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KIA · KIA RIO · Cars

KIA RIO Common

As of 2026 Q1, 101,785 KIA RIOs remain registered in the UK — still a familiar sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 111,269 in 2023 Q2 — only 91% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 9,484 cars. They're disappearing at roughly 3,538 a year (3.5% of what's left), a pace that would halve the survivors by around 2046 if it held — though in practice the last, most-cherished examples tend to linger far longer.

KIA RIO car — UK survivor photo
Photo: Vauxford / CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Surviving in the UK · 2026 Q1
101,785
97,333 licensed4,452 SORN
▼ 4,071 (-3.8%) yr/yr
Peak: 111,269 in 2023 Q2 · first seen 2014 Q3

Survivors over time

0 28k 56k 83k 111k 2014 Q32020 Q22026 Q1

How rare is it?

Common — still a familiar sight, with 101,785 on the road.

Rarer than 4% of the 2,429 UK car models we track.

Fuel breakdown

Of the 101,779 on the road today
Petrol 78%Diesel 18%Hybrid 3%

📉 Rate of decline

Disappearing at about 3,538 a year (3.5% of survivors). At that pace roughly 85,283 would remain in 5 years, and half the current fleet is gone by around ~2046.

A constant-rate projection from the last 3 years. The last survivors tend to linger far longer than this — cherished cars don't vanish on a fixed date.
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About the RIO

The Kia Rio (Korean: 기아 리오) is a subcompact car manufactured by Kia from 1999 to 2023. It was discontinued due to declining popularity and broader economic factors. Body styles have included a three and five-door hatchback and four-door sedan, equipped with inline-four gasoline and diesel engines, and front-wheel drive. The Rio replaced the first generation Pride—a rebadged version of the Ford Festiva—and the Avella, a subcompact sold as a Ford in some markets. A second generation was introduced in 2005 in Europe and in 2006 in North America, sharing its platform with the Hyundai Accent, a subcompact...

Source: Wikipedia, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.

KIA RIO — questions & answers

How many KIA RIO are left in the UK?

As of 2026 Q1, 101,785 KIA RIO were still registered in the UK — 97,333 licensed and on the road, plus 4,452 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.

Is the KIA RIO rare?

The KIA RIO is common, with 101,785 still on the road, making it rarer than 4% of the 2,429 UK car models we track.

Is the KIA RIO increasing or decreasing?

Over the last year the number of KIA RIO on UK roads fell by 4,071 (3.8%). At the current rate of decline, roughly 85,283 would remain in 5 years.

What fuel do most KIA RIO use?

Most KIA RIO run on petrol — about 78% of those still registered, with the rest split across diesel, hybrid.

When did the KIA RIO peak?

The KIA RIO peaked at 111,269 registered in 2023 Q2, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.

Compare the RIO

How it stacks up against its rivals
vs MERCEDES CLA CLASSvs DACIA DUSTERvs VOLVO V40vs FIAT PANDAvs VAUXHALL GRANDLANDvs JAGUAR XF SERIES

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