WHEN it comes to classic cars probably one of the last marques to come to mind in the UK would be KIA.

But the Korean manufacturer has been selling cars here in the UK for over 35 years and those awfully nice people at KIA brought along a few of their earlier models for a recent driving day in North Yorkshire.

KIA began in 1944 in what is now South Korea making bicycle parts before eventually progressing into cars in 1973. They came to the UK in 1991 selling just 1,800 of their Pride model but that ramped up over the years, with a few hiccups along the way, to last year shifting over 112,000 vehicles.

So who remembers the Magentis? Well it was a 2.5-litre V6 saloon of around Ford Mondeo proportions which was loaded with kit and had a silky smooth four speed auto box (based on a Porsche design).

I got to try a 2001 version of the range topping SE model and all the real leather trim and fake wood took me right back to the turn of the century. What I did not remember is what a good car this is, 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 130 along with standard equipment like climate control, power driver’s seat, electric windows all round and cruise control.

Despite its near quarter of a century on British roads this example drives really well, comfortable and quite fast with no clunks or rattles, a testament to those who built it in South Korea.

Another ‘classic’ on offer will be one we have all heard of, the Sportage – one of KIA’s biggest success stories and best-selling car in 2024.

However, this example was a 2003 XSE first generation model (costing £14,000 new) introduced in 1995 and is a world away from the super-slick latest version.

Even so it wears its years well and drove without fault even down to the ‘stirring pudding’ manual gear shift which was a ‘feature’ when new.

This is one of the cars that contributed to the KIA UK success story, launched here in 1993 and by 2024 selling 47,000, crowned the UK’s best-selling SUV and second best-selling car of any make and model.

With a 2.0-litre petrol engine and all-wheel drive it proved tough as old boots being the first car to complete the Paris-Dakar and Baja 1000 rallies in 1995.

So after a day of fun in the Yorkshire Dales I can report that an old KIA can be a classic car… and they are certainly rarer than your traditional MGs and Jaguars as no one has thought to save them. Also, in a world where there are owners clubs for Morris Marinas and Austin Allegros, anything is possible!

For more information see www.kia.co.uk

By Motoring Editor Steve Howarth