Kia didn’t have the best reputation in the automotive industry. The company found global success, offering cheap prices and terrible reliability. But that’s changed. Kia’s Korean headquarters wrote to Popular Mechanics that “over a decade ago, Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Kia, made a conscious and deliberate decision to concentrate on quality rather than volume.”

That quality is visible on Kia models on sale today, and the brand is becoming known for the opposite of what it was. It consistently tops reliability reports, including the coveted JD Power Initial Quality Survey. Unsurprisingly, then, almost all the best cars from Kia’s history are currently on the market, and the only other on this list wasn’t developed by the company at all.

10 Kia Carens

kia carens
via Kia 

A minivan might be a surprise start to this list, but the latest Kia Carens is itself a surprise. Designed for India and other emerging markets, the company prefers not to call it a minivan but instead an RV, or recreational vehicle. The car comes with three rows and bold styling to boot.

kia carens beach
via Kia

Reviewers were impressed with the ride quality as well, with Kia focusing on making the big vehicle feel as dynamic as a smaller crossover. Inside, it’s loaded with features, including a 10.5-inch touchscreen, which integrates the option to play relaxing bird chirps. Kia also knows the market and invested big on safety, piling on sensors and adding big brakes all around.

9 Kia Mohave

kia mohave
via Kia

The Mohave was last seen in the US back in 2009 wearing the Borrego badge before it was replaced by the Sorento after poor sales. But the car hasn’t been allowed to fade away on the global market. A new generation debuted for the Korean market in 2020.

kia mohave rear
via Kia

The new car is a modern body-on-frame SUV to take on the Toyota Land Cruiser for about half the price. Besides a completely redesigned look, new technology includes a heads-up display and safety aids. The 3.0-liter diesel V6 is good for about 250 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque.

8 Kia EV6

kia ev6 rear
via Kia Media

The EV6 is the first vehicle from Kia designed to run on electricity, sharing a platform with the Hyundai Ioniq 5. This platform is intended to underpin the future slate of electric vehicles from Hyundai and Kia, and the effort has received praise. The EV6 is already the 2022 European Car of the Year.

kia ev6 interior
via Kia Media

The car focuses on a stylish design to stand out from other electric vehicles and advanced technology, but reviewers have criticized a lack of power. The base Light model starts with just 167 horsepower, but the GT version, yet to enter production, brings that number up to 576, which Kia says can sprint to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The base model, then, only has 29% of the upcoming performance model, says Jalopnik.

7 Kia Telluride

kia telluride
via Kia Media

The 2020 World Car of the Year winning Kia Telluride. It’s been a smash hit in the sales figures since the car debuted for that year, selling more than 200,000 units to date. Motortrend has also crowned it Car of the Year.

kia telluride rear
via Kia Media

The magazine said that it competes with vehicles that cost double its price, with the same Kia technology that has received plaudits earlier in this list, and an excellent ride holding propelled by a smooth V6 engine. For 2023, teaser images show an even larger screen will be added.

Related: Here Are The Best New SUVs For Commuting

6 Kia K5 GT

kia k5
via Kia Media

Originally known as the Optima, the K5 is a more exciting alternative to the standard business sedan. While the standard model is powered by a 180-horsepower I4 engine, the GT model adds a turbocharger and increases the power to 290 horses, paired to an eight speed automatic transmission.

kia k5 driving
via Kia Media

With bigger brakes and a custom suspension tune, rear seat passengers will still enjoy a roomy rear seat, and Car & Driver applauded its comfortable ride quality when it isn’t driven hard, that beats the best in the segment, including the Honda Accord.

5 Kia K900

kia k900
via Kia Media

The K900 is Kia’s flagship luxury sedan. It might lack the brand pedigree of luxury rivals, but the $60,000 car comes with a bevy of standard features to offer great value. Those include heated and ventilated seats with fine leather, a head up display, a heated steering wheel, a sunroof and a custom clock from watchmaker Maurice Lacroix, per Cars.com.

kia k900 grill
via Kia Media

Unveiled in 2012 as the K9 for the Korean market, the car is based on that generation of Hyundai Equus, but Kia added some length. The new generation, which debuted for 2018, is even longer than the previous generation. Ultimately, it’s a great value luxury limousine without the brand value to be a huge success in worldwide markets.

Related: 5 Best Korean Luxury Cars (5 British Luxury Cars We'd Rather Own)

4 Kia ProCeed GT

kia proceed gt
via Kia Media

Another Kia kept from American shores is the Ceed. Popular on Top Gear in its original Cee’d guise, the hatchback was facelifted in 2012 and a performance model joined the ranks. The original Pro_Cee’d GT hot hatch used the same engine as the Hyundai Veloster and stiffened up the ride and hit 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, which is actually faster than the Veloster.

kia proceed gt rear
via Kia Media

The new generation of ProCeed GT, unveiled in 2018, loses some sporting credentials, adding a set of rear doors and lengthening the body for a station wagon-esque look. GT models feature either 1.4-liter turbocharged I4 engine or 1.6-liter turbodiesel I4.

3 Kia Elan

Lotus Elan
via Bring A Trailer

The Lotus Elan was a light sports car from the British marque produced in the 60s and 70s, and the nameplate was revived as a front-wheel-drive tourer for the 90s. After production ended, Lotus sold the rights for the model to Kia, who produced it from 1996-1999 for the Korean market.

Lotus Elan Rear
via Bring A Trailer

It was a big departure for the company, and the only car on this list not produced within the last several years. About a thousand units were sold, and, although it’s rare, it’s still great value today. This was the first time Kia really invested in a fun performance car, and they ended up building a classic. Even if they didn’t design it.

Related: Here's What Gearheads Forgot About The Lotus Elan

2 Kia Soul Turbo

kia soul turbo
''Via: Kia Media''

The Kia Soul debuted in a time when boxy Asian cars were popular. Around the time the original model debuted in 2008, it competed with the Honda Element and Nissan Cube and saw big sales. Neither of those competitors are still around, though, but the Soul still is, with consistent high sales.

kia soul turbo rear
via Kia Media

That’s because it’s a great car. It embraces its quirky design and niche appeal, but still provides a quality package for a great price. The Turbo trim also ups the power to 201 horsepower, and a manual transmission is available on older slightly models. That trim, said Car & Driver, is “extra perky,” and it starts at only $29,145. The Soul has the added character that makes a fun car truly great.

1 Kia Stinger GT

kia stinger gt-line
via Kia Media

There’s only one option for first. While Kia offers great cars for plenty of segments, the performance Stinger really solidified the brand’s new image when it debuted in 2017. Now five years old, Kia has continued to improve the car. Like the company’s other performance offerings, the Stinger still offers practicality, with five seats and a sizable trunk, but it has serious performance too.

2023 kia stinger gt-line rear
via Kia Media

The engines range from a 2.0-liter to a 3.3-liter V6, and while a manual has never been an option, an 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters send the power to either the rear wheels or all four.