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 dependable - 2007 Kia Optima
  By ANDREW - December 29 - 1:40 am

  bought this car with 160 miles on it now it has 48,000 and not one single problem sure its not that fun to drive and the inside lacks things its not a BMW people you get what you pay for but for reliability YOU CANT BEAT IT OR THE PRICE in almost 50,000 miles not one hicup gets great gas mileage i know for a fact that when i put the key in it will start the only reason i choose the kia is for one thing which is i need something that will last forever and wont kill my bank and i found it in the kia my next car you guessed it a kia.

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  BEWARE of KIA !! - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By LWaylett - December 27 - 4:40 pm

  KIA Motors does not honor their warranties by FIXING the defects in their vehicles. My 2004 Sorento has had MANY bulbs replaced and Kia service said they did not know what the problem was. Now that my warranty has expired, I find that KIA DID know the harness wiring needed to be replaced so fix the reoccurring problems of headlights/tail lights going out. They knew this back in 2006, and made those changes on their new vehicles in 2007.

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  Look elsewhere - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By indiana - December 26 - 9:26 pm

  Bought used w/25,000 miles it loves to ride on the back of a tow truck and has spent 1/4 of each year in the shop. Air bag sensors, accelerator pedal sticks, then it wont go at all brakes been replaced 2xs in 55,000 miles and need another set, tranny shifts poorly, battery goes bad, alternator, brake light sensor out and runs down battery. Change headlights and turn signals every 2 months, drinks power steering fluid, the dealership can never "duplicate" problems when car misbehaves, turn off call tow truck and have it towed, dont turn back on or they cant read the "code" and wont fix whatever is wrong. Electronic nightmare! I suggest you run quickly Toyota is worth the money

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  Dash Glare Unacceptable! - 2012 Kia Sportage
  By ivor6244 - December 15 - 5:33 am

  Overall quiet, competent and pretty comfortable ergonomics-wise, although underpowered on hilly terrain.

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  Stay Away from Kia Optima unless you like noise - 2012 Kia Optima
  By 2012kia - December 10 - 4:05 pm

  Purchased this car May 9, 2012. After a few days, I noticed a creaking noise every time I turn left or right. Took the car into the dealership and was told the clock spring needed to be replaced. Ive only had this car 7 days, and something already has to be replaced. Also, the engine or transmission is really loud when accelerating from 0-40. After I reach 40mph or higher, this noise goes away (not sure if thats a normal noise or not, my 2005 Honda Accord was never this loud!). Engine makes a pinging noise when engine is turned off. Looking to trade this car in really soon. This dealership, Crain Kia in Sherwood, Arkansas is not very customer friendly after the sell.

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  Very poor quality - 2009 Kia Rio
  By Randy Mizer - December 4 - 6:56 am

  We have now had two major break downs in 8000 miles. One new transmission and one new front axle .My wife drives the car and has never drove it hard.I will never buy an other KIA , wish I hadnt bought this one.

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  Uses no oil, cant tell you where the oil leak is - 2016 Kia Soul EV
  By Jorze - December 4 - 1:16 am

  A few days after taking our Soul home, we noticed some clear oily liquid all over the area that we were using to park our KIA. Prior to taking our car in, we contacted our dealer who told us that it was impossible since the Soul-ev did not use any oil. We took the car in and they were stumped, they asked that we leave the car in for a few days to evaluate the situation. It has now been in the agency for five (5) days and when we called to check today, we were told that the car had a leak of some sort and they did not know from where, seriously guys, what a laugh that was. My wife agreed to wait for a call back and we are still waiting. Meanwhile my beautiful paved stone driveway has oil damage to it and my car is still in the shop, Three (3) stars for reliability is all I can give it. Obtaining parts can take for ever, dealers favorite saying is "we will have to order the part from Korea"

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  bad apple - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By cindy ingram - December 3 - 9:20 pm

  I have had my Sorento for almost two years and at first I loved it but after my first service it started hesitating at steady speeds or slowing down. They cant fix it because they only hook it up to a machine that tells them what is wrong and it shows nothing so they keep sending me home with the problem. I have learned a lesson about KIAs and that is to run as far away as you can get from them. They are junk. I know things happen with vehicles but normally you can get them repaired. I hate it. If you buy one you better beware because they are not worth anything when you try to trade them in.

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  Never buy another - 2014 Kia Forte
  By superdave99 - December 3 - 7:51 am

  Bought this 2014 Kia Forte 5 new, Now has 15,xxx miles on it. We have had to the shop several times. Antifreeze fumes blowing out of dash vents 5 times, Had gas fumes out of dash vents twice, 3 times it smelled like a overcharged battery that has been boiling. Wife left one day for work and when I went to the garage to get in my old chevy truck the garage recked the battery smell. It burns your eyes and throat and nose. Getting ready to take back to the dealer again. If they wont trade us out of it. It will be going back again and again and again. Also been having issues with engine missing at a stop sign or light in gear.

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  If All You Do Is Drive Around - 2002 Kia Rio
  By Suzanne - December 2 - 12:23 am

  The Kia was cheap, hence my initial attraction. But it also loses its value rather quickly. Then I noticed things like... the back seats dont fold down and the battery is so underpowered and short-lived, listening to the radio for more than 10 minutes drains it! It is also extremely intolerant to delayed oil changes. Most other vehicles, the 3,000 mile limit is for high-stress vehicles like cop cars and taxis...but watch out for lifter noise if you go that long. The mileage has been decent, like an old Escort, about 28 mpg. Not the 35 advertised certainly. It needs more power if its going to take on hilly terrain. I will never buy a Rio again!