I drive a 2009 Kia Rio bought new off the lot in 2010. The car gives a comfortable ride but long drives aren't that great. The seats are comfortable for short commutes but if you're spending a lot of time in traffic or driving more then 30 miles one way I would suggest bringing a cushion or something. I loved the warranty that came with my car. I have only had one major issue with the car and it comes from adding automatic locks after retail (so technically not even the cars fault). The gas mileage is decent I usually average about 29mpg combined highway and streets. The only time the gas mileage goes south is when I forget to change the oil for a while. The car otherwise runs great. I did not have to replace the brakes until 2013 for the back and 2014 for the front. And the original tires on the car lasted me 3 years before I moved to sportier tires. Maintaining the car is really easy I only get oil changes every six thousand miles or when I remember usually once every 5-6 months. I have only changed the transmission fluid once and have never had any major issues with the car. It came with a USB port, an AUX jack, that finally broke after 5 years of constant use and a decent sound system.

The hatchback Kia Rio5 manual transmission is a fun little car to drive. Handles well in all conditions, zippy acceleration. The base model is truly that, including only AC and AM/FM/CD, you'll be cranking the windows up and down manually and holding the door handles to lock it. However, it has plenty of room inside for 4-5 people and the hatchback helps with additional storage. Parts are inexpensive and easy to replace, I've had a mechanic tell me it was easy to work on, which means less dollars out of pocket for labor costs. Four-doors and it's easy access in and out for you and your friends and family. Acceleration is lacking but what can you expect for a 4-cylinder? The gas mileage runs about 28-30mpg city/hwy combined which is pretty good and I enjoy not visiting the gas station often. The Kia Rio5 has been inexpensive to own and maintain which is really all I wanted from a subcompact, non-aspirational vehicle make. The interior cloth has held up exceptionally well, though the steering wheel cover is starting to show some wear (after 10 years).

This was my first car. I love that it has been very reliable. I haven't had very many issues with the car as far as it's performance. However, it's only a 4-cyl., so any traveling over steep roads like the I-5 Grapevine in Southern California is not recommended on a regular basis. I think the quality of assembly materials could be better, since the car seemingly has more plastic parts/components then metal. Even the bumper is plastic.