2017 KIA RIO 1.0L Petrol · LD17 DDJ

A clean recent roadworthiness profile defines this nine-year-old Kia Rio, with three consecutive passes recorded at the 2024, 2025, and February 2026 tests, each returning without advisories or minor defects. Across the seven tests documented since 2020, the vehicle has not recorded a single failure or refusal, and the advisory history that does exist is concentrated in earlier years rather than representing an ongoing concern. The 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 tests together account for every advisory entry, while the most recent three examinations have returned entirely blank records. This pattern points to a vehicle whose component condition has stabilised at the test points examined, with no recurrence of previously flagged tyre wear, brake wear, or glazing issues on subsequent inspections. Mileage accumulation sits broadly in line with expectations for the vehicle's age, with 90,974 miles recorded across approximately nine years of use, equating to an average of around 10,100 miles annually. The mileage progression between tests is consistent and incremental, with no evidence of a prolonged off-road lay-up that would typically show as a multi-year gap between examinations. Test intervals remain annual throughout the recorded history, with dates falling in the March-to-February window as expected for a vehicle first registered in 2017. This regular testing cadence combined with steady annual mileage suggests the Rio has remained in continuous service rather than being stored for extended periods, which has implications for corrosion risk on underbody components and rubber deterioration in suspension bushes that often accelerates during inactivity. The advisory entries that did appear offer specific guidance for an inspection-based purchase. The 2022 record noted edge wear on both rear tyres and the offside front tyre at 3mm, alongside sidewall perishing on the offside front, which points to a possible tracking or alignment issue at that time. On a test drive, listen for any uneven steering pull to one side, particularly under braking, and check that the steering wheel returns cleanly to centre after cornering. The 2021 advisory concerning a thin offside front outer brake pad is worth verifying through a physical inspection of pad material thickness and a check for any scoring or lipping on the corresponding brake disc, as pad wear of that nature can lead to accelerated disc wear if not addressed. The 2020 advisory flagging a slightly distorted nearside front road wheel should prompt a careful look for any vibration through the steering wheel at speed, particularly between 40 and 60 mph, and a check of the wheel rim for visible impact damage or buckling. Screen condition is the only item to appear as a recurring observation, with chips in the swept area noted in both 2022 and 2023, and although the most recent tests have not flagged this, any existing chips can develop into cracks under thermal cycling. Inspect the windscreen closely for any spreading from the chip sites, particularly around the lower swept area where wiper impact is greatest. Beyond the recorded items, the suspension components most worth pressing on a test drive are the front wishbones, drop links, and anti-roll bar bushes, given the mileage and the absence of any recorded suspension advisories to confirm their condition. Listen for clonks over speed humps and uneven bumps, and feel for any vagueness or knocking through the steering when traversing rougher surfaces, as these are the typical wear points on a Rio at this mileage. The rear brake shoes, handbrake mechanism, and exhaust mounting rubbers are also worth a physical check, even though none have been flagged, given the vehicle's age and accumulated mileage.