The last-gen Kia Rio came with a single engine option – the 1.6L non-turbo engine that offers 120 horsepower. How durable is it? And what problems can you get with this engine? I will cover these below, in this article.
Key features of the 1.6L engine in the Kia Rio
The Rio came with the G4FG (or similar code) engine from 2020 to 2023. Before that, several years, the American market got a more interesting 130-hp GDi engine with direct injection that delivered more power but worse gas mileage. In 2020, the company decided to downgrade the engine to the MPI version with more reliability and better fuel efficiency.
The engine is not really new – it was first introduced in 2010 and has been used in many Hyundai and Kia models in global markets. This helps me get more information about the reliability and longevity of the engine by accessing forums in other countries.
Here’s what you may want to know about this engine:
- the 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine offers 120 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque which is not bad for a compact car;
- the engine is only available with the CVT transmission – not the most durable option but wonderful for gas mileage – I’ve written about this gearbox in a separate article;
- the engine comes with MPI injection saving it from all kinds of buildup on valves and other injection problems;
- the intake manifold with VIS system is one of the features, also, this engine has phasers on both camshafts – intake and exhaust;
- the timing system is driven by chain, the engine block is aluminum but there are cast-iron sleeves in each cylinder;
- the claimed gas mileage is really great – the Rio can go 32 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on highways;
- of course, all Kia Rios are front-wheel drive and it would be ridiculous to expect something else from these cars.
So, the Rio is equipped with a pretty simple and reliable engine. But keep in mind that if you are considering the pre-2020 Rio, the engine in this car will be slightly different.
One thing that catches my eye is the CVT. I understand that Kia wanted great gas mileage and smooth driving to market their Rios as comfortable and efficient vehicles. But we would love to see a simple automatic transmission or at least the manual option in the cheapest trim. Because buying a car with a CVT is not something you may want with some concerns about durability.
How many miles will the Kia Rio engine last?
When estimating the durability of the engine, I have to take all the diverse factors into account.
So, the 1.6L engine will last at least 200,000 miles if maintained well and not killed by your driving style. Also, I understand that cheap sedan cars rarely get proper maintenance with high-quality oil and parts, so I have to limit this prediction a bit.
There are also several important factors that will most likely shorten the lifespan of these engines if not addressed properly. These are problems with catalytic converters and timing chains that I will tell you about a little later.
But the major concern is the CVT. It’s going to last about 120,000 miles, and this is an optimistic scenario. After that, you will have to replace it which is not a cheap task at all. If you ever had an old and high-mileage car with a CVT, just know that all those common problems will be here after about 100K miles or a little later.
What are the common problems with the Kia Rio 1.6L engine?
After Kia changed the GDi engine with the MPI one, the number of common issues with the Rio engines dropped. Now, these engines don’t have any carbon buildup on intake valves and don’t need regular injection cleaning. They are cheaper to own and this is good news.
But here is some bad news to keep in mind if you are the owner of the new Rio:
1. Timing chain issues are still there
A thin timing chain is one of the key issues in all new Hyundai-Kia engines and this one is not an exception. The thin chain will stretch more than the tensioner may compensate at about 100,000 miles and will need replacement. Though I should say that some engines run over 200,000 miles without chain replacement, so this depends on the loads and the driving style.
The main problem is that if you don’t replace the chain on time, it will stretch fatally and will eventually jump. This will lead to issues with valves and the repair, in this case, will be pretty costly and long.
2. Catalytic converter issues
In this engine, the small catalytic converter is located in the exhaust manifold – too close to the engine block. One bad day, the catalytic converter may fail and the ceramic elements in it may start ruining. Some small ceramic parts may easily get inside the engine block and cause a lot of problems.
Once they scratch cylinder walls, the engine will lose its efficiency and will most likely start drinking up oil like crazy.
3. Weak cylinder block
The cylinder block is made of aluminum which is the industry standard right now. Also, it has thin cast-iron sleeves for each cylinder and this should help in prolonging the lifespan of the block. But in fact, these sleeves are pretty weak and if you overheat this engine, it will most likely fail.
When overheated, the cylinders go oval and the piston rings can protect the combustion chambers from oil leaks. This leads to progressive oil consumption and other related problems.
4. Lots of minor issues on the way
You may think that the engine is quite old and well-studied. Also, Hyundai has made a lot of modifications to cover all the common problems. But no. The 1.6L MPI engine in the Kia Rio will keep on getting on your nerves with all kinds of small problems.
Just like these ones:
- oil consumption even when the mileage is still low;
- loud injectors and the inability of mechanics to do anything with them;
- failing engine mounts – just a standard problem for Kia engines;
- oil leaks – this engine will leak some oil now and then, just put up with it;
- unstable idle speed – the throttle may clog or get dirty and affect the idle RPM level.
All these issues have one thing in common – they are not as cheap to solve as you may think. Also, locating the reasons for these problems is not always easy and this may take some time which affects labor costs.
Can you prolong the life of the 1.6L MPI engine in the new Rio?
Sure, you can make this engine live longer but it will take some effort on your side. I personally think that 200,000 miles are not the limit for this quite simple and overall good powerplant. But it needs some attention from you.
Here’s what you need to remember:
- better change oil and filters every 10K miles to avoid oil dilution and contamination;
- timing chain should be replaced at about 120,000 miles if it doesn’t rattle and go bad before that;
- this engine needs valve adjustment – at least every 50,000 miles or so;
- don’t forget about the drive belt – it should be replaced every 80,000 miles or so;
- spark plugs replacement every 30K miles will help you prolong the life of the engine – don’t wait till it misfires and fails;
- pay attention to the health of the catalytic converter – the cat should be checked at 100K miles and every 20K miles after that.
If you hear some rattle from the engine, have the timing chain inspected. If your catalytic converter sends some error messages or warning lights on the dash of the Rio, have it replaced immediately because the converter is one of the most common killers of the 1.6L engine in Kia cars.