Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
29 -32 City / 35 -38 HWY
Horsepower
110
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Catherine W
Get good gas mileage,it's been really good on mountains,.
There is nothing I dislike.I like the way it saves on gas,it is compact, almost mantians free can travel more because it's cheap on gas,drives really good,like the color it's easy to keep clean.
accountCircle Maria B
Reliable and gets great gas mileage.
My Kia rio5 is reliable. It gets good gas mileage averaging between 25-32 miles per gallon. Only replaced the clutch one time and has close to 150 thousand mile.
accountCircle cheryl w
It is very reliable. I travel on my job and this car is very dependable with very little cost. I will buy another one.
I love the fact that it has 180,000 miles and has had one repair. I love the gas mileage. I love the fact that it has no power windows, doors, etc. I love the fact that it was very affordable and I have gotten my money's worth out of it.
accountCircle Megan H
Excellent starter vehicle
It has over all been an awesome first car. I have had limited issues with this car. I have had to replace the rotors twice due to uneven wear. It still gets excellent gas mileage despite being 13 years old now. I can rely on it to get me just about anywhere.
accountCircle Erin F
A perfect fit of a Kia riot for a 24 year old.
Problem: my brakes makes a lot of noise. Performance: outstanding. Reliability: very much so. Comfort: good. Features: good as well.
accountCircle Henk Lerm
Reliability
Had mine for 2 years - no issues
accountCircle Lynn C
Reliable car and very good on gas mileage.
Paid for and runs. Never had a issue. Good on gas mileage cheaper insurance. Very reliable little hatchback..
accountCircle Joshua H
Very reliable car. Safe. And pocket friendly on gas.
This is an older car with just shy of 200, 000 miles on it but has no problems whatsoever. Since buying it I just maintain the fluids and check any sounds that sounds off if they occur to prevent and future mechanical problems. This is a very reliable car that saves gas being a 4 cylinder. It's not your go fast and powerful muscle car but gets me from A to B. It has no ac till I put a new compressor but that's not a priority at this moment. My next maintenance will be a new tire and all new brakes. I got this car for a very good deal and will make a profit on future sale but for now it's my street licensed go kart.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Peter K
Tired but still running but most of all paid for.
It is just getting old like me it is got about 160,000 miles on it just replace the brakes got new tires on it and the check engine light comes on due to o2 sensors all in all it is starting to nickel and dime me I wish I could afford to buy another one but my budget will not allow me.
accountCircle Sharon M
Mostly 'No Good' and One 'Pretty Good'
This make and model has no extras: no power windows, locks, seats. There is no insulation from exterior noise. I've had to replace all 4 lifters. Due to its size, it struggles in deep snow and can actually be blown sideways in strong wind situations. It DOES get a minimum of 28 miles to the gallon of gas.
accountCircle Linda O
Great car with minor issues.
I like the fact that my car is small and that it meets my needs. But the issues I have is with engine problems. I love the fact that my Kia is great on miles. The trunk was had lots of room. The tropical red color was pretty color. I like the kid lock on the back door.
accountCircle Nicole V
There is no cruise control or abs brakes.
I do not like that this car does not have cruise control. I like having cruise control because I drive on the highway a lot. I also do not like that there is no spot for AUX to hook up my phone. I wish this car was a little bigger also. I like that the seats fold down though.
accountCircle Cindy L
This vehicle still has hand roll up windows and no cruise control
This vehicle is used to commute daily at 200 miles each day, it has been very reliable but the brakes have been changed 3 times due to noise. We have tried factory brakes and off brand brakes and still makes noise. Other than the brakes it has been a good vehicle for what it is used for
accountCircle Hannah C
Five Year Kia Rio Experience
It's had multiple problems over the years and taken several hundred dollars in repairs. However, it is very easy to drive and the gas mileage is great. Both of the front doors have broken in the past month, though, which is very concerning. I have to keep my windows open to open the doors from the inside.
accountCircle Pascal N
The car that will get you where you need to go!
The car is very reliable and has great gas mileage and drivability. The chairs are comfortable but get hot in the summer. The car has manual windows no electronic features. The car's battery last a good portion and the parts are easily accessible when repairs are needed.
accountCircle Kayla R
Kia riot 2006 issues that I came across.
The few problems I ran into owning a Kia riot 2006 is the locks and windows are manual so that can be hard when having others come into your car, if the steering wheel is not straight the key ignition does not turn, the fuse for my horn was hard to find in stores and had to end up buying it on online, and I seem to go through a lot of motor oil which could possibly be a leak.

Kia Rio Models

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

car
Base
110 HP 34-34 MPG 5 Seats
car
LX
110 HP 34-34 MPG 5 Seats
car
SX
110 HP 34-34 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2006 Kia Rio Owner Reviews

4.02
46 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 35%
4 stars 37%
3 stars 24%
2 stars 4%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Joshua H on March 7, 2021
Very reliable car. Safe. And pocket friendly on gas.
This is an older car with just shy of 200, 000 miles on it but has no problems whatsoever. Since buying it I just maintain the fluids and check any sounds that sounds off if they occur to prevent and future mechanical problems. This is a very reliable car that saves gas being a 4 cylinder. It's not your go fast and powerful muscle car but gets me from A to B. It has no ac till I put a new compressor but that's not a priority at this moment. My next maintenance will be a new tire and all new brakes. I got this car for a very good deal and will make a profit on future sale but for now it's my street licensed go kart.
accountCircle Katie S on January 12, 2021
Reliable Kia Rio hatchback.
I have not experienced many problems at all with this vehicle. It drives great, good on gas mileage, and I never worry that it's not reliable. It is very simply made. Power windows and locks, CD player, automatic transmission. Mine is the hatchback which I happen to love. Holds more in the back than it seems. The only thing I don't like about it is the belts are not self adjusting. So you end up having to take it to a mechanic unless you have someone to help you that knows what they're doing because it's a two person job. Other than that I have nothing bad to say about it.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Cora L.

I am happy with the overall build of the car, how much room I have to decorate and such. I had a few gas problems but it was easy to fix. I also appreciate the cute seats that are very comfortable and pretty.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Cora L.

It can get pretty slow, hard to start, the gas runs out pretty fast, and my mileage messes up sometimes. My speedometer broke once or twice but that well could've been my fault. I also do not like how my handle would break easily when I would pull even the slightest bit.

Ranks #14 Small Cars by Owners

The 2006 Kia Rio has an average owner rating of 4.06 out of 5 which ranks it #14 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
5
2
car
4.52
14
car
4.02

Ranks #5 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2006 Kia Rio has a combined MPG of 38 which ranks it #5 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
44 MPG
1
Tie
car
44 MPG
5
Tie
car
38 MPG

Is The 2006 Kia Rio A Good Car?

Yes. It is been perfect for me. Took a crash very well, while protecting myself in the car. Easily fixed afterwards.
Lara M.
Yes. I have not had to do a ton of maintenance to the car and I have owned it for 6 years now. I have only done general maintenance and some minor repairs in that time.
J M.
I think it is a great vehicle. I get about 21 miles a gallon. I have had very minimal problems with it. It's been 13 years since the car was made and I thinks it has help up extremely well. It handles... Read More
Beata W.
It is decent and does the job of getting to and from where we need to be. Though we have been having issues with it starting recently, but it's our only car right now, so we have learned to deal with... Read More
Alex M.

How Reliable Is The 2006 Kia Rio?

This car has given me zero problems. It is a perfect little car. If you take off the car, it will be great to you.
Lara M.
It is very reliable and has always gotten me everywhere. The car is very small though and it does not fit adults well.
J M.
I think it is extremely reliable. Like I said previously it is great for road trips. I have close to 150,000 miles on it. I've taken 9 hour road trips with it before. In the winter it is a little... Read More
Beata W.
Not Really. We have a lot of problems with it starting and end up sitting in a hot car in a parking lot for about 10-15 minutes before it finally starts. The A/C doesn't work either so it gets very... Read More
Lura O.

Is The 2006 Kia Rio A Good Value?

It is probably worth about $4000 in good condition. Mine is probably only worth about $2000 now that it is been in an accident.
Lara M.
I bought the car used for $7000 in 2013. It is worth roughly $1000 now. I think as it is running the car is more valuable now because I do not have a car payment and cheap insurance.
J M.
Right now, depending on the condition it could be anywhere from 2,000 - 500 dollars. I think it is a great value especially if you are buying it as a high school beater car.
Beata W.
I believe it was around $5,000, but with how much things have broken in it over the past 2 years or more, it feels like we will be putting more money into it than we paid for it.
Danielle W.

Related Articles for 2006 Kia Rio

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2006 Kia Rio mass air flow sensor location?

Answer: The 2006 Kia Rio mass air flow sensor location can be found by watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h20MvRpuA34 You will come across many issues with an engine. A spark plug may pop off, causing engine...

Does the 2006 Kia Rio have a timing belt or chain?

Answer: This 2006 Kia Rio makes use of a timing chain, not a belt. A timing chain is designed to last the entire operational life span of the vehicle, so assuming all goes well then You should not need to bother with...

What's the 2006 kia rio oil type?

Answer: The 2006 Kia Rio oil type iS5W-30. Your oil needs to be replaced eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You don't replace it, there will be issues with the engine. Having high...

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

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety