2004 Kia Rio Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
25 -26 City / 32 -33 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
104
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Jessica M
It is a very reliable car.
I think this car is great for people learning to drive because it is tiny and easier to get around. I haven't had any problems with this car and its performance has made me nothing but happy. I think it is very comfortable, may not be for taller individuals though. I have gotten a lot of great compliments on my vehicle.
accountCircle James K
I like the gas mileage the fast acceleration.
I like the car because it is compact and has plenty of pep, the gas mileage is very good and even though it is compact, it has a very smooth ride.
accountCircle Hannah D
It has a Bluetooth radio so I can connect my phone.
My car is very small and compact which is perfect for the city. It has great gas mileage and I like that it sits low to the ground. It is perfect size for just me and does not require much maintenance. It is a cute orange and the Kia people are so nice when I take it in to get serviced. I have not had any issues with it at all and I have been driving it for about six years now. I love my little Kia.
accountCircle Karen B
Great gas mileage and withstands the test of time. It has lots of cargo space
Great gas mileage. Because it's a hatchback I have a lot of cargo room.
accountCircle Emily O
To check the engine old as the car tends to use up the oil fast.
I like how straightforward it is- not too fancy with bells and whistles and for the most part we are able to do repairs at home. Dislike no cruise control.
accountCircle Allen G
The most interesting thing about the vehicle is the gas mileage.
Seats are very comfortable, easy to sit in without having problems that a smaller vehicle would. The body is nice but dents very easily. My only problem was how easy it dents besides that it is a beautiful vehicle. The gas mileage is amazing, can go all day on a low cost. Heating and cooling is nice! Highly recommend anyone to get this vehicle.
accountCircle Melissa C
Easy on gas. Small but still roomy
Easy on gas Repairs are cheap Economical No complaints
accountCircle Shania B
It's a compact car so if space Is a focal point for you, this might not be the car for you. Everything else is great !
I have a 2004 Kia Rio. I love it to be honest. The only con for me would be the manufactured radio, other than that it's great. It doesn't take much to fill up the tank, it drives really smooth, and if I have to replace any parts or have it fixed it's not expensive.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Alexis K
I like it because it is small and easy to maneuver.
Too many problems. It keeps breaking down with blockage in the fuel system. I have to reset a lot of the codes in the car as well.
accountCircle Cindy C
It seems to need a lot of repair, and for such a compact vehicle, it doesn't get as good of gas mileage as I would expect. With such a tiny car, and all the highway driving we do, I would expect around 35 mpg, but we get more like 28 mpg.
It's a compact car, so it's easy to drive and find parking. It's an old car, and it's a base model, so it has zero bells and whistles. The gas mileage is ok, but not as good as my 2001 Toyota Corolla was, that my daughter got in a wreck with, even though this car is smaller. I don't like that it has a lot of proprietary parts, so you have to order them specially. And it seems like it needs to go into the shop a lot. If I had to do it over again, I would probably not buy this car, but we bought it used just a year and a half ago, because we were desperate to have another car with three of us in the family driving.
accountCircle Jason s
The Kia Rio was a smaller and cheaper car made to be affordable but has still lasted several years with minimal problems.
The Rio is small and still a bit underpowered but has been fairly reliable. I have experienced several electrical problems and some issues with stalling at stop lights. Overall it was a cheaper car early in its life cycle by a new brand but has performed well enough for my needs.
accountCircle Diane Y
My car gets me from point A to point B safely, which is ideal.
It's not a bad car, depending on what works for you and what your needs require. I could have done with a newer model but you get what you pay for.
accountCircle Ruby W
The interesting gas saver.
My vehicle is very reliable. The air and heat has not given me any problems. It has been good and hanging on for a while and it is a pretty good gas saver. One of the main problems that I have had is with the battery. They have not had pretty long battery lives. I also have had a few problems with the chipping of paint. The paint has been very cheap and had a hard time staying on. I did not replace it and I am just going to let it ride until I decide to get another vehicle. It has been very faithful.
accountCircle Whitney M
It is has nice seats, it is low to the ground. It also has good turn radius.
It needs a transmission and keeps needing one every year or so, now it needs a radiator also. Other then that the car is great.
accountCircle Matt M
It's small and not the prettiest thing, but it runs.
It runs ok. I use it mainly for transportation to and from work so it works for me. Not too flashy and nothing is automatic except the transmission.
accountCircle Hosein A
My idea about Korean cars the kia company
Kia company is really do great job and they've produced reasonable high-quality vehicles specially in sedan range

Kia Rio Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
4dr Sdn Manual
104 HP 30-30 MPG 5 Seats
car
4dr Sdn Auto
104 HP 29-29 MPG 5 Seats
car
4dr Wgn Cinco Manual
104 HP 30-30 MPG 5 Seats
car
4dr Wgn Cinco Auto
104 HP 29-29 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2004 Kia Rio Owner Reviews

3.59
17 Reviews
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5 stars 29%
4 stars 24%
3 stars 29%
2 stars 12%
1 star 6%
accountCircle Hannah D on March 12, 2021
It has a Bluetooth radio so I can connect my phone.
My car is very small and compact which is perfect for the city. It has great gas mileage and I like that it sits low to the ground. It is perfect size for just me and does not require much maintenance. It is a cute orange and the Kia people are so nice when I take it in to get serviced. I have not had any issues with it at all and I have been driving it for about six years now. I love my little Kia.
accountCircle Matt M on February 7, 2021
It's small and not the prettiest thing, but it runs.
It runs ok. I use it mainly for transportation to and from work so it works for me. Not too flashy and nothing is automatic except the transmission.
View All Reviews (17) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #18 Small Cars by Owners

The 2004 Kia Rio has an average owner rating of 3.85 out of 5 which ranks it #18 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
2004 Volkswagen R32
5
2
car
2004 MINI Cooper
4.4
18
car
2004 Kia Rio
3.59

Ranks #6 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2004 Kia Rio has a combined MPG of 34 which ranks it #6 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
2004 Honda Civic
48 MPG
2
car
2004 Toyota Echo
43 MPG
6
Tie
car
2004 Kia Rio
33 MPG

Is The 2004 Kia Rio A Good Car?

Yes it is a very good vehicle. It gives a very smooth ride and the inside is very spacious. It also has Turbo Boost which is exciting to use especially on the thruway.
Kimberly T.

How Reliable Is The 2004 Kia Rio?

It is a very reliable vehicle. We did have problems with the exhaust but that was fixed with no more problems.
Kate V.

Is The 2004 Kia Rio A Good Value?

It cost us $2500. We bought it used after seeing it displayed on someone's front lawn. To us it was a bargain since we enjoy it so much.
Jordan B.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2004 Kia Rio speed sensor location?

Answer: The 2004 Kia Rio speed sensor location is on the driver side plugged into the transmission. A failing speed sensor will have a direct impact on automatic transmission operation. One of the most common signs of...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test
(Not Tested)
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety