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Performance Review

2011 Kia Rio - Performance Review

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Performance Bottom Line

While the 2011 Kia Rio isn't quick, it feels relatively peppy and responsive from the driver's seat. Read more »

Likes

Perky driving feel
Conservative but pleasant interior
Versatile Rio5

Dislikes

Boomy engine
Imprecise manual shifter
Worrisome safety ratings

MSRP FROM $12,295

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Bengt Halvorson

Deputy Editor BIO

Bengt Halvorson is Deputy Editor of High Gear Media's portfolio of car sites, overseeing the production of reviews, evaluating vehicles firsthand... More

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#2LEADERBOARD RANK
2661ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
108COMMENTS POSTED

February 15, 2011

Overall Review » 6

Interior / Exterior » 6

Performance » 6

Quality » 7

Safety » 4

Features » 7

Fuel Economy / MPG » 8

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PERFORMANCE | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

some cheap plastic trim
Kelley Blue Book

adding a few horsepower can make quite a difference in a small sedan
Cars.com

one of those rare cases where the automatic gets better fuel mileage than the manual
Car and Driver

The Rio's 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine might not sound so impressive, but because the Rio is such a light car, it's plenty. The Rio feels sprightly enough for most types of driving—especially in the city—especially with the five-speed manual gearbox (although the linkage can feel imprecise). A four-speed automatic is also available, and while the gaps between gears can be quite wide, the combination feels better than some peaky engines that have one more gear to work with.

Considering the Rio's low price, the driving experience is surprisingly good, with a peppy feel in most respects. The Rio handles reasonably well, brakes seem strong, and there's enough gumption from the powertrain for most driving, aside from high-speed passes.