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2003 Kia Rio
Date Published: 6/05/08

2003 Kia Rio
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MSRP:
$9,665 - 12,040

Invoice:
$9,260 - 11,485

Class:
Compact Car
2003 Kia Rio
Expert Rating Summary
Category Base sdn, man. Rating (See All
Ratings)
Compact Car Average Rating
Acceleration 4 4
Fuel Economy 6 6.5
Ride Quality 5 4.4
Steering/Handling/Braking 4 5.3
Quietness 4 3.7
Controls 5 5.6
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front) 3 4.8
Room/Comfort (rear) 2 3.7
Cargo Room 2 3.8
Value within Class 1 5.4
Total Score: 36 47.2
Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category
2003 KIA RIO BUYING RESOURCES
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2003 Kia Rio Review
Kia's entry-level subcompacts get subtle styling changes, a larger engine, and extra standard and optional features for '03. Among the least-expensive cars on the market, Rio offers a sedan and wagon, the latter called Cinco. Both have a 4-cyl engine that goes from 1.5 liters and 96 hp to 1.6 liters and 104 for 2003. Manual transmission is standard, automatic optional. Options include ABS, air conditioning, power steering, and power door locks, and now power windows and fog lights. Side airbags aren't offered. Added as standard for '03 are rear-seat heater ducts, cupholders in the front-door map pockets and, for Cinco, a CD player. Kia claims engineering updates reduce noise and vibration, suspension alterations improve ride comfort, and that larger front brakes increase stopping power. Kia is owned by Hyundai and both South Korean automakers share warranty coverage: 5-years/60,000-mi. basic, 10/100,000 powertrain, 5 years/unlimited roadside assistance.
Competition
Honda Civic continues to be the car to beat with a wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and a high degree of civility. Also a Best Buy, Ford Focus doesn't offer the refinement of the Civic, but doesn't cost as much either.

Topping the crowded Recommended list are Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys. However, they are among the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the redesigned but still reliable Toyota Corolla, the sporty Nissan Sentra, and the roomy Mazda Protege. Each of these is a valid alternative to a Best Buy if price is your major concern.
News
Launched in mid-2000, Rio drew some 51,500 sales through the end of 2001, not grand even for the cutthroat small-car market, and demand was basically flat in the first nine months of 2002. A rumored 4-dr hatchback sedan is still nowhere in sight, leading us to conclude it's been scratched.

Industry sources say a redesign is scheduled for model-year 2006, at which point Rio becomes a sibling of parent Hyundai's entry-level Accent. The current Rio is a Kia design that was in the pipeline before Hyundai purchased Kia.
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