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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  happy at the anniversary - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By bepeace - December 12 - 2:00 am

  we have had our Sedona now for 12 months...while many relatives looked at us cross eyed when we told them we bought a Kia, we decided (based on the price) to take a chance...it was a good call...we have only had one problem (the front cup holder) other than that it has been entirely reliable, easy to drive, very functional!!! we have the scaled down LX (no leather, no CD, etc) but it was money well saved...the dealer required maintenance has also been economical, fast, and friendly...no complaints thus far...if you need to seat a car pool and dont want to have to pay through the nose to do it, this van is a great choice!

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  I really like both of my 2000 Kias - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By Ed - December 10 - 1:30 pm

  Maybe Ive been lucky, but have over 50K on both of them. Only real problems were an initial coolant leak on thermostat housing (both of them) because of a poor gasket. And one had a bad plug wire. Very happy with the overall reliability and quality for the money spent - $8K and $10K (w/air, side moldings, spoiler) and these were out-the-door prices. I am actually considering buying another, hope its not a mistake and I was just lucky the first time. From reading all the other comments, I think some people expected Honda quality at Yugo prices.

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  Good Not Excellent Car - 2016 Kia Forte
  By Leland Lesher - December 2 - 12:44 pm

  The 6 speed manual transmission is geared MUCH too close together. In town I shift from 1st to 3rd to 5th and run in 5th from 30-45 MPH. They could do without 2nd and 4th gears and raise the ratio of 6th and make a nice 4 speed transmission. Might be great in Korea or other countries where one never drives above 55 MPH. I would hate this car in Germany because I would be maxing out engine RPMs in 6th gear on the Autobahn. 6th gear should have the engine running about 2,000 RPMs at 70 MPH which would make the fuel economy excellent instead of just good. Interior is NOISY, even without my hearing aids. I dont know if it is the NEXEN stock tires or just the engine noise. I will know better after I change out the tires to Good Years or some other US manufactured "quiet" tire.

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  nice for the price - 2003 Kia Optima
  By kink - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed my new KIA. I love the pickup when I punch it. The ride is smooth and quiet.

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  Kia Spectra - So far so good - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By padrig - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car as an inexpensive alternative to other models in its class. The car lacks power in acceleration when using the airconditioner. The engine runs well and gets somewhere in the high 20s to low 30s on the highway and mid 20s in the city. I am satisfied with the overall performance of my car, but I have only owned it for about a month. So far so good!

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  Our first new vehicle - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By BlueIwomen - December 1 - 10:00 am

  So, far I really like my new 2003 Kia Sedona. The kids really like it and my husband only agreed on a mini/van is because it kinda looks sporty..with the sunroof and rear spoiler and the chrome door handles etc.. he said if it didnt look sporty then he wasnt going for it..

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  Repairs are frequent - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By Ryan - November 30 - 5:06 am

  The car is okay but ive only had it since aug 08 and it already has many problems. It needs a new gear shift cable, possibly a new transmission, a new battery, new front strut mounts, the emerg brake is stuck on and the whole dash blinks when the signal light is on. Like everybody else says the body is just like a pop can. Also all the rubber lining on the doors is falling off. I find this repair list ridiculous because the thing only has 106,000 kms on it. The previous owner hit a pole with it and now the trunk leaks like crazy. This is my first car and Im 17. I only have a part-time job. I guess the car will be siting in the driveway a little longer.

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  2013 Sorento LX with 2.4L GDI engine - 2013 Kia Sorento
  By drivven - November 27 - 4:13 pm

  I purchased the Sorento in September and since have put on 3900 miles. The mpg is not as advertised even tho I am a judicious driver, making sure the ECO indicator is on for over 95% of my driving. My combined hiway/city mileage is perhaps 21mpg (hand calculated and not read off the display). The handling is surprisingly good for a vehicle this size and shape. The performance is adequate although my previous vehicle was a BMW 540i so there is no comparison there. Im still trying to get used to the site lines especially when backing up. The backup camera is "useful" altho I still prefer to look back through the rear window when backing. Interior; great. Exterior; nice lines.

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  Amanti Ride - Enjoyable - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By 2004 Kia Amanti - November 23 - 11:43 pm

  For the money, it is a nice riding and fairly reliable automobile. The quality of interior components is great. The exterior trim and styling are outstanding. The drivetrain components maintain their life expectancy. Contrary to Consumer Reports, the car does NOT shake and rattle at high speeds. The exterior hepa filter for incoming air is a problem. When it clogs, its a $245.00 replacement item. The vehicle and computer will operate without the filter. At 30,000 miles, two new sets of front rotors, tires and oil/filter every 3,000 keeps me going. An enjoyable car to drive and maintain.

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  Just one week, but... - 2010 Kia Optima
  By Marla - November 23 - 10:00 am

  I love my Optima. Purchased a 2010 Optima on 10/30/10, and 500 miles later, its great. I am a short woman, and its a comfy drive for me, as well as a comfy ride. My husband is 6, my sons are 510" and 57", and they can all sit very comfortably in the back seat, too (fabulous rear leg room!). Just enough toys to make me happy, but not so many cool electronic gadgets that Ill worry about one breaking. I really love the Sirius radio, the cruise control works flawlessly, and the controls for both on the steering wheel are great.