IIHS Crash Test
Good
MPG (up to)
28 -29 City / 37 HWY
Horsepower
130
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Cynthia S
If you want more miles for your money invest in a Kia Rio and save.
I have not had any major problems with my Kia Rio. I love it. I can put 20 dollars worth of gas and ride over a week. My Kia isn't loaded with anything it came with a radio no CD player and it has roll down windows which is fine for me I have had problems with automatic windows in the pass. I love my Kia the cost was really the best sell for me I paid less than 10000$ with only 13000 miles.
accountCircle Shirley D
It belongs to me I keep it clean mean and lean even has a tow hitch.
I like the size and the fuel efficiency. . No complaints. I love the dashboard and all the information that is available at a quick glance. It is very quiet and the engine is very small, but it has lots of power..
accountCircle Kelly P
All about my life with hacks car and what not but yeah.
I really encourage everyone to go after their dream car because it really is what it is driving around in what you always dreamed about.
accountCircle Sasha Y
Fantastic vehicle for daily use and best for fuel economy.
Kia Rio is a fantastic car I must say. It is a very fuel efficient and comfortable vehicle. It is engine is very reliable and maintenance free. It is has all the latest feature like apple play, ac and good sound system. The main drawback is that it has very less luggage space.
accountCircle Daniel A
Its kid friendly and safe so that is important.
No complaints! It has a back up camera and Sirius XM radio. I love it all. And it's the color I wanted. I have zero issues.
accountCircle Kemi K
Cozy Kia Rio for the win.
My car can move quickly. However, it may take a little bit to push it to its maximum movement. It is comfortable and reliable. There was more room in it than I expected. I like how easy it is to parallel park and get into tight spaces as I work somewhere there is very little parking.
accountCircle Shiny G
Kia Rio 2018: driving a small car in Alaska.
I guess the only thing about this car that comes off as a disadvantage is because it's small, but other than that, it runs smoothly and I only spend like $40 every month for gas. There is also a lifetime warranty for free oil changes, so that's always good. I've had the car for about 3 years now, and other than the tire changes for the winter, it's pretty much perfect.
accountCircle Jordan T
Affordable sporty car great for road trips.
I have the second to the cheapest make of Kia Rio 5 door and it does not feel cheap at all. It has USB charging ports and a regular outlet in the back for ease of road trips no need to invest in a car specific charger. It feels very sport especially when in sports mode without high cost. It makes great turns, parking is a breeze as it is small and quickly maneuverable into small spaces. It is a smaller 5 door but I have fit so many items in the back I have moved 3 times using it with the back seats down I love the storage without having a big boxy SUV.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle angel M
The car gives you an option to drive manually or what feels like manual at least
It's really good on gas but it's super small. And the car is really lightweight so you feel all the bumps on the road and if it's windy the car feels like it's blowing all over. I don't recommend this car if you plan on having kids. With my son's car seat in the back, whoever ends up sitting in the passenger seat has to sit with their knees in the glove box.
accountCircle Luis R
Solid overall for the price.
The 2018 Kia Rio has been a pretty decent first car. It has not had any problems so far and maintenance has been very standard. Nothing stands out as a problem with the design except for not having rear window wipers. I have driven it for 40000 miles and gone on long road trips and it has fared well.
accountCircle Paris C
Kia Rio 2018 review: great overall.
My Kia Rio is great for its price. Safe, great fuel mileage, Bluetooth, large trunk with spare tire. Overall it is a super reliable car. I have had it for a few years and I even got it used, but it is in great shape. I haven't had any problems with it yet and I put a ton of miles on it. My favorite thing is its mileage because of how much driving I do, it is super affordable when it comes to filling the tank. One of the things I do not like is the car gets loud when driving at higher speeds on the highway. It rattles and can be a little sensitive especially if it is super windy outside. It is strange but honestly it is such a small problem and is not as problematic as it might seem. The other small 'problem' in terms of performance, is that it has a small delay when trying to speed up so do not expect a quick transition when you punch on the gas. Overall I love my Kia Rio and suggest it as a first car or as an affordable option, especially if buying used.
accountCircle sam j
It is impossible to steal it
It is a nice car affordable and basically gets me from point a to point b
accountCircle Tamara L
It is the ideal vehicle for gas and maneuvering around the city.
I have no problems. This car has great performance just little space. Steering wheel control features and eco gas option that helps you save on gas in traffic especially. This car is easy to maneuver. Trunk space is descent also. It's a great car for a college student or a single mom with one kid or no kids.
accountCircle Andrea G
She is a blue beauty with features that “wow” you.
I love the Kia Rio. Unfortunately it has very little ‘ pick-up.’ it would be an ideal vehicle if it were a six cylinder engine. The air conditioning is awesome and it is fully loaded. I do not like the defroster as my windows fog up often. There should be a defog feature.
accountCircle Tammy D
Cheap basic car if you cannot do better.
It is really small inside, seats are hard, my has roll up windows and no key fob was offered, no cruise control or CD player. Could really use Bluetooth for your phone. Also need a backup camera. It has several blinds spots. I feel like could be a cheap disposable.
accountCircle Kenneth S
My recently purchased Kia.
I bought the car last week, so I really just have user reviews to go by. Everything I read said that this was a great car, that performs very well. The interior is nice, but my wife and I have trouble understanding the dashboard sometimes. We still are not sure what our mileage started at.

Kia Rio Models

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

car
LX
130 HP 32 MPG 5 Seats
car
S
130 HP 32 MPG 5 Seats
car
EX
130 HP 32 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2018 Kia Rio Owner Reviews

4.53
110 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 64%
4 stars 26%
3 stars 9%
2 stars 1%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Donna L on June 3, 2021
Axel problem on 2918 Kia Rio s.
It is a very comfortable vehicle and gets fairly good fuel economy. The only problem we have had is an axle that had to be replaced which I fell should not have happened since it is only two years old. It was under warranty so there was no out of pocket expense but I feel the vehicle is too new to have this type of problem.
accountCircle Mia A on May 8, 2021
The vehicle is small and cozy.
My vehicle has not had any problems as yet since I only bought it one year ago. It rides really smoothly, it is always reliable. The seats are really comfy. Overall the vehicle is really cozy and small. I like that it can fit into any parking space when I need it to.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Allison T.

It is a environmentally safe vehicle. It has features that can help you save more of the environment which is important to a lot of different and similar types of people. It is a decent size for a small family and a very reliable car.

likeFilled Richard S.

It has good gas mileage. It has space for five passengers. It is not expensive. The radio and air conditioner are good. Easy to get to work on engine. Easy to park and plenty of legroom. Front seats lay almost flat for resting.

likeFilled Corey H.

This model has excellent gas mileage, both in town and on the highway. There are many safety features that make it one of the safest vehicles on the road. I enjoy the smooth ride I have everywhere I go.

likeFilled Valeria T.

My 2018 Kia Rio is very efficient on gas taking only 25 to 30 dollars to give me a full tank of gas. Also have great trunk space, tires have traction on them and a skid safe button to press for tough conditions like rain, sleet or snow. Kia offers 100,000 mile warranty, roadside assistance, etc.

likeFilled Zacchaeus T.

It is good on gas. I can get around and not have to worry about spending a arm and leg on gas to get where I am going. This car is also very spacious and really enjoy rides. The comfort level is so high.

likeFilled Samuel M.

This sleek designed hatchback was an amazing investment for traveling, day trips, and excursions. Able to comfortably seat 5 and have space for everyone's gear, this vehicle gets me where I need to go. The 'sport' button is excellent when merging onto the highway to get ahead of those slow drivers in the right hand lane. The back up camera is just so fun as well! No more guessing how far back to pull when you need to load/unload all your gear for the next trip!

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Allison T.

There are not much cons. The back up camera could have better quality and the windows are slow but that is just about it. Another con is the space in the back. If you are tall it is hard to sit in the space in a comfortable manner.

dislikeFilled Richard S.

The car is too low to the ground it makes it difficult to get in and out. It does not have wipers on back window on basic model price for basic model is almost $20,000. The car is made of plastic and has a lot of damage in case of an accident.

dislikeFilled Corey H.

The model I purchased was a barebones model. It does not have cruise control. There is no remote start. Everything is manually adjusted. The windows are manual. The seats are manually adjusted. If you enjoy things that are automated or require a button push to adjust, this is not the model for you.

dislikeFilled Valeria T.

I do not have anti lock brakes and/or an alarm system. I have to manually lock and unlock my car. I have to manually roll down/up my windows. My seats are not stain-resistant and I have a now two year old who loves to make a mess in my car.

dislikeFilled Zacchaeus T.

I really do not have any cons whatsoever due to the fact I am so satisfied with all that this vehicle has in store. This car will for sure be around in the next generations to come amongst my family. Every new edition to the family will be in that car.

dislikeFilled Samuel M.

Although the Kia Rio has so many amazing features, it does ride a little low to the ground. So it is best to know the terrain that you will be driving on. Other than that, I cannot think of a single thing that would be considered a 'con' for this vehicle!

Ranks #13 Small Cars by Owners

The 2018 Kia Rio has an average owner rating of 4.54 out of 5 which ranks it #13 of 31 other Small Cars.

1
car
4.9
2
car
4.88
13
Tie
car
4.53

Ranks #8 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2018 Kia Rio has a combined MPG of 40 which ranks it #8 of 31 other Small Cars.

1
car
121 MPG
2
car
118 MPG
8
Tie
car
37 MPG

Is The 2018 Kia Rio A Good Car?

Yes it is good on gas a nice looking car clean inside easy to drive and the price is inexpensive a perfect car also for a senior in high school.
Lawanda L.
Definitely I love it because it has the perfect size. Is very comfortable and after 2 years it have gave me no problems.
Maya O.
Yes. It is a great road trip car because of its high gas mileage, and it has a very good safety rating.
J G.

How Reliable Is The 2018 Kia Rio?

Yes this car is a reliable car to drive it drives smooth on the road. The tires they put on car is a good set of tires on it don't have any problems so far.
Lawanda L.
It is very reliable it does not have any problem. Besides the ac but it took nothing to fix it. I like it a lot.
Maya O.
It is extremely reliable. I've had no major maintenance issues come up in the time I've had the car.
Rebecca S.

Is The 2018 Kia Rio A Good Value?

The kia Rio only cost 14000 a very good value it is a cute and sporty car it is good on gas I love the inside interior the colors to choose from is a lot.
Lawanda L.
I do not remember exactly but it was around 6,000 dollars. It is a perfect price for a small comfortable, and family car.
Maya O.
The Kia Rio can cost between 15 and 20k depending on the dealership, and any extras it comes with. I would say with how reliable it is, the high gas mileage, and the safety rating, it is a great... Read More
Andres S.

Related Articles for 2018 Kia Rio

From the Vehicle History blog

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Best Kia Cars: Top Choices, from the Rio to the K900

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test
(Not Rated)
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety