Is the 2021 KIA RIO reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 95% of KIA RIOs from 2021 passed their MOT first time in 2026, based on 3,310 tests. That's 13 points above the national average of 82%.

How much does a 2021 KIA RIO cost to run?

Estimated annual running cost is £1,405 (£117/month), including £955 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 KIA RIO?

The 2021 KIA RIO has a 95% MOT pass rate based on 3,310 tests in 2026. This ranks 751 out of 3373 cars from 2021.

Which year KIA RIO is most reliable?

The 2021 KIA RIO has the highest MOT pass rate at 95%. The least reliable year is 2004 at 64%.

KIA RIO (2021)

Q: What is the average mileage for a 2021 KIA RIO?

The average mileage for a 2021 KIA RIO is 21,750 miles, which is below the expected 37,000 miles for a 5-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 3,310 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,405

£117/month

MOT Pass Rate

95%

Excellent

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 1-8

998cc Petrol

Great Choice

95% pass rate, £1405/year to run. 13 points above average.

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Petrol998cc5 years old3,310 tests22k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 998cc)

~50 mpg

£955

Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,405

Per month£117/mo

Per week£27/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

95% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%National avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 13 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the KIA brand average of 86%.

At 5 years old, 95% of KIA RIOs from 2021 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 3,310 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 21,750 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 cars751th of 3,373(top 22%)

Rank among KIA models61th of 472(top 13%)

vs national average+13%(82% avg)

vs 2021 cars average+3%(92% avg)

vs KIA average+9%(86% avg)

Mileage Analysis

21,750

Average miles

37,000

Expected for age

The average 2021 KIA RIO has 21,750 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 37,000 miles for a 5-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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KIA RIO by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2022	95%	233	24,400 mi
2021	95%	3,310	21,750 mi
2020	91%	5,121	26,035 mi
2019	89%	7,841	32,113 mi
2018	90%	9,260	40,153 mi
2017	88%	13,147	49,022 mi
2016	85%	14,178	52,518 mi
2015	84%	18,619	60,725 mi
2014	78%	19,328	70,276 mi
2013	76%	17,756	77,717 mi
2012	74%	16,466	85,239 mi
2011	72%	12,394	82,872 mi
2010	72%	11,025	87,460 mi
2009	71%	8,764	85,404 mi
2008	68%	3,800	92,973 mi
2007	67%	2,363	93,975 mi
2006	69%	1,766	94,045 mi
2005	69%	1,019	84,192 mi
2004	64%	625	68,036 mi
2003	65%	300	72,062 mi
2002	68%	184	68,384 mi
2001	67%	42	59,195 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

FORD FIESTA

2019 · 998cc Petrol

£1,400/year

91%

-4%

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,582/year

92%

-3%

VAUXHALL CORSA

2019 · 1398cc Petrol

£1,732/year

88%

-7%

AUDI A3

2019 · 999cc Petrol

£1,400/year

92%

-3%

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About the 2021 KIA RIO

The 2021 KIA RIO is a city car with a 998cc petrol engine. 3,310 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a reasonably common sight on UK roads. It ranks in the top 22% of all 2021 cars for reliability.

With an average of 21,750 miles at 5 years old, KIA RIO owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2021 KIA RIO Fuel Costs

The modest 998cc petrol engine keeps fuel costs low, which is a real advantage for a city car. Expect around 50 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £955 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 KIA RIO?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,405 (£117/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 95% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

KIA RIO Reliability Trend

Newer KIA RIOs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 17 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2021 KIA RIO

At 5 years old, the KIA RIO offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2021 KIA RIO's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Coil Pack Failure

Medium risk

Smaller petrol engines are prone to ignition coil failures, causing misfires and rough running. Replacement is £50-£150 per coil.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 KIA RIO stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Insurance	Total/yr
KIA RIO(2021)	95%	£955	£195	Grp 1-8	£1405
FORD FIESTA(2019)	91%	£955	£190	Grp 1-8	£1400-£5
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF(2019)	92%	£1137	£190	Grp 12-25	£1582+£177
VAUXHALL CORSA(2019)	88%	£1137	£190	Grp 8-20	£1732+£327
AUDI A3(2019)	92%	£955	£190	Grp 1-8	£1400-£5

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.