Do older Kias hold up as well as older Hyundais?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 13
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From: New Hampshire
Vehicle: 2006 Tiburon
Do older Kias hold up as well as older Hyundais?
I always wondered this. Kia is made by Hyundai so the quality should be the same. But Ive seen a ton of Hyundai's with over 100K that still work and drive like they were new. Cant say Ive seen many Kias with the same. 
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 11
From: Denver Co
Vehicle: 1999 Hyundai Tiburon
Hyundai aquired kia in 1998. It was about that time, later 90s, that hyundai made the big push with the best warranty in the business. Took them a few years to get kia lined out. I wouldn't buy a kia older then 2005 honestly. IMO. Others I'm sure will have their own take based on experience.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,837
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From: Floating around the AUDM
Vehicle: X3 Sprint, S-Coupe Turbo
The AUDM 2000s kia carnival used the rover kv6 engine, which is possibly the only engine on earth that is a bigger lemon than the chrysler EER v6. Something like 60% of carnivals had their engines replaced under warranty in the first three years alone. Seriously look it up, the kv6 is a f*cking joke of an engine. What were they thinking?
The 90s aspire/sephia/credos/sportage are all based on the mazda 121/323/626/e2000 respectively, just built a little worse. Pretty simple and reliable, but kinda like an X3 accent, the interior plastics and trim are all low quality.
Early 2000s rios and shumas/spectras are interesting, they're still loosely based on mazda tech but kia went through everything and redesigned it all. For example the rio 1.5 engine has slightly thinner rods, smaller bearings, but similar overall dimensions and a couple of interchangeable parts with the preceding mazda B5 engine. But they are build passably well.
The 90s aspire/sephia/credos/sportage are all based on the mazda 121/323/626/e2000 respectively, just built a little worse. Pretty simple and reliable, but kinda like an X3 accent, the interior plastics and trim are all low quality.
Early 2000s rios and shumas/spectras are interesting, they're still loosely based on mazda tech but kia went through everything and redesigned it all. For example the rio 1.5 engine has slightly thinner rods, smaller bearings, but similar overall dimensions and a couple of interchangeable parts with the preceding mazda B5 engine. But they are build passably well.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 601
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From: USA
Vehicle: 1997 RD 4-door
other than the fact that they're based on their corporate parent based platforms, and use mostly identical mechanical and electronic components and various bits from the hyundai parts bin, kia makes their vehicles look almost different to the point where the roof is the only body panel it shares with it's crooked H sibling.
interesting thing about the first gen rio is that some of these cars used teeny weeny 14mm lugbolts "cost?" instead of stud and nut, and used a cable actuated clutch..heard they handle pretty well on stock form in autocross.
interesting thing about the first gen rio is that some of these cars used teeny weeny 14mm lugbolts "cost?" instead of stud and nut, and used a cable actuated clutch..heard they handle pretty well on stock form in autocross.
