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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  SHOULD HAVE NEVER MADE THIS CAR - 2001 Kia Rio
  By BMS - March 30 - 10:00 am

  LETS SEE HERE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP OVER 20 TIMES NEEDING TO HAVE SAFETY AND DRIVEABLITY REPAIRS. AND THEY STILL TO THIS DAY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. THIS CAR IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN.... IT ONLY GOT 36,000 MILES ON IT I SEE OTHER PEOPLE DO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS I DO WITH THIS CAR. THEY NEED TO PUT CAUTION TAPE AROUND THE CAR SAYING DO NOT DRIVE

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  Worst car purchase ever! - 2009 Kia Rio
  By mehigan - March 19 - 6:59 am

  Purchased new. Non-stop quality issues. Windshield delaminated at 16 months and again at 48 months. Has anyone had a windshield fail with stress cracks (in exactly same spot) twice within 48 months? Radio stopped working at 30 months. Knock sensor failed 15 months. Electronic control module failed 18 months. Air bag sensor failed. Too many failures to list. I call car "Elvis" -- shake, rattle and roll! Getting in-warranty repairs done a huge hassle, tried three different dealers. Last dealers solution was "you should buy a new car". Kia factory rep never returns calls. Once car out of warranty Kias attitude is too bad, we are not responsible.

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  Left Pull - Update after talking to Kia - 2011 Kia Optima
  By jfogs - March 11 - 10:23 am

  So apparently after placing a complaint to Kia I was informed that there is nothing that they can do with regards to the left pull issue. My customer service Rep Randy informed me that "this is the way the car was built" and that there is nothing they could do. So my question was "So you are telling me that the car was built to change lanes by itself creating a danger to me and my family?" Needless to say I really didnt get an answer. IWas considering getting a Kia Sorrento for my wife. I will NEVER buy another Kia product again and am kicking myself for taking a chance on this brand. I was also told to investigate the lemon law. Now that is customer service for you! Kia is laughable.

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  Electrical problems of the 2002 Kia Spectra - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By charlesg56 - February 19 - 10:45 am

  It has low beam head lights that do not work often. Power windows that blow fuses or fail for some other reason and a check engine light that never goes out.

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  transmition problem and front noise - 2015 Kia Sedona
  By ignacio soto - February 14 - 1:52 am

  transmition replaced 2 times and damage tires also,i owned 5 kia before but this time my experience change completed.my last kia

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  Warranty - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By rusty - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Bought this sedona van in 2005 notice right that the fuel use was lot higher than normal over all average @15 to 17 but for the most part not bad had problem with the air condition it would go on an off took it to the dealer said it had a leak this van was out of warranty about 6 days they refused to fix it i would have to pay for it put in a case number with kia they said take it to another ia dealer for a diagnostic cost $112.00 for this said the control head was bad in the dash need to replace it would cost $906.00 to fix this. did not fix went home call a junk yard found the control for the dash 43.00 took 45 min to take out an put back in air works fine now no thanks to kia so will not buy

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  Never Again - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By eyeluvart - December 7 - 4:36 pm

  The transmission blew, the air conditioning went, the 3 catalytic converters went, the seat broke twice, brakes and rotors. 10,000 later in repairs, needless to say, I wont make the same mistake twice

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  5-ATAR??????????????? - 2003 Kia Rio
  By papatesky - December 5 - 1:46 pm

  I feel the need to advise you and all humanity not to buy a product. If you heed my advice your life may be saved! My advice is NEVER to buy a RIO, [non-permissible content removed]. On December eight two thousand and three, I was driving a RIO, Just northeast of Midwest Wyoming. I had a head-on collision, the Airbag and seat belt did not function. I was immediately in a two and one half month coma. When I woke up I was told I HAD TWO BROKEN FEMURS, TWO SHATTERED KNEECAPS, A BROKEN FOOT AND A TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)! My Life Was completely Altered! I am the father of 4 wonderful young-ones, the two boys are Nine and Fourteen and my two girls are ages Thirteen and Eleven. Im not the man she..

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  Never Buying Kia Again! Terrible Engine, Terrible - 2013 Kia Sorento
  By Allen B. L. - September 18 - 3:23 pm

  Buyers beware - I bought a lightly used 2013 Kia Sorento LX 4cyl from a Houston, TX dealership in March, 2013. Just 2 years later, at 64,645 miles the engine unexpected seized up without any warning. The vehicle was regularly maintained and always got oil changes early or on time. I had no mechanical problems from March 2013 to June 2015 (which is laudable), but then the engine catastrophically failed. Kia Service wouldnt do anything whatsoever to help me, nor would insurance. I paid $18,000 (sticker price) for a crap car that lasted 2 years and a few months then totally failed, leaving me stranded in the middle of west Texas. They found metal shavings in my oil and indicated that a bearing in the lower engine came apart. Look this up online - MANY people have experienced just such a mishap, and a lot of them had it happen under 100,000 miles. DO NOT PUT YOUR SAFETY AND TRUST IN THIS COMPANY.

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  Read This Review Before Purchasing - 2007 Kia Optima
  By ColoradoJack - September 9 - 5:10 am

  I bought this car brand new with 7 miles on it. My 2007 Kia Optima has went through four different automatic transmissions. Kia will refuse to fix their defective car until you threaten legal action and then all the sudden they agree to pop in yet another transmission. My head gasket has blown twice and the car leaks oil and transmission fluid. Im afraid to turn the car off sometimes because I seriously wonder if the thing will blow up the next time because its so poorly made.