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2009 Kia Rio Safety Review

July 13, 2009

SAFETY | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Acceptable," frontal impact; "poor," side impact; "poor," rear impact
IIHS

Five stars, frontal impact; three and four stars, side impact
NHTSA

visibility is unobstructed
Cars.com

low cowl and sizable rear glass help create nearly unobstructed visibility
Kelley Blue Book

a score of Poor (the lowest possible) in that agency's side-impact test
Edmunds

Experts at TheCarConnection.com like the airbags that come standard in the 2009 Kia Rio—but crash-test scores are underwhelming at best.

The 2009 Kia Rio gets mixed results in governmental safety ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Rio a "poor" rating for rear impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety issues a score of "acceptable" (the second highest of four) in frontal offset tests and "poor" (the lowest possible) in that agency's side impact test for the Kia Rio. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards it five stars in front passenger, front impact protection, but only four stars in driver-side front impact protection. In side impact protection, the Rio garners only three stars.

ConsumerGuide lists an emergency inside trunk lid release as an "important safety feature." Another standard safety feature on the Kia Rio is "Child Door Locks," states Kelley Blue Book. All 2009 Kia Rio models come standard with front, curtain, and side seat-mounted airbags. Other standard safety features for the Rio Kia are occupancy sensors and front seat pre-tensioners.

Most safety features are standard on the Kia Rio, but "anti-lock disc brakes are optional on those higher trim levels as well," according to Edmunds. This is a lapse; the Kia Rio would be much safer with standard anti-lock brakes.

Cars.com states, "Visibility is unobstructed." Kelley Blue Book likes the fact that the "low cowl and sizable rear glass help create nearly unobstructed visibility."

Conclusion

The 2009 Kia Rio has mixed crash-test scores. Airbag availability is good, but it's unfortunate that the vehicle lacks standard anti-lock brakes.

SAFETY | 6 out of 10Expert Quotes:Acceptable," frontal impact; "poor," side impact; "poor," rear impactIIHSFive stars, frontal impact; three and four stars, side impactNHTSAvisibility is unobstructedCars.comlow cowl and sizable rear glass help create nearly unobstructed visibilityKelley Blue Booka score of Poor (the lowest possible) in that agency's side-impact testEdmunds Experts at TheCarConnection.com like the airbags that come standard in the 2009 Kia Rio—but crash-test scores are underwhelming at best. The 2009 Kia Rio gets mixed results in governmental safety ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Rio a "poor" rating for rear impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety issues a score of "acceptable" (the second highest of four) in frontal offset tests and "poor" (the lowest possible) in that agency's side impact test for the Kia Rio. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards it five stars in front passenger, front impact protection, but only four stars in driver-side front impact protection. In side impact protection, the Rio garners only three stars. ConsumerGuide lists an emergency inside trunk lid release as an "important safety feature." Another standard safety feature on the Kia Rio is "Child Door Locks," states Kelley Blue Book. All 2009 Kia Rio models come standard with front, curtain, and side seat-mounted airbags. Other standard safety features for the Rio Kia are occupancy sensors and front seat pre-tensioners. Most safety features are standard on the Kia Rio, but "anti-lock disc brakes are optional on those higher trim levels as well," according to Edmunds. This is a lapse; the Kia Rio would be much safer with standard anti-lock brakes. Cars.com states, "Visibility is unobstructed." Kelley Blue Book likes the fact that the "low cowl and sizable rear glass help create nearly unobstructed visibility." ConclusionThe 2009 Kia Rio has mixed crash-test scores. Airbag availability is good, but it's unfortunate that the vehicle lacks standard anti-lock brakes. 2009 KIA RIO STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "subtle wedge shape, with sculpted arches at each fender" Car and Driver: "it looks like something you might actually want to drive" Edmunds: "some cheap plastic trim" Experts at TheCarConnection.com are fans of the styling of the 2009 ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Honda Fit is the leader in this class, thanks to a clever folding rear seat, as well as superior fuel economy and crash performance. The Hyundai Accent four-door is essentially identical to the Kia Rio sedan; the Accent also comes in a hatchback version, as does the Toyota Yaris. The Chevrolet Aveo is sized and shaped like the Kia Rio and Rio5, but has a slightly better interior.

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See the Kia Rio in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

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