The sub-compact Kia Rio is one of the most economical vehicles available in America today. The Rio’s true-entry level price and highway gas mileage figures in the mid-thirty mile per gallon (MPG) range make it the first choice for a growing number of budget-minded motorists.

The 2008 Rio is offered as a four-door sedan and a five door hatchback (known as the Rio5). Fitted with a 1.6 liter DOHC four cylinder engine that produces 110 horsepower (HP) and 107 foot pounds of torque, the front-wheel-drive Rio is equipped with either a five-speed manual or an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission, each with overdrive.

While the US-spec Rio’s gas mileage ratings are impressive, there’s a whole lot more to come.
Abroad, the Rio can be equipped with a 1.5 liter common rail turbodiesel engine, producing 108.6 HP and 173.3 foot pounds of torque, with a 0-62 mile per hour time of 11.5 seconds. The European turbodiesel hauls down 49.6 urban / 68.9 extra urban miles per British gallon … that equates to roughly 41 city / 57 highway here in the States.
Kia is developing a hybrid version of the Rio, as well. When the rubber finally meets the road, the hybrid Rio just might be the least expensive hybrid available …
Kia Rio Gas Mileage - 2007-2008
| Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Disp. | Fuel | Trans. | City | Hwy |
| 2008 | KIA | RIO | 4 cylinder | 1.6 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 25 | 35 |
| 2008 | KIA | RIO | 4 cylinder | 1.6 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 27 | 32 |
| 2007 | KIA | RIO | 4 cylinder | 1.6 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 29 | 38 |
| 2007 | KIA | RIO | 4 cylinder | 1.6 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 32 | 35 |
Note: the EPA tweaked their testing procedure, starting with the 2008 model year, with the end result being that the 2008 MPG estimates are now lower than previous years. As always, YMMV.






4 comments ↓
Just bought a 08 Kia Rio and my first tank got 271 kms. Subsequent tanks are 375 if I am lucky. Took it into their service dept. and am told has to be broke it at 35,000 kms!
bought 2002 rio in march 2005 with 28,000 miles. now have 82,000 miles and i always get OVER 40 mpg. drive easy with starts and stops but not really slow. my best car for milage to date. have been driving for 40 years
bought a 08 rio in november of last year i have 25,000km on it and i get roughly 500km out of a tank
3,000 miles onm vehicle getting 357 miles per tank 11.9 to fill.
Leave a Comment