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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  Horrible VEhicle - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By Kelley W. - January 17 - 10:00 am

  I have had nothing but trouble with this car. It was built cheaply. It shakes and rattles and every month I seem to have to pay for something to get fixed. Warranty is horrible. Wheels and brakes defective! Ive had them fixed several times and they continue to cause me problems. It can only get worse.

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  Worst car ever made!!!!!! - 2001 Kia Rio
  By Cindy1106 - January 10 - 10:00 am

  This is the worst car I have ever had. I have had to replace the transmission twice. I had to replace the master cylinder, airbag, brakes and the control modulator. Now the car kis constantly stalling and the Kia dealer mechanics cant even tell me whats wrong with it. If you want a reliable cheap car, save yourself plenty of headaches and buy and hyundai or toyota.

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  I hate this car - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Foxfire - January 3 - 10:00 am

  After having it a few weeks, the car quit. Within several months, it had done this 3 times. Check engine light always comes on, dealers claim there is no problem. Driving it sucks, and it is noisy. What a waste of money. A deer hit my car, and the entire thing crumpled. I have taken it to the dealer about 10-15 times for various things which have never been fixed or explained. I hate it!

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  Warning Dont buy this vehicle - 2017 Kia Sorento
  By Terri Q - October 31 - 6:00 am

  This Sedona did not come with your safety and comfort in mind. First of all you cannot have the recirculated air on at the same time as your fan. So you have to endure car exhaust fumes if you take any trip. Second which is even worse, the seats are uncomfortable for traveling and there is no remedy for that because you cannot use a cushion or seat cover. If you use a seat cover or a thin pad, no matter how much you weigh it turns off your airbags making your safety at risk. This was not a smart deal. I called Kia to find out how to turn the airbag on at all times. They said you will just have to live with it.

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  DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2010 Kia Forte
  By lydiac8668 - September 2 - 8:11 pm

  I am amazed they have not recalled this car! My engine has stalled on me 4 times now and no one knows how or why. According to other sites, I am not the only one! I drive only 4 miles away from my home daily to go to work on a very busy street. The last time it stalled, my lights were still on in my car, except my engine cut off, as well as my power steering, in drive, and I had to throw on my emergency lights and use my entire body weight to pull into a lot. This is day 5 of having a rental car through Kia and they still cant "recreate the situation" or "fix it". If you wouldnt put your loved one in it, dont buy it!

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  do not buy - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By kia sedona - August 21 - 4:03 am

  Cheap for the money but costly when repairs are needed. After warranty is out vehicle will fall apart.

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  Great Car Except..the minor NON DEPLOYING AIR BAGS - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Whitney Alt - June 28 - 1:09 am

  I love this car. Seriously I do. Which is why I am sickened about the safety issue I have learned about with Kias air bags. I read several reviews on here before I purchased it and am disappointed none where about the air bags. My air bag light came on suddenly. Vehicle was not involved in any sort of accident. Took it in and bottom line I had to have an entire new driver side air bag and assembly replaced. When I question how the heck an air bag needs to be replaced with out being in an accident or tampered with Dealer says, "It just happens, the air bag is defective." Well I wasnt going to drive around in a vehicle whos driver side air bag was not functioning. So I coughed up $1300 to get it fixed. Figured Id go after Kia after the fact. They have told me no, and no again. One of the reps tried telling me this isnt a safety issue. Seriously? Anyways, I will get my money out of them. In the mean time a little internet research reveals several, several stories of people who did not have an air bag light on and where in roll over or other serious collisions and NO air bags deployed. Scary. Wonder if the rest of my air bags will work in a collision...?

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  Only thing good is warranty - 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid
  By Josh - June 9 - 11:21 am

  Car does not get anywhere near advertised mileage, it varies depending on which gas station you use. but my V8 Mustang GT gets better mileage on the highway. The taillights fill with moisture all the time, had them replaced 8 times still do it. The trunk comes open when it wants, the bluetooth does not sync have the time. Worst of all is resell paid 36k after 10k miles it is worth $16,500 should have never switched from Toyota

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  Lemon - 2008 Kia Spectra
  By Disappointed - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car less than a month ago and has already been in the shop twice. First mistake was buying used but I guess they saw a sucker coming. I got a lemon. Service dept. tells me its bad spark plug wires and spark plugs. Really every two weeks. They cannot replace them all until defective if under warranty. Really? Bet my warranty runs out first.

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  I own an 06 sedona, would love to own a 15! - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By taxilady7 - May 19 - 5:18 am

  My red Sedona was purchased used with 60,000 miles and is used as a taxi! My customers love riding in it. The engine is so quiet. It now has 239,000 miles and is still running great! Did not do an tune up until 225,000 miles and of course kept all the other regular maintenance up, like oil, tires, etc... This one is an EX, biggest problems I am having now is the electric doors not working and cant find anyone out side the dealership to fix them! Other small stuff is headlights blow every 3 months, even replaced one whole light, sway bar links have to be replaced every year! Parts are hard to find and if you use the after market parts they dont last! Have to go online to find good parts!