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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  Kia You get what you pay for! - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Nerveragain - May 9 - 4:33 am

  We bought the car new and got the rear spoiler with it. It was easy to drive around town but a death trap on the interstate. Road noise is very loud and the motor sounds like it is going to explode at any speeds over 65 mph. We have had a poping noise coming from the front of the car and had it at the dealership several times for this issue but the prolem is still there and they have yet to fix it. If I lived in town and only drove in town this would be a good car, but on any other road where the speed limit is 45 or greater it is not worth the money. The new feeling of this car faded very fast. I should have spent the extra $2000 and bought a quality car.

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  I was expecting too much - 2006 Kia Rio
  By joudain - May 8 - 9:56 am

  My family laughed when I told them I was getting a Kia. It had such good reviews and I was looking for an affordable car. Well, barely two years late, I am laughing right with them. First my car stalls at a stop light. I managed to drive it to a dealership - my board had to be replaced. 2nd just happened yesterday. My car got overheated on the freeway on the way home - this is the first time in my life I had to have it towed! I cannot recommend this car to anybody. I wish I can turn back time and get a Toyota or Honda instead. No thanks, Kia, never again!

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  Unreliable car. - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By nat16 - April 25 - 8:33 am

  "I have Kia Sorrento for 4 months only and it was in repairs twice already! 4000 miles on the car. Last month was an oil leak.This month - the transmission stopped shiffting and I couldnot stop the car! Unreliable! I always bought american cars and had them for 10-11 years, with regular wear and tear. This is the first time that I decided to buy non-american car, and let me tell you, you get what you pay for! GARBAGE!!! For $ 6000 more you can buy Ford or Jeep and have no problems! Do not buy this car, unless you want to have a big problem in a couple of months."

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  So many problems, so few miles - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Thornytoes - April 16 - 6:41 pm

  Clutch and flywheel had to be replaced at 70K miles at a cost of over $1500. No aftermarket parts widely available. Speedometer/Odometer replaced at approximately 75K miles. Entire rack and pinion steering assembly had to be replaced at 85K miles at a cost of over $1000. Tires on this care barely reach 15K miles without going bald. Brakes and rotors replaced at 85K miles. This car, while fun to drive and very good looking is expensive to maintain and not very reliable. It is my second Kia and possibly my last. I would advise against any manual transmission in this car. This is a very difficult clutch to drive, and I have driven many. When you have to replace it, get ready pay big bucks.

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  KIA sorrento - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By slider - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Kia is not a good vehicle. I have had many unresolved complaints with the Sorrento we currently own. i will never own any vehicle like this again.

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  Nothing but trouble - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By DC - March 29 - 2:46 am

  We bought our Sedona in November 2006. Since then its been in the shop 5 times. Not acceptable in a car purchased "new." First was a knocking sound when the engine was shut off, I was told it was a flap in the engine that didnt close properly? Next was a slider that stuck habitually. Then a fuse in the dash went out and my ABS malfunctioned. The brake light still doesnt shut off properly, I have to kick it, and its been in for repairs on that twice. Because its a large car assembled with the brakes of a smaller car, it wears through brakes super fast. My two year old car is on its third set of brakes. No wonder it has that warrantee, you need it. Im now looking elsewhere.

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  The suckish minivan - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By syopot2004 - March 25 - 11:37 am

  I bought this van in 2006, and after that I have brought this van to the service center for a thousand times already. Under chassis failed already, ball joint, tie rod end and so many to mention. During that time I had only 30,000 miles with the odometer. At 40,000 miles the oil seal failed (so many to mention). Now at 50,000 miles coolant leak. Keep it coming Kia.

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  Dangerous car - 2002 Kia Optima
  By walkstick - March 22 - 10:06 pm

  As soon as I bought this car I started having electrical problems with the car. I would lose all lights, steering, brakes, and air bags for the vehicle. Kia was no help in finding the problem with my vehicle and I totaled the car in July 2005. The only good thing that saved my life was the seat belt installed in the car. There was a burning smell that came from the car and the dealership had a hard time duplicating the problem. They changed many items on my car but they were not sure they had fixed the problem and in some cases were scared to drive the vehicle themselves. Please report your car to the NHTSA if you have this problem so it can be fixed

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  Walk away dont ever buy - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By Momof4boys - March 13 - 5:00 am

  I bought this van new just because of the middle windows went down.. Wow was that a huge mistake. At 15,000 miles we couldnt even get the thing to start and forget about the 100000 mile warranty they didnt want to fix a thing. At about 25,000 miles the engine started to go and made all sorts of noises. This was one of the worst vans I have ever owned.

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  Will Never own another!! - 2001 Kia Optima
  By TraceyK - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I have had my car for going on two years. This car has been a disaster since day one! I have had it in the shop 8 times for 13 different problems not counting an accident which was caused by the cruise control not turning off when I hit the brakes which resulted in the entire front end being replaced. I am scared to drive this vehicle on a daily basis!