The Ten Best Models Ever Built by Kia

South Korean automaker Kia was once known for making cheap, fairly low quality automobiles that were purchased by those who could not afford anything better. Over the years, their cars have dramatically improved in quality and become serious competitors to the automotive establishment. Here are my picks for the 10 best cars ever built by Kia:

Kia Sportage: While this compact SUV from Kia first went on sale in 1993, it didn't really see a significant change in quality until 2004 when the second generation Sportage was released. This newer Sportage had far better fit, finish, and a more powerful engine, making it an inexpensive alternative to cars like the Toyota Rav 4. The Sportage is still currently in production.

Kia Sedona: When I first saw this minivan in 1998 when it debuted, I thought it was a Ford Windstar, as the two look very similar. Whether this was intentional or not, the first generation Sedona actually compared fairly well to the minivans available at the time. The second generation Sedona, which is still currently being produced, upped the quality and safety and remains a solid choice in the minivan market.

Kia Amanti: In 2003 Kia introduced the Amanti, the company's first foray into the large car segment. The Amanti had a very distinctive, cross-hatched grill and more luxury features than had ever been seen on a Kia previously. While not as solid as some of Kia's offerings, the Amanti was a big first step to becoming an automaker that offered more than economy cars. The Amanti ended production in 2010.

Kia Borrego: This luxury SUV was released in 2008 and received a lot of positive reviews and awards from the automotive press but for some reason never sold very well. It could be that buyers could not wrap their minds around the idea of a luxury SUV being built by traditional economy car builder Kia. For whatever reason, the Borrego is no more despite its solid design and quality.

Kia Spectra: One of the better quality compact cars Kia has built, the Spectra was manufactured between 2004 and 2008. It got excellent mileage, handled fairly well for it's size, and had a roomy interior. It has been replaced by the Kia Forte.

Second-generation Kia Rio: The original Rio was one of the poorest quality cars Kia ever built, but the redesigned version that appeared in 2005 represented a substantial upgrade in every area. The engine was more powerful, there were less quality issues, and the car handled much better. It is still currently in production, although the third generation Rio has already been introduced at the Geneva Auto Show.

Kia Sorento: This mid-sized SUV has been a staple of value in the SUV market since it was introduced in 2002, but the redesigned 2011 Sorento takes what was great about the car and makes it even better. It adopts a more aggressive grill and stance and has been highly praised in magazines for the combination of styling, value, and performance that it achieves.

Kia Rondo: Sold in the U.S. from 2007 to 2010, the Rondo was an interesting crossover that could perhaps best be described as a min-station wagon. It was small but had plenty of room and got good mileage. It wasn't terribly powerful, but it was not meant to be a sports car. It was a great car for families and is still being sold in Canada, where the sales of the car are better.

Kia Forte: Successor to the Spectra, the Forte continues to shine where the Spectra left off. Similar in design to the Hyundai Elantra, the Forte has a more swept back front grill and hood. It handles superbly and is the perfect nimble car for urban driving. It was released in 2008 and is still being sold at present.

Kia Optima, third generation: While the first two generations of the Optima were nice cars, they were somewhat boring. Not so with the newest Optima. It is striking in looks and has plenty of power. Besides, how can a car that helped Blake Griffin win the 2011 NBA slam dunk competition not be on this list? This is definitely Kia's most impressive car to date.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Sportagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Sedonahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Amantihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Borregohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Ceratohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Riohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Sorentohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Rondohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Fortehttp://www.caradvice.com.au/107011/video-blake-griffin-slam-dunks-over-a-kia-optima/