2009 Kia Rio Interior Review at Automotive.com
»Locate a Dealer»Find a Used Car»Get Financing

2009 Kia Rio Review: Interior

Find a Car
 

2009 Kia Rio Review

Inexpensive, fuel-efficient, practical, enjoyable.
Interior
The Kia Rio is a roomy car. At 92.2 cubic feet, the subcompact Rio's total passenger volume is comparable to that of the two most popular compacts, the Honda Civic (90.9) and Toyota Corolla (92.0).

The seats are on the soft side and don't offer the lateral support we'd expect on a sports sedan. Those of us with larger frames, however, will not fault Kia for that, as we can use the extra width.

Rear-seat legroom is better than the numbers suggest, because passengers can place their feet under the front seats thanks to the generous open space below them.

The interior of the Kia Rio features a nicely contoured dashboard with a generous binnacle over the instrument panel, which includes a tachometer even on the base model.

The radio is well positioned in the center stack with large buttons and knobs for changing stations or volume. Below the radio, three big knobs for the climate controls are mounted on a bulge in the center stack that brings them closer to the driver's hands. A chrome Kia logo brightens the center of the steering wheel hub.

Sporty trim makes the SX models nicer and more appealing to driving enthusiasts. Metal pedals and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob add tactile as well as visual excitement, while matching red stitching on the steering wheel, shift boot, and seat bolsters helps tie the whole interior together as a cohesive whole. Fabrics are good-looking, on the door panels as well as the seats.

Cubby storage is in the form of a reasonable size glovebox and big storage pockets in all four doors. A slot in the center stack holds parking passes or toll tickets.

Cargo capacity is increased via a folding rear seatback with a 60/40 split for added versatility. The Rio5 has a total cargo carrying a capacity of almost 50 cubic feet with the back seats folded down, substantially more than in other hatchbacks in this class. Even with the rear seats up for passengers, the Rio5 has an impressive 15.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The sedan's trunk measures 11.9 cubic feet, which is not bad for the class. Next Page



2009 Kia Rio
  
Similarly Priced
Select Kia Rio Trim  
First Name
City
Phone
- - x
Last Name
State
Email
Address
Zip