Kia · 1998–2003
Kia Retona
The Kia Retona is a small mini SUV based on Kia's military jeeps. The name is a portmanteau of return to nature. Developed by Asia Motors, the car was initially sold as the "Asia Retona" in some markets. The Retona had been using the same platform as the first generation Kia Sportage Convertible. Its competitors included the Lada Niva, Suzuki Jimny and the SsangYong Korando. A 2006 survey of German owners by magazine Auto Bild found that the Retona was "abysmally" unreliable.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Predecessor: Asia Rocsta
All Kia Retona data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →
Specifications
- name
- Kia Retona
- aka
- Kia Retona Cruiser (KDM Facelift)
- Manufacturer
- Kia Motors
- Production
- 1998–2003
- Assembly
- South Korea: Gwangju (Gwangju Plant)
- Class
- Mini SUV (J)
- Body style
- 3-door SUV
- Predecessor
- Asia Rocsta
- Successor
- Kia Sportage
- Length
- 1998–2000: 4000 mm, 2000–2003: 4025 mm
- Width
- 1745 mm
- Height
- 1835 mm
- Kerb weight
- 1510 kg
- Engine
- 2.0 L FE-DOHC I4, 2.0 L RT turbodiesel I4
- Related
- Kia KM131
- Layout
- Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q491460CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_RetonaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1373778403 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kia_Retona_4x4.JPGCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Thomas doerfer · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.