2008 Kia Rio Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Virtually unchanged from 2007, the 2008 Kia Rio features the shortest name and one of the shortest pricetags in the subcompact car segment. Available as either a sedan or Rio5 hatchback, the front-wheel-drive 2008 Rio comes as a Base, LX, or SX. For 2008, the Rio5 adds an LX trim, and a new audio input jack is included in all but the Base trims.
Great for city driving, but a little noisy and bumpy on the highway, the 2008 Kia Rio comes with Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile warranty and a 110-hp, 1.6-liter inline four that gets 27/32 mpg. A five-speed manual is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional. More a personal than family car, it is surprisingly roomy and comfortable inside. Base models start with very little other than a tachometer and tire monitor â?? no air conditioning, CD player, or radio. The rear seats don't fold down in the Base. LX and SX trims add all of these, but power features are still optional, as are ABS brakes (not offered in the Base trim). Dual front-side and side curtain airbags are standard across the lineup, earning four-star crash ratings.
The SX upgrades from the LX by adding larger 15-inch wheels, a leather steering wheel, and foglights. In the Rio5 hatchbacks, the rear seats fold up and nearly flat, increasing cargo area to almost 50 cubic feet, offering more space than in the sedan, where the seats do not fold flat. If you're looking for a good and reliable commuter car that's easy to park and easy on the wallet, the 2008 Kia Rio might be a good buy. High praise goes to its handling, interior comfort and layout, and extended warranty. A somewhat inadequate engine for highway driving and wind noise are the most noticeable drawbacks.
User reviews for 2008 Kia Rio
Write a review2008 Kia Rio Pricing
Trims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast
Brakes
Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.06
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Safety
Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: partial
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.04
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Safety
Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.1 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 8.0 · Rear brakes: drum
Comfort Features
Floor Mat Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.06
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Safety
Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
