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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  Great small SUV - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By JD - November 19 - 10:56 am

  Better looking inside and out than Honda or Toyota, great interior space for a small SUV, workmanship quality on par with the best in class, nice V6 could use just a bit more power and refinement when pushed but overall a very nice powertrain, excellent brakes, handles more like a sporty sedan than an SUV.

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  After a month of use - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By Anonymous - November 19 - 2:00 am

  After a month, I rate this vehicle better than average and the leader in this class. The ride is stiff, perhaps too stiff. The Sirrus radio sounds a bit shrill at the mid level and treble, but the FM is not as bad. Maybe it is the antenna. It took some time, but I found a bass boost in the set-up program. But it does handle well and is comfortable, except for the ultra stiff ride. The mileage is a minimum 20.5mpg in town and 29mpg on the highway, not quite what I expected, but better than my 2003 Honda CRV. I like the Sportage better than the sister Tucson. Would I buy again, probably, but might spend $6000 more for a Buick Regal.

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  Disappointed with Kia - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By Paul of Arizona - November 18 - 9:13 am

  Weve had our van for 12 months,14,300 miles. The brake rotors were turned twice, the engine was disassembled to replace a head gasket, a complete half shaft assembly was replaced, the AC blower was replaced, stereo was replaced, all engine mounts were replaced. Weve averaged 17.5 miles per gallon. Vehicle performance in the mountains was disappointing, the engine downshifted too easily, had insufficient torque. After 15,000 mile service the engine compartment smelled strongly of burning transmission fluid, which the service department attributed to the oil leak that they supposedly fixed. The vehicle didnt smell before the "repair".

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  2013 KX - worth a serious thought - 2013 Kia Optima
  By slm67 - November 18 - 9:07 am

  The inside is roomy, and comfortable. The car warms up quickly. I have yet to take it on longer then a 1 hour drive, but my commute is 30 minutes and I am quite impressed in how comfortable it is. Dealer was excellent. Is a car I love to drive. My gas mileage is good for the size, just under 26 mpg combined. I have to wonder how people are driving that complain about low gas mileage. It is NOT a hybrid, small economy car. It is a mid sized vehicle, comfortably seats 5 and has lots of room. The "no spare tire" complaint to me-well the sealant and pump i like better then being out in the cold and rain changing a tire to a donut..been there, down that. I think this is a better setup.

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  Best Car Ever - 2005 Kia Rio
  By Deuce1988 - November 17 - 3:53 pm

  Wow, this car is the best thing I have ever driven since my dads Corvette! It is spacious and it gets great gas mileage. There is no doubt that you should get a car just like the one I have. And at such an affordable price too this cost less than my honeymoon!

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  Great Value - 2010 Kia Sedona
  By zeuscharles - November 16 - 9:41 pm

  I view a car as a depreciating asset and a necessary evil that needs to be reliable and safe. I do not view my vehicles as a statement of my success nor do I view them as a mobile living room. That said, I bought a used 2010 Sedonna LX with 18000 miles on the odometer, covered the steering wheel with a laced leather cover, and I am thrilled with it. It drives as nicely as many other minivans, gets fair gas mileage, and was a great value. Based on my first three months with the vehicle, I highly recommend the Kia Sedonna LX if you are seeking enjoyable and well priced transportation.

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  I am pretty much blown away. - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Lmundy - November 16 - 5:40 am

  My wife has a tiny convertible, so I need to drive the "hauler" and while my V6 Escape had been trouble free, it had over 100,000 miles. I decided I wanted to look for better mileage, a little more cargo room, but still a compact truckette. Drove them all, liked the Forester best. Then I saw a blurb on History Channels "Modern Marvels" about how the Sorento is made at the new factory in Georgia. Drove it, bought it, love it. The construction and finish quality from the billion dollars worth of robots is amazing, and the thought that went into the design is very impressive, I think. Note: you have to rate "reliability" on this site. I have 2000 miles, what do I know? Great warranty!

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  Say Goodbye To GM - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By mark blitman - November 16 - 2:00 am

  i love my amanti; it will remind you of the Buicks of yesteryear; smooth blvd type ride and the fit and finish are fantastic..Kia will put a dent in GMs large car business; no doubt about it..GO GET ONE!!!!!!! FOR THE PRICE OF A CADDY P.O.S YOU CAN HAVE 2 AMANTIS AND CHANGE LEFT OVER....

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  kia sorento - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By lars - November 16 - 2:00 am

  excellent interior design, lousy gas mileage around 15 mpg. great ride, smooth even on harsh roads.

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  sorento my new friend - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By tumminia - November 16 - 2:00 am

  I have just purchased a new Sorento and I am very happy. I was skepticle of Kia after my experience with the 02 Spectra and the loud whistling noise from my windows while driving but have been extremely impressed with the spacious and quiet interior. Very well built and fun to drive.