2010 Kia Rio Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

27 -28 City / 34 -36 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

110

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Heidy A

Great car. Very practical. Perfect for a small family.

The vehicle works great. It sometimes has brakes problems but it is fine. I like the model and the design. It works great I do not have any problem with it. The seats are great, the bunk is great, everything else works fine. I do not have any problem with it, I like it.

Ryan A

Great motor, great driving. Great wheels. Never had a problem.

No problems. Great car. Drives amazing. Had this car forever and it still runs great. Would recommend this car to anyone. It is 2010 and it runs like it is new. I love it so much. Never had a problem in my life with this car. Maybe I just got lucky with this car.

Haley S

It's reliable and has had no major issues since I purchased it.

It's been a very reliable car. The air conditioner is great and it's stayed in good shape.

Angel C

It is a great economic and reliable car and it is durable

I like that my Kia is compact. The mileage per gallon is great because it is only a 10 gallon tank. Plus it is a 4 cylinder car and it goes pretty fast

Diane F

Its dependability. Never had an issue with it starting in below freezing temps.

I love my KIA. Gas mileage is great, compact size, and its very dependable. It has great heat and air conditioning.

Rica B

Kia Rio 2020 is a really pretty impressive car for an inexpensive brand.

Although the machine is little loud and unsophisticated when worked and cabin materials are little skimpy. But it is really impressive for such an inexpensive car. I loved it really much. It drove good and helps me a lot to go to work and home and sometimes do some errands.

Carolyn B

A lot of class with a bit of sass.

My car is small, short, narrow, seats are a bit shallow. I love it because that also describes me. In spite of being a 2010, the beautiful red paint is just about as bright and shiny as when the car was new. For all my car's tiny size, it has just enough weight to it to give it presence. She holds her own, whether on an interstate, or my own curvy hillside roads.

Ethan R

It turns on a dime. And great gas mileage.

Misfiring cylinders periodically is the only issue. Other than that, the vehicle has run great for years. It is very reliable and gets good gas mileage. Kia has definitely built a good durable vehicle. I can imagine how much better the newer models are.

Negative Owner Reviews

Beth D

It is unreliable as a vehicle and it has no extras.

No extras like power windows, too small and it is unsafe. I bought this car because I couldn't afford my SUV that I enjoyed.

Tonya B

Cute little compact car with great gas mileage. Beware of issues with coil packs.

I have had a lot of issues with the coil packs going bad on the vehicle, as well as with the heat/ac going out. The pros is that it's a really compact car and gets really good miles per gallon. And buying parts online has been relatively cheap. Otherwise it's been a great car especially for long road trips.

Christopher S

It does not like to gain speed very fast, but it has a nice stereo system.

I like that it gets great gas mileage. I dislike that it doesn't have cruise control.

Natasha N

I do not like my Kia rio. It is mechanically unreliable at 8 years old.

It is starting to fall apart, one system after another. The engine has issues. This vehicle’s mpg has decreased over time. I am not happy with the features either. I recorded this car used from a relative, but I wouldn't choose to buy a Kia new. There are much better vehicles out there.

j c

It's been reliable, easy on gas. It's a no frills car

It's a cheap no frills reliable car. Could be a lot nicer but that would cost more

jordan m

It is very good on the wallet for the price it can't be beat

I like my kia rio very much for the simple fact that it gets good gas mileage. I am however not a big fan of how generic it is.

Carolynn C

Small, fast but comfortable.

Super small on the inside but handles super well, the tie rod is very vulnerable to break as well as the front windshield I've had to replace multiple time from cracking. Great on gas mileage and a good car for a small family. I love the racks for the bikes on the top of my car.

Bel A

2010 Kia Rio: long-lasting mediocrity.

We've had this car for about seven years. For about four years it had no major problems. It does not have working a/c anymore, and it has damage from a car accident a few years back. Despite all of this, it does its job very well, which is taking us from one place to another. If you are looking for a long-lasting, sturdy car, this car is where it is at.

Kia Rio Models

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

Base

110 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2010 Kia Rio Owner Reviews

3.93

81 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

30%

4 stars

41%

3 stars

25%

2 stars

1 star

Debbie t on March 20, 2021

Kia's are not a "do nothing" kind of car. The are reliable and just a good car.

It's a small 4 door sedan. We've put 111000 miles on the car and she's still going strong.

Elisabeth B on March 17, 2021

My car is fully paid off and inexpensive to maintain and repair!

I like that my car is comfortable and has power steering and air conditioning. It is reliable, inexpensive to maintain and easy to repair. Because it is small, it fits easily into tight parking spaces. I don't like that it doesn't have snow tires or 4 wheel drive for winter driving.

View All Reviews (81)

Pros from Owners

Sandy M.

This is a nice little car. It gets great gas mileage. I can last about two weeks on a full tank of gas. I love this car for parking because it is so small I can readily park in smaller spaces. My college age daughter also likes to drive this car.

Sophia C.

I have owned this car since 2010, and it has not given me any problems since. It is a four door Kia Rio, with power locks, and power windows. It has air conditioning, I have taken my car for regular oil changes. I have owned it for the last five years. I really think that this is my most reliable car that I have owned yet. I know that kids have not been around as long as Honda, and Toyota's, but o can attest that they are just as reliable!!

Yamile N.

My car is small and compact. It includes ac and is overall a good little car. It's also easy to maintain. I would want to buy a newer car like 2015-but the Kia still runs, it just needs maintaining and tuneups. And your set to go.

Cons from Owners

Sandy M.

Being a smaller car I sometimes feel big trucks will run me over. Living in the state of Colorado where the weather changes daily, this car is not great for the winter. Our winters require more of an AWD vehicle, and the Rio has been known to get stuck in the snow.

Sophia C.

I have to admit that I am a little disappointed that this make and model of vehicle does not come with cruise control. Also, I think that it should have come with a couple of updated features. Like also it does not allow you to connect the phone through Bluetooth to the radio.

Yamile N.

Its too small sometimes and the ac at times does not cool like it should. It has a cracked windshield. It needs a oil change also. It doesn't fit more than 3 adults and bags in truck. It doesn't run fast and needs cleaning interior.

Ranks #19 Small Cars by Owners

The 2010 Kia Rio has an average owner rating of 4.08 out of 5 which ranks it #19 of 29 other Small Cars.

2010 Honda Fit

4.51

2010 Volkswagen Beetle

4.48

2010 Kia Rio

3.93

Ranks #4 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2010 Kia Rio has a combined MPG of 36 which ranks it #4 of 29 other Small Cars.

Tie

2010 Volkswagen Golf

42 MPG

Tie

2010 Volkswagen Jetta

42 MPG

Tie

2010 Kia Rio

36 MPG

Is The 2010 Kia Rio A Good Car?

Yes, the 2010 Kia Rio lx is a good vehicle. It has held up well with little extra maintenance than that which is standard. Treat this car well and, it will see you reliably down the road for years.

Richard M.

Yes, it is not flashy but very reliable. I researched this car and it was # 1 in it is type and also had a high security rating.

Fatima C.

Yes, we have had minor maintenance only done on this car and it is about to be 10 years old. We've replaced the tires once and they were less than $400 because they are small tires. So maintenance is... Read More

Heather H.

How Reliable Is The 2010 Kia Rio?

I have had no issues with my Rio that were not of my own causing. The Rio is a very reliable vehicle.

Richard M.

I do not have a spare tire. When I bought it as a used car it didn't have the spare and to replace it was over $500. Also, plastic pieces in air vents broke off easily.

Fatima C.

It is extremely reliable. We have only had to take it to the shop once other than for regular maintenance. Two hours, and $250 later it was fixed and has had no more problems before or since that one... Read More

L M.

Is The 2010 Kia Rio A Good Value?

When this vehicle was purchased back in 2010 it cost around $10,000. So, for the price and the longevity that I have gotten out of the vehicle, I would say yes it is a good value.

Richard M.

Around 10k as a 1 year old car. It was a lease car that I got after a 1 year lease. It was a very good value for a model that was ranked # 1 in consumer reports.

Fatima C.

I paid $4,000 for the car in 2018, but I bought it from my father-in-law so I knew how reliable of a car it was. I'm sure you can find them cheaper than $4,000 also, but I was willing to pay that... Read More

Annet R.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2010 Kia Rio oil type?

Answer: The 2010 Kia Rio needs a synthetic SAE motor oil of 5W-20 or 5W-30; either will work. If You live somewhere that doesn't dip below zero, You can even go with a 10W-30. The higher the viscosity, the better...

What's the 2010 Kia Rio camshaft position sensor location?

Answer: The camshaft position sensor is mounted on the cylinder head in front and beneath the timing belt cover of the 2010 Kia Rio. It relays information about the position of the camshaft as it rotates. The...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety