh? Or maybe it just means I'm away from the Costco in Seattle that lets me borrow their bath tissue. Or both?  Maybe it was just the ones I met...

[denisrenelara]

@DrivenCarReviews I am sorry, I did not mean to be rude. Just trying to be funny, hey, one question what did you mean when you said that "gage needles are overdone"? I liked them.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@denisrenelara I was also trying to be funny (though not very effectively I suppose).

For some reason Rio's needles just struck me as a bit much. Ryan Douthit, my drive partner felt the same way. They wouldn't be a deal breaker though.

[robins1818]

Awsome little car

[davidhalifax]

I like the power folding side mirrors, but not sure about the backup camera since this is a small compact hatch to begin with, unlike a sedan where you have to guess where the trunk ends. Same opinion with the engine shut-off feature, but a nice try from Kia to save more fuel. Can't wait for the review of the Soul Tom.

[Gnometower]

In Europe you can get the car with an 88 MPG-engine.

[LeastOfTheMajority]

I test drove the Rio a couple of days and I really did like the way it drives. My only complaint is with the A pillar, I feel like forward-front/side visibility suffers because of this.

[chickenfarm09]

I'm disappointed in the new rio, because when you compare the interior capacities to the previous generation, this new model often comes up short. So even though it's longer and wider on the outside, this didn't translate to more interior room. I seriously doubt anyone 6' tall will want this car, or even want to ride in it. Kia look around at the American people, especially the men. They are often TALL. If you don't believe me, just go run the numbers yourself.

[avlisk]

Not to worry about the 2nd gen comparison, Tom. I would have taken the Kia over the Merc even back then, if it were a Cinco and not a sedan. (Note: I'm biased, though, as I love my 2002 Rio Cinco, the most comfortable and reliable car I've ever owned in over 40 years of driving.)

PS Hamster commercials are annoying, but I still would give the Soul a test drive.

[skoshy]

You say "hamster lover" like it's a bad thing. And leave it to the Germans to be all bent out of shape over a joke that puts them in the bad light. Let's all just act like it never happened... yes, THAT never happened.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@skoshy On the contrary, our family was very attached to our late hamster and Soul is on my wife's short list for her next car. And since I do have a sense of humor, I have to say the hamster commercials are very cool, especially the second one. Nice to know people are staying to the end...

[skoshy]

@DrivenCarReviews I've been staying to the end ever since I realized Driven and Drive were different, just to catch the extra content. It was my routine, watch Drive in standard definition then watch Driven with HD and bonus footage. Obsessed? Maybe.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@skoshy Well, sorry to ruin your routine but I just had to cut some of my work load. Really, I think the Driven versions were always the best. I get to have more fun with them. It's funny that even though I haven't added new content in 5-6 months, it's still very popular on iTunes.  Have you signed up on the website? I'm still giving away hats. Just saying...

[DrivenCarReviews]

@skoshy That's an obsession I can support.

[camaroman101]

looks fantastic

[yummy1234098]

the interior looks like a minor update to a 1995 Honda Civic

[cm18cam]

This car looks really good for a hatch back. I really like the rear view.

[LeadHammer]

Looks like the old Seat Leon from the back, and like a drunken sailor with only two teeth left from the front. But at least now it looks like an average European car, not like an average Asian car (save for the teeth).

[csp91302]

Tom - keep up the good work. U are one of the best reviewers out there!

[mx5hong]

Disappointed with Kia for offering a manual transmission on only the base model. Tried to build a SX model on their site to my specs but no manual. Same story with the Soul. On a recent Car & Driver comparison test, the Hyundai Accent with a manual had much better performance and fuel economy figures than the Rio5 with automatic.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@mx5hong Yes, you'd think SX would be offered with a manual. Then again, few people are buying them. Sigh...

[neptoon08]

@mx5hong I heard kia isn't selling as much manuals anymore becuase there are people who buy manual and don't know how to drive it, then they break the car and blame the company for making a bad car

[Logicsupremacy]

I wonder how fast SX turbo is

[DrivenCarReviews]

@Logicsupremacy If there was one...

[Logicsupremacy]

Reminds a bit of Golf but still unique enough

[denisrenelara]

COMPETITION IS GOOD PEOPLE!!!!

[ormand3000]

QUESTION: So when the car is at a full stop and the engine turns off, the Kia representative mentioned that "bluetooth, rear view camera" work in electric-mode but does AC still work? I know some cars have the AC shut off when it goes in such modes, and that wouldn't work in Austin, much less Houston or other high humidity/hot climates. Great review :-) Did you get a chance to ride Lime Creek Rd?

[DrivenCarReviews]

@ormand3000 Off the top of my head I believe the AC shuts down. However, I think I remember them talking about the system is smart enough that if the cabin temp rises more than a few degrees then ISG switches off. Let me ask you this- Would one minute at a light with no AC be that big of a deal in climates like that? I live in Seattle and it isn't an issue for us.

[ormand3000]

@DrivenCarReviews thanks for the reply :-) To answer your question, yes sitting in a car even for 10 seconds without any AC/HVAC would be terrible in Texas. This summer, we had weeks of triple digit heat and add to that high humidity, making for an uncomfortable environment without AC. I am all for engine shutoff in traffic but would hope that there is a way to defeat it. Sitting in Houston Traffic, for example, could mean minutes at a time without AC. Thats very much a deal breaker.

[DrivenCarReviews]

@ormand3000 Hoo boy, that's tough weather. There's an on/off for ISG, I'll revise the written review that leaves out.

[2Kriss2Kross]

This car eats the new Yaris and ugly Versa. I would love to see that Rio-Benz Comparison. Looks like a good laugh! Is there a link?

[neptoon08]

@2Kriss2Kross i seached up kia rio vs mercedes on youtube and i found the video

heres the link watch?v=1zeF46cDUIg

[2Kriss2Kross]

@neptoon08 Great! Just saw it! Thanks! =)

[ormand3000]

1st :-)