2018 KIA RIO 1.0L Petrol · LB18 HCZ

The 2018 Kia Rio presents a stable and largely reassuring roadworthiness profile, culminating in a clean pass on 18 June 2025 at 20,443 miles. The maintenance trend is broadly improving, with the most recent test showing only minor tyre advisories rather than the more substantive brake wear flagged in 2022. The vehicle has never failed an MOT, and the pattern of advisories suggests a car that has been kept in reasonable order, though not without some neglect of basic rubber components. The mileage accumulation is notably low for an eight-year-old vehicle, averaging just 2,555 miles per year. Between the June 2021 test at 10,148 miles and the June 2022 test at 13,220 miles, the car covered 3,072 miles in twelve months, a modest but consistent increase. The subsequent intervals show a similar gentle pace: 2,471 miles between June 2022 and May 2023, and 2,485 miles between May 2023 and June 2024. The final recorded jump of 2,267 miles between June 2024 and June 2025 confirms this steady, low-intensity usage pattern. Such light annual mileage typically reduces wear on drivetrain and braking components, though prolonged periods of inactivity can accelerate rubber perishing and localised corrosion. The recurring theme across multiple tests is tyre condition. Advisories for cracking and perishing appeared on the nearside front in both 2024 and 2025, and on the offside rear in 2025 and the offside front in 2024. This pattern suggests the vehicle may have spent extended periods stationary, allowing sidewall deterioration to set in. A buyer should carefully inspect all four tyres, including the spare, for age-related cracking regardless of remaining tread depth, and check the date codes to determine whether the current set is original or recently replaced. The 2022 advisory for worn front brake pads was not repeated in subsequent tests, indicating the pads were replaced, but a physical inspection of disc condition and caliper operation remains prudent given the low mileage and potential for surface corrosion from infrequent use. The windscreen damage noted in 2023 and 2024, described as not affecting the driver's view, has not reappeared in the 2025 record, suggesting a repair or replacement was carried out. A buyer should verify this by examining the screen for any residual chips or poor repair work. Beyond the documented advisories, the MOT record is sparse, with no structural corrosion, suspension, or exhaust defects flagged across five consecutive years. This is a positive indicator for a vehicle of this age and mileage, though a thorough underbody inspection for rust and a check of suspension bushes and coil springs would be wise given the potential for deterioration from prolonged standing rather than use.