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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  Cute - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By davey - July 7 - 11:46 am

  Kia is really cute and draws attention. Good mileage with 25 overall. Cup holder location is poor. Transmission shudders a little on starts. I like the little SUV but would probably go with Honda CR-V if had to do again.

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  Surprising - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Jordan - July 7 - 4:06 am

  I bought the Kia Spectra after owning a Hyundai Elantra for several years. I wanted something sportier and the Spectra certainly provides that. The EX is zippy for a 4 cylinder and still maintains good fuel economy. Much better gas mileage then my Elantra. Handling is very nice and tight. Stops on a dime due to 4 wheel disk brakes. Also, its the only car in the price range with 5 front air bags so I feel safer driving it. Kia is now coming out with performance after market parts for the Spectra and Rio as well. I got the body kit and wing installed and my car gets a lot of attention with them on. Overall you get a lot of features and a lot of bang for your buck. Surprisingly good value.

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  Not what we expected - 2010 Kia Soul
  By chick_poo - July 6 - 7:41 am

  We purchased our Soul ! used from a dealer with 33,000 miles. We bought this car because of the reviews in regards to gas mileage. This Soul is terrible in regards to mpg. I have written to Kia and I am waiting for a reply before I proceed further. I drive 60 miles a day (highway) to work, set my cruise on 70 (posted speed limit) and the best gas mileage I have gotten is 25.9 mpg. The advertised gas mileage is the main reason we bought our Soul. While it is very fun to drive, the gas mileage and the exterior quality (lack of) will not keep us a Kia customer. Paint chips very easily. Very sad because this is a fun car to drive and is very roomy.

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  On NUMBER 2 - 2016 Kia Soul
  By Joe - July 5 - 9:24 am

  This is the second Kia Soul that I have owned; the first being a 2011 (WHICH I LOVED, but cant drive standard anymore, which is why I had to buy new) I must say; I LOVED my old one, but this one... OMG SO MUCH nicer!!! More features for the base model (which is what I had before and now) MORE power, MORE room, MORE of everything... I am absolutely IMPRESSED with Kia and how much they have grown since the first few hit the market some years back (I owned a 99 Kia Sportage Convertable 4x4) the quality and pricing is SO awesome! I recommend these cars to anyone and everyone and turn non-believers to believers... Our family NOW owns 3 Kias we are going onto 5 within the next few weeks... A Sorento (moms) Soul (mines) Sportage (my niece and her husband) and another niece who is going for an Optima and one of my sisters is looking at a Sportage for herself... We are TRULY becoming a family of Kia; absolutely LOVE the new Kias! If you havent switched; go take a look, a drive, etc and decide then... I give my Soul and A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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  I love my Kia - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Myles - July 5 - 8:00 am

  Great vehicle, loaded with features. Lots of power, and the Sportshift is a great feature if you live in the mountains. Handles tight, and the 4WD traction has an aggressive bite.

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  Kia noise - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By richard - July 4 - 9:46 pm

  Economy not what I expected. Handles good, rides good. Engine has plenty of pep. Big problem with noise from suspension sounds like shocks or shock bushings. Dealer checked twice, still same noise. Dealer says all Sportages have same noise. No more Kia Sportages for me.

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  Gotta Great Deal !! - 2009 Kia Borrego
  By Tim - July 4 - 12:43 pm

  Purchased my 2009 Borrego LX 4WD in Nov 2009 for over $7k off the sticker - gotta a great deal at $22,900. We are overall very pleased with this SUV with the exception of gas mileage (about 16 in town). Hope to see improvement as it breaks in. Also, the last gear in the tranny shifts really late, which makes you feel like it is revving too much under certain driving conditions. It is my understanding that this is normal or was designed that way, but still a little annoying. Overall, LOTS of room and comfort. All back seats fold pretty flat making hauling easy. It is a bit cumbersome getting in the 3rd seat, but the middle seats do slide up pretty far. Handles very well!!

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  Great Value - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Jewster - July 4 - 10:00 am

  This van was fully loaded with comfortable leather captains chairs and many other extras available at low cost ($20K). There is simply no way to beat the value and the warranties. I searched long and hard and tried to decide between the Odyssey (lots of transmission trouble), the MPV (well designed, but small and a bit more expensive) and the Sienna (too many$$). We were concerned about safety (Sedona is 5-star rated) and the problems related to power sliding doors (read the Odyssey reviews!). This is a great van for the money.

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  Never Again! - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By slumberbum65 - July 4 - 1:57 am

  I bought the 2011 Kia Sportage EX after looking for the right model and getting what I thought was a good price, I had the car for 10 months. This car left me stranded 3 times in 10 months. The first time I was out of town and a "fuse" blew and the car wouldnt start, towed to dealer for repair on a Sunday, took $50 cab ride home 2 weeks later it dropped dead at an intersection, fuse blew again due to bad fuel pump, replace pump after tow to dealer, 3rd time it left me stranded on a dirt road high in the mountains, Kia roadside was no help at all and ignored me, had to use my buddies AAA to get a flatbed, some expensive computer module broke, fixed, promptly traded for 2010 Ford Taurus.

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  major transmision problems - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By dan - July 3 - 6:23 pm

  after 3 years and 26000 miles. and dealership service always on time the transmision started whining almost like a grind. i took it to a kia dealer and it needs a new transmision! they had to order a new one and no loaner car all they said is the best they can do is give a courtesy ride home.