BUYER’S GUIDE: Kia Rio

Running costs

62mpg (1.0 T-GDi 99PS)

£74 fill-up

Performance

0-62mph/top speed

10.3 seconds/115mph

KIA is a brand that has undergone a big transformation over the past two decades, and nowhere is this more apparent than with its Rio supermini.

When the original Kia Rio arrived in 2000, there was very little about it that appealed, from its styling to the driving experience and the technology that it featured. But it was good value and dependable, and it was these two cornerstones that allowed Kia to get a foothold in the UK.

In January this year Kia was the UK’s biggest-selling brand, and in 2022 it looks set to sell more than 100,000 cars here, claiming more than five per cent of the market. Kia still sells the Rio, which is now a desirable supermini for a number of reasons – but should you buy a used one?