Kia Rio 1 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Kia Rio 1 car check
Is the Kia Rio 1 reliable? We analysed 3,750 real MOT tests across 777 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Kia Rio 1? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Kia Rio 1 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Kia Rio 1.
Kia Rio 1 — specs & performance
Verified from DVLA & DVSA recordsA snapshot of the engine, performance, dimensions, fuel economy and running costs for the Kia Rio 1 — drawn from official DVLA vehicle records and the DVSA fuel-economy database.
Engine & Performance
- Engine size
- 1399cc
- Power
- 97 BHP
- 0–62 mph
- 12.3 sec
- Fuel type
- Petrol
Body & Dimensions
- Body type
- Car
- Common colour
- Black
- Wheel plan
- 2 Axle Rigid Body
Fuel Economy
- Combined
- 46.3 mpg
- Urban
- 36.2 mpg
- Extra-urban
- 55.4 mpg
- Fuel cost / 12k mi
- £1882
Tax & Emissions
- CO2 output
- 139 g/km Band E
- Emission class
- Not Available
- Road tax (12 mo.)
- £145
- Road tax (6 mo.)
- £79.75
- Insurance group
- 12 of 50
Kia Rio 1 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Kia Rio 1. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Kia Rio 1 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Kia Rio 1 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Kia Rio 1 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Kia Rio 1 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Kia Rio 1 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Kia Rio 1 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
How Does the Kia Rio 1 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Rio 1 THIS CAR | 90.3% | 3,750 | 59,026 mi | — yrs |
| Kia Sportage | 80.4% | 2,634,551 | 53,679 mi | 26 yrs |
| Kia Picanto | 77.1% | 2,626,043 | 39,084 mi | 22 yrs |
| Kia Ceed | 76.1% | 1,665,385 | 60,630 mi | 19 yrs |
| Iveco Daily 35S11 LWB | 74.7% | 6,858 | 136,906 mi | 16 yrs |
Compared to the Kia Sportage (80.4% pass rate) and the Kia Picanto (77.1% pass rate), the Kia Rio 1 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Kia Rio 1 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Kia Rio 1Should you buy a used Kia Rio 1?
The Kia Rio 1 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.3% across 3,750 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is stop lamp not working none working possible brake light switch with 1 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
A typical Kia Rio 1 owner drives around 5,715 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.