2005 KIA RIO NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2005 Kia Rio?
For 2005, the Kia Rio sedan and Kia Rio Cinco wagon adopt LEV-II emission standards as well as an enhanced OBD-II system. A redesigned Rio is set to arrive for the 2006 model year.

Advantages of the 2005 Kia Rio:

• Excellent powertrain warranty
• Sedan starts at less than $10,000 (without destination charge)
• Spunky engine

Objections to the 2005 Kia Rio:

• Vague steering
• Flaccid suspension
• Lousy handling
• Sloppy manual transmission shifter
• Unlikely to fare well in crashes with larger vehicles

Editor's Advice:
Really, don't buy the 2005 Kia Rio. We know, it has a great warranty, it smells like a new car inside, and it even looks cute. But listen, there's this thing called a certified used car. Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota all have plenty of two- and three-year-old certified used cars sitting on their lots that come with extended warranties, a complete detail job and a full inspection for worn bits and pieces. Just imagine, instead of the 2005 Kia Rio, you could buy a nice Honda Civic, a sporty Mazda Protege or a stone-cold reliable Toyota Corolla and get a larger, higher quality and better car to drive every day. Want that new car smell? Drop by the local car wash – they sell it in a little spray bottle. Trust us, the 2005 Kia Rio is rudimentary at best, proving that you do get what you pay for.