2001KiaRioKia Rio2001 Kia Rio Base SedanSedanSedanFWDHwasung, KoreaWith a base MSRP that makes it the least expensive car in America, the roomy little Rio is a peppy 96-horsepower entry-level sedan. While the design of and materials used on this car are nothing to write home about, build quality is impressively tight. And Kia's new Long Haul Warranty Program offers the added security of a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, along with impressive levels of bumper-to-bumper and roadside assistance coverage.Unbeatable price, peppy engine, decent build quality relative to price point.Generic styling, power windows/locks unavailable at any price.Kia's determined to get a tenacious hold on the econo-car market, and with the introduction of the appealingly inexpensive Rio, along with their impressive new Long Haul Warranty Program, they may well be on their way to doing just that. The 1.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder, the only engine available on the Rio, is surprisingly peppy, making 98 foot-pounds of torque at 4,500 rpm, and providing quick acceleration from a stop as well as adequate passing power on the highways. Over 75 mph, the engine serenades the driver with an incessant whine, but maintains speed quite well. The optional four-speed automatic tranny has an overdrive-off button to avoid gear searching in the hills. The wedge-shaped exterior design of the Rio is inoffensive, if generic, while the interior is solidly screwed together, although the materials used reflect the bargain-basement price of this subcompact sedan. Hard plastics and cheesy upholstery abound, but rattles and squeaks are still kept to a minimum within the cabin. Outside, the Rio boasts upscale-looking clear lens headlights and, with the $380 upgrade package, wheel covers and bodyside moldings. Alloy wheels are available as an independent option for $275, and you get a nifty spoiler for 85 bones. Antilock brakes are not standard equipment, but you can get them for $400 with or without the upgrade package. Air conditioning, which works beautifully without hampering engine power too much, will run you another $750, and you can choose either an AM/FM/cassette stereo or an AM/FM/CD stereo, but you can't get both. The inside of this thrifty sedan is logically and simply laid out. Radio controls are conveniently placed above the HVAC switchgear, although the climate controls are set a little too low in the center stack for optimum ergonomic affability. Buttons and switches are all big enough and easy to find and use, and the front seats are comfy, but lack lumbar support. The rear seat feels like a park bench, but interior room is pretty impressive for a vehicle of this size. One accouterment of which Kia is especially proud is the driver's seat fold-down armrest, but it's pretty much useless with the stick shift, and in fact impedes arm movement somewhat even in the folded-up position. The Rio behaves well on the road, with a tight suspension that keeps body roll to a minimum, but communicates irregularities in the tarmac directly to the driver. The steering is tight and accurate for a vehicle at this price point, but the lack of refinement is apparent in the vibration through the gas pedal and shifter. The Rio competes with the Hyundai Accent, the Daewoo Lanos and the Toyota Echo, while being cheaper than all three and still displaying solid build quality. It's definitely worth checking out if you're low on ducats. Daewoo LanosHyundai AccentSuzuki EsteemToyota Echo560,00010100,0005Unlimited5100,000NANANA41.5 litersInline96 hp @ 5800 rpm98 ft-lbs. @ 4500 rpm165.9 in.65.9 in.56.7 in.2103 lbs.94.9 in.39.4 in.37.6 in.53 in.53.2 in.51.6 in.53.2 in.42.8 in.32.7 in.10.2 cu.ft.OptionalStandardNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableRating = Not TestedRating = Not TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot Tested11.9 gal.22 mpg / 30 mpg25 mpg / 30 mpg262 mi. / 357 mi.298 mi. / 357 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$8,467$8,8957.35%$495N/A3% of the Base InvoiceBASE (5M): 1.5L I4 DOHC MPI 16-valve engine; 5-speed OD manual transmission; front-wheel drive; partial stainless steel exhaust; front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, rear semi-independent torsion suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs; rack-and-pinion manual steering; front disc/rear drum brakes; 11.9 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers; clearcoat monotone paint; aero-composite halogen headlamps; driver's and passenger's manual remote black folding outside mirrors; 13" x 5" steel wheels, P175/70HR13 BSW A/S tires; compact steel spare wheel; 4 speakers, manual retractable antenna; child-safety rear door locks, remote trunk release, remote fuel door release; 2 power accessory outlets, front lighter element; driver's foot rest, smokers' package; instrumentation display includes water temperature gauge, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, lights on, key in ignition, lowfuel, door ajar; driver's and passenger's front airbags; tinted windows, manual front and rear windows; fixed-interval front windshield wipers, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front bucket seats with adjustable headrests, center armrest, driver's and front passenger's seat includes 4-way adjustment; rear bench seat; height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners; cloth seats, cloth door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering; interior lights include dome light; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, glove box, front cupholder, instrument panel bin, 2 seatback storage pockets, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo light; black grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and black door handles.