Kia Rio I Sedan (DC) 1.5i 16V (108 Hp) Automatic


Overall Rating

6.7 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 3.0 / 5
Value 4.0 / 5
Performance 2.8 / 5
Comfort 3.0 / 5
People\'s Opinion N/A / 5
Not Rated

Kia Rio:

The Kia Rio is a subcompact car manufactured by Kia from 1999 to 2023. Body styles have included a three and five-door hatchback and four-door sedan, equipped with inline-four gasoline and diesel engines, and front-wheel drive.
The Rio replaced the first generation Pride—a rebadged version of the Ford Festiva—and the Avella, a subcompact sold as a Ford in some markets. A second generation was introduced in 2005 in Europe and in 2006 in North America, sharing its platform with the Hyundai Accent, a subcompact manufactured by its sister Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea....(Read more on Wikipedia)

I Sedan (DC) Overview:

Kia Rio (I Sedan (DC)). With 140 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. It has moderate fuel consumption (~11.5 l/100km). Weighing only 985 kg, it’s quite light. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 14.2 s). The top speed reaches 170 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.

1.5i 16V (108 Hp) Automatic Verdict:

Rating 3 stars

Performance Verdict

Adequate for city driving, but acceleration is sluggish, especially with the automatic gearbox, making highway merging less confident.

Fuel Economy

Fuel consumption is on the higher side for a compact sedan of its era, particularly with the automatic transmission.

Best Use Case: City / Light Highway

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Affordable purchase price
  • • Good fuel economy (1.3L manual)
  • • Practical sedan body style
  • • Simple and easy to maintain

Cons:

  • • Basic interior quality and materials
  • • Lackluster performance (especially automatic variants)
  • • Limited safety features compared to modern standards
  • • High fuel consumption on some automatic variants

Specifications:

General:
Brand:Kia
Model:Rio
Generation:I Sedan (DC)
Modification (Engine):1.5i 16V (108 Hp) Automatic
Start of production:1999
End of production:2002
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Sedan
Seats:5
Doors:4
Engine:
Power:108 Hp @ 6000 rpm.
Power per litre:72.3 Hp/l
Torque:140 Nm @ 4500 rpm.
Engine displacement:1493
Number of cylinders:4
Engine configuration:Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:4
Fuel injection system:Multi-port manifold injection
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Valvetrain:DOHC
Engine layout:Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:75.5 mm
Piston Stroke:83.4 mm
Compression ratio:9.3:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:11.5 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:7.1 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - combined:8.7 l/100 km
Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h:14.2 sec
Acceleration 0 - 62 mph:14.2 sec
Maximum speed:170 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:9.1 kg/Hp, 109.6 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:7 kg/Nm, 142.1 Nm/tonne
Acceleration 0 - 60 mph:13.5 sec
Space:
Kerb Weight:985
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:261 l
Fuel tank capacity:45 l
Size:
Length:4215 mm
Width:1675 mm
Height:1440 mm
Wheelbase:2410 mm
Front track:1430 mm
Rear (Back) track:1435 mm
Minimum turning circle (turning diameter):9.4 m
Powertrain:
Drivetrain ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelFront wheel drive
Number of gears4
Transmission typeAutomatic
Front brakesDisc
Rear brakesDrum
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Tires size175/65 R14
Wheel rims size14
Front suspensionSpring Strut
Rear suspensionCoil spring

How many miles have you covered in your Kia Rio? Share your journey!