Overview & Reviews

Kia Motors is a South Korean automaker that's relatively new to the United States. In its early years, Kia largely catered to budget-minded consumers with well-equipped vehicles priced below competing models. More recently, this growing brand has kept value a priority while also emphasizing technology and sportiness.

Founded in Korea in 1944, Kia started as a producer of steel tubing and bicycle parts. The company's name has its roots in the Chinese language, and means "to arise, to come up out of Asia." By the early 1950s, the company had produced Korea's first bicycle; by the latter part of the decade, Kia had branched out into motor scooters, with the rollout of the C100.

The 1960s saw Kia expanding its lineup to include motorcycles and three-wheeled cargo vehicles. Naturally, the next logical step was automobile production, and the company began moving in this direction in the early 1970s. By 1973, Kia had built a facility designed to make its automotive dreams a reality; its Sohari plant held the distinction of being Korea's first fully integrated automobile production facility, and went on to spawn Korea's first internal-combustion gasoline engine. A year later, Kia unveiled the Brisa, Korea's first passenger car. By the end of the decade, Kia's technology was being used to manufacture vehicles like the Peugeot 604 and the Fiat 132.

By the late '80s, Kia's lineup included new models like the Concord, Capital, Potentia and Pride. In 1987, Ford brought the Pride to U.S. shores, rebadging it as the Ford Festiva. Seven years later, Ford dealers got a replacement for the entry-level, subcompact Festiva in the form of another Kia constructed product, the Aspire.

Kia finally began selling vehicles in the U.S. under its own name in the early '90s, trumpeting its presence with the introduction of the compact Sephia. The car's rollout was gradual; in the early days of its production, the Sephia was only available in select Western states. By the mid-'90s, SUVs had emerged as a phenomenally popular and profitable vehicle segment. Kia responded with the 1995 Sportage, a compact SUV. By the end of the '90s, Kia's nationwide rollout was nearly complete.

Financial difficulties in the late '90s prevented Kia from expanding its lineup beyond those two models. Hyundai, South Korea's other major automaker, acquired the company in a merger in 1998.

Kia has been on a major upswing since its purchase by Hyundai, with improvements in build quality, performance and overall refinement. Reliability, previously a weak point, has also improved markedly and consumers' confidence was further bolstered by Kia's substantial warranty program. Today, Kia is on a dramatic upswing and offers a broad lineup of well-built coupes, sedans and crossovers that stand out for their value, performance and sporty styling.

User Reviews:

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  Very Disappointed - 2015 Kia Sorento
  By Kevin Morawsli - June 13 - 6:22 am

  Lots of issues with this vehicle. Very dangerous blindspot on both sides. Doing an over the shoulder check is a must before changing lanes or backing up. Fuel consumption is terrible with the 2.4 liter engine. My F150 is much better. Steering wheel bottom controls not well placed. I would inadvertently activeate certain functions when sliding hand to bottom of steer wheel. I also noted lots of road noise when driving at highway speed. Seems that Kia may have scimped on the insulation. The factory installed remote start has lots of issues. The normal key FOB does not support a remote start so you need to carry two all the time. There also lots of issues with with the car alarm going off when using the remote start. Very poor design. The #1 issue overall is the suspension and ride. Its like driving a tank. Very uncomfortable and rough to drive. All that being said, I would not recommend you buy this car. Too many issues and not enough solutions.

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  Worst car ever - 2006 Kia Sorento
  By Dontdoit! - December 28 - 1:36 pm

  I dont have enough room to get too detailed but its been in the shop since 5k miles so far 21 times for electrical problems, brake lights, headlights, check engine light coming on, new transmission, brakes X3, u-joints, huge vibration on floor board, squealing belts and KIA acts as if this is my fault and it only has 67k miles on it. I will NEVER buy another Kia as long as I live. I read the posting and there seems to be alot of the same problems I am having with mine. Now its value dropped so much I cant even exchange the vehicle for something else. Its a dangerous car to have, therefore retained an attorney.

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  I wish I never bought a used KIA! - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Cara - December 14 - 8:33 pm

  Well from the get go I was excited. I loved the outside and my two little boys under 3 wouldnt really mess up a used car and me care as much so it worked out due to the room also of an SUV. So I should have known while buying it the were replacing the timing belt not to get it I have had my drive shaft messed up and falling out along with the carrier bearings (sp.). Now my reservoir is cracked and being replaced and also my head gaskets are blown. I have had no heater and no air sometimes. It has stranded me and 3 kids and one adult in the middle of the road. They have no customer service at all and every time you call its someone new because they can keep their employees. No kia for me!!!!

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  POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP - 2001 Kia Rio
  By milesofprojects - December 9 - 2:00 am

  i BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1/2001. i HATE IT. IT WAS CHEAP SO i BOUGHT IT. ITS TOO LIGHT, WAVERS IN WIND, RAIN, SNOW ANYTHING AND GETS ABOUT 15 CITY MILES PER GALLON. I SPEND MORE MONEY ON GAS THAN i DO OIL CHANGES AND REPAIRS. IS THIS NORMAL. A LOT OF THE REVIEWS SAY 30-38 MPG BUT THAT IS BS. mAYBE MINE IS DEFECTIVE.

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  2000 Kia Sportage - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By B.Z - October 23 - 6:26 am

  I have put more money into it than it is worth! Bought it used from Kia (was a rental car in Alaska) and I didnt get the warranty. The warranty should be for the car not the first owner. I have had the rear tire hinge rust and break, the gas door lock break, the air conditioning break at least 3 times, the window fell down (couldnt roll it up or down), the locks lock and unlock themselves whenever they want, the windows wont roll down when I want them too, the child lock doesnt work, and the engine has had its own problems leaving me stranded in 110 degree weather. Even with 4WD and studded tires its horrible in winter! I will never buy another Kia ever!

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  Dont do it!!! - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By saarifam - October 21 - 1:01 pm

  I bought my 03 Kia 2 years ago with 49k miles on it. I read good reviews,and it had such low miles I thought for sure Id have it for a long time. Well 2 years later, it has 78,000 miles and it is breaking constant! Every month I have to bring it in to be fixed! At that mileage I shouldnt constantly be in the shop with it. Other cons are its tiny,puts a whole new perspective on "mini"van. Good luck putting anything in the trunk space. Also it has no trade in value at all. My vans exterior/interior is perfect,has lower mileage and I cant even get $1500 for trade. Trading it in tomorrow for a Honda Odyseey. Im so done with Kias.They are sold cheap for a reason,you get what you pay for.

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  WARRANTY NEVER HONORED - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Susan - October 19 - 8:56 am

  The vehicle ran great during our test drive, then down hill battle since! We paid cash for the car, over $26K! have spent in excess of $5K that the "warranty" didnt cover...the problems with gas,[do not appreciate the 12 to 15 mpg], the heater or the air conditioner never has worked properly, stalls whenever without warning, all of the mechanics at the "certified" dealerships tell us, "oh, that part[s] is not covered, but you do need another $600.=/- check up!I want a civil action lawsuit brought against these thieves....help me get an attorney to take on the scammers, please. The dealerships and their mechanics are all at fault, the booklet the vehicle came with is extremely misleading!

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  Cleaned out my wallet - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Bernice - October 19 - 4:10 am

  We bought this Spectra used at 32,000. Following year we put in a new clutch. We had 4 CV joints put in and now the Rack and Pinion is gone. Car is at 64000 miles. The dealership wants $1200 to replace. Called Kia and they offered no help. Have spent tons of money on this car and it always makes funny noises. I found a friend to replace rack with a used one for $250.00. I am stuck with this car for now but would never buy anything from KIA.

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  Not worth it - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Jesse - October 19 - 3:50 am

  This vehicle depreciates so fast the only reason to buy one new is if you plan on driving it until it needs to be junked (which probably wont be more than a few years)! You will NOT be able to trade this vehicle in at ANY point in its life. Ask ANY other dealership than a Kia dealer. I was guaranteed that I could trade this car in after a year, went back to the dealership and they wouldn’t do it, depreciated almost $10,000 in 1 year! More than half the cost of the car! If I could do it over again I would buy a Toyota or a Honda; better gas mileage (dont expect over 25 highway on this car) and better reliability. My car has gone back to the shop 3 times for the same problem in a year.

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  Nothing but problems - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By msbolshevik - October 16 - 2:34 am

  I bought my 03 Spectra new from a dealer, and I have driven it for 9 years. When I drove off the lot, IT DIED at the 1st intersection. They had to replace the entire computer system because it was faulty. Luckily, that was covered under warranty, but everything that followed was not. The entire engine seized up for no reason about 3 months later. I had to replace the transmission within the first couple years (and then a second time about 3 more years down the road). There have been several other smaller issues, but these are the majors. I dont know why I kept it so long. I guess the last 3 years it was somewhat more dependable (because I had replaced everything inside)!