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Photo of a Kia Retona

Kia Retona

Return to nature, with K-131 military roots.1

Researched November 9, 2026 from 23 sources

Also called

  • Korean HummerA Korean label for the Retona, a civilian conversion of the K-131 military truck.2

At a glance

0100200
83–136 hpPower
012.525
15–20.5 s0–100 km/h
0100200
120–156 km/hTop speed
0150300
181.4–200.1 N·mTorque
01,0002,000
1,505–1,555 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.5914

Engine
2.0 L gasoline DOHC I4; 2.0 L intercooled turbodiesel I436
Layout
Front engine; part-time 4WD, low range; ladder frame39
Gearbox
5-speed manual; diesel also offered with Aisin 4-speed automatic513
Built at
Gwangju Plant, South Korea3

The story

Asia Motors developed this civilian K-131 off-roader, sold with Kia badges and assembled at Gwangju, South Korea. It shares its platform with the first-generation Sportage Convertible.13

1995: Asia Retona's May motor-show debut19951998: June 8: the civilian Retona launches19981999: Two-tone seats and gas dampers · The 2.0 TD reaches Europe19992000: January 19: four-speed automatic · September: diesel-only Retona Cruiser20002001: Europe loses the Retona20012002: 51.9-meter braking result20022003: June: emissions rules end the run2003 K111 Jeep (K111): 1978–1997K111Asia Rocsta: 1990–1997Asia RocstaKia K131 / KM420 (K131 / KM420): 1997–presentK131 / KM420Kia Retona (CE): 1998–2003CE 19801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones1316171819
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1978–1997K111 Jeep (K111)
1990–1997Asia Rocsta
1997–presentKia K131 / KM420 (K131 / KM420)
1998–2003Kia Retona (CE)
1995Asia Retona's May motor-show debut
1998June 8: the civilian Retona launches
1999Two-tone seats and gas dampers
1999The 2.0 TD reaches Europe
2000January 19: four-speed automatic
2000September: diesel-only Retona Cruiser
2001Europe loses the Retona
200251.9-meter braking result
2003June: emissions rules end the run
  1. 1995

    Asia Retona's May motor-show debut

    The planned Rocsta replacement appears as the Asia Retona at Korea's first motor show in May 1995.4

  2. 1998

    June 8: the civilian Retona launches

    Kia puts the military-derived Retona on sale with 2.0 L gasoline or intercooled turbodiesel power, in hardtop and soft-top forms.56

  3. 1999

    Two-tone seats and gas dampers

    The 1999 update adds two-tone woven-tricot upholstery, a heated rear window and gas-filled shock absorbers.7

  4. 1999

    The 2.0 TD reaches Europe

    The Retona reaches Europe a year after its Asian debut; Germany's launch version is the 2.0 TD with a five-speed manual.89

  5. 2000

    January 19: four-speed automatic

    The update introduces an electronic four-speed automatic, shift lock and vacuum-operated automatic freewheel hubs.10

  6. 2000

    September: diesel-only Retona Cruiser

    The facelifted Retona Cruiser goes on sale September 25 with a revised cabin and body; the gasoline engine is dropped.111

  7. 2001

    Europe loses the Retona

    The Retona leaves the European market in 2001, while the facelifted Cruiser remains on sale in Asia until 2003.8

  8. 2002

    51.9-meter braking result

    A road test of the 2.0 diesel records a 51.9 m stopping distance, with ABS and airbags absent and occasional one-sided brake locking.12

  9. 2003

    June: emissions rules end the run

    An annual cap on total exhaust emissions brings the Retona's production to an end in June 2003.2

Every generation

  • Asia Rocsta
    Asia Rocsta1990–1997
  • Kia K131 / KM420
    K131 / KM4201997–present
  • Kia Retona
    CE1998–2003

Power over the years

From 87 hp to 136 hp in 0 years.

050100150 19982000 hp 1998 · 87 hp · 2.0 D1998 · 136 hp · 2.0 i 16V1999 · 83 hp · 2.0 D (1999 specification)1999 · 128 hp · 2.0 i 16V (1999 specification) 136 hp 2.0 i 16V 87 hp 2.0 D
314
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1998872.0 D
19981362.0 i 16V
1999832.0 D (1999 specification)
19991282.0 i 16V (1999 specification)

Versions

8 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    2.0 TCI hardtop DLX

    1998–2000

    86 hp

  • Standard

    2.0 TCI hardtop S/DLX

    1998–2000

    86 hp

  • Standard

    Cruiser LX

    2001

    82 hp

  • Standard

    Cruiser GX van

    2001

    82 hp

  • Standard

    2.0 TCI automatic

    2000

    86 hp

  • Standard

    Soft-top

    1998

  • Standard

    2.0 gasoline (Germany)

    2000–2001

    126 hp

  • Standard

    2.0 DOHC gasoline hardtop S/DLX

    1998–2000

    134 hp

How to spot one

Look for

  • Flat windshield with exposed frame hinges; the hardtop's windshield does not fold.4
  • Look for a spare wheel mounted on the rear tailgate.8
  • A compact three-door SUV silhouette.3
  • Civilian hardtops use plastic bumpers and alloy wheels.13

Year by year

  1. 1999

    Heated rear glass and two-tone woven seat upholstery arrived.7

  2. January 2000

    Body-color exterior door handles and front-wheel center caps appeared.10

  3. September 2000

    Cruiser gained a new nose and taillights, lost plastic inserts, moved its rear plate to the bumper and received a redesigned cabin.5813

Don’t confuse it with

  • Kia K131 / KM420

    Retona hardtops have glass side/rear windows, plastic bumpers and alloy wheels, and lack military blackout lights.1316

Against its rivals

  • Suzuki Vitara (ET)

    Retona vs Suzuki Vitara (ET)

    Listed top speed

    Retona124 km/h
    Suzuki Vitara (ET)144 km/h
    20
  • Toyota RAV4 (XA1)

    Retona vs Toyota RAV4 (XA1)

    Listed top speed

    Retona124 km/h
    Toyota RAV4 (XA1)167 km/h
    20
  • Lada Niva 1.7i (2121)

    Retona vs Lada Niva 1.7i (2121)

    Listed top speed

    Retona124 km/h
    Lada Niva 1.7i (2121)137 km/h
    20
  • Daihatsu Terios (J1)

    Retona vs Daihatsu Terios (J1)

    Listed top speed

    Retona124 km/h
    Daihatsu Terios (J1)145 km/h
    20

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 8 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 13 stories from its legend
    • “The Rocsta helped popularize off-road racing”
    • “Seo Yi-kyung's Sweet Home transport”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 4 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 23 sources
  1. Kia Retona - Autocade autocade.net
  2. 추억의 SUV '갤로퍼' 시세와 연관 모델 알아보기 | KB의 생각 kbthink.com
  3. Kia Retona - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  4. Тест-драйвы и обзоры — Kia Retona 2.0 TD: Словарный запас — Автонавигатор autonavigator.ru
  5. 기아 레토나 namu.moe
  6. [자동차 뉴스] 기아자동차, 지프형승용차 "레토나" 시판 - 전자신문 etnews.com
  7. 기아자동차, 99년형 스포티지.레토나 출시 - 전자신문 etnews.com
  8. Łatwość obsługi i toporna antyczność. Oto jak jeździ Kia Retona petrolheart.pl
  9. Gebrauchtwagen-Test Kia Retona - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  10. 2000년 신차출시일정 재조명 - 카이즈유 포커스 m.carisyou.com
  11. 기아 `레토나 크루저` 25일부터 시판｜동아일보 donga.com
  12. Kia Retona 2.0 - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  13. [특별했던 차]기아차의 레토나 | 모토야 v.daum.net
  14. Kia Retona (CE) | Technical Specs, Fuel consumption, Dimensions auto-data.net
  15. 카이즈유 - 새로운 자동차 문화의 시작 carisyou.com
  16. K131 jeep - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  17. K111 jeep - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  18. Asia Rocsta - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  19. Kia Retona 2.0 TD (09/99 - 12/01): Technische Daten, Bilder, Preise | ADAC adac.de
  20. Preiswerte Allradler - AUTO BILD autobild.de
  21. [IS현장] 헉 내가 괴물이라고? ‘스위트홈2’ 체험존에서 코피 체험해봤습니다 - 일간스포츠 isplus.com
  22. 제목 없음[12월 1주차 세모] 정우성이라는 사람, '스위트홈2' 체험존, 크리스마스 오너먼트 모음zip maily.so
  23. 레토나 크루져 01년식 입니다. - 보배드림 내차사진 m.bobaedream.co.kr
  • autocade.net
  • kbthink.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • autonavigator.ru
  • namu.moe
  • etnews.com
  • petrolheart.pl
  • autobild.de
  • m.carisyou.com
  • donga.com
  • v.daum.net
  • auto-data.net
  • carisyou.com
  • adac.de

Photo credits

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