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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  updated trade in - 2017 Kia Soul
  By drewp - November 5 - 7:16 pm

  had a 2012 soul and traded in for a 2017 model. Not many changes between the years, except 2017 does not come with a cd player standard. Still no spare tire. new car has the nitrogen filled tires. I like the car for the handling, and overall comfort. but its overpriced.

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  Not so happy Kia owner - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Jenn - November 5 - 4:40 pm

  Purchased the Soul after getting info about high gas mileage - but never got over 25 mpg at any time which was a huge disappointment. My Ford which was 9 years old gave 28 mpg and I never intended to give up mpg. The road noise is heavy - although I paid extra for some kind of noise reduction something. Also been in the dealership a few times for an unknown noise - if I park with hand brakes up, when I am reversing, I get a knocking sound. No one at the dealership could tell me anything about the noise - except to not use the hand brakes. I seriously thought the car had hand brakes so it could be used - my mistake. The car is cute and all but Kia again- I really dont think so.

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  Watch out for this one - SERIOUSLY - 2007 Kia Optima
  By Bev - November 3 - 3:50 pm

  We purchased our Kia Optima LX with only 11 miles on it. Not very much longer we started having trouble with the trunk coming open either driving down the road or sitting still, then we started having trouble with hesitation between 40 & 50 mph. It just seem like it was one thing after another along with the cruise control coming on by itself & air-bag wasnt working, lifter rattling, burning smell after the engine was shut off. Took it to the dealer many, many times & they said that they couldnt duplicate the problem so there was noting wrong with it. Kia said that they would not replace anything on the car, but they replaced the BCM without asking us & it still didnt help.

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  Bulb Replacements - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By B Spiller - October 31 - 4:40 pm

  Ive had my Sorento for 4 years and I had to replace the low beams, high beams, tail lights, etc, about 2-3 times per light every year. So far this year (this is March), Ive replaced the low beams twice in the driver and once on the passenger side. I just replaced the driver side yesterday and the tail light is now out. The battery has been replaced 3 times since Ive had it, at 70% of the cost. Does anyone else have these problems? The dealer says there is nothing wrong.

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  Never Again - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By Ruth - October 24 - 5:45 pm

  I had bought this vehicle coming from a Saturn SUV. In comparison the KIA rides like a truck, feeling the road & hearing the road--not very sound proof. The radio speakers are poor quality and cant let you adjust the bass. The acceleration is poor. When starting from a stop light the car needs extra gas and then it is too much. You cant hear the horn, no sense in having it. Very unhappy. I still owe on it and will never get out of it what I had bought it for. I will be downgrading to get rid of it.

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  never again - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By kiajunk - October 22 - 10:16 am

  I have had this car in 12 times. Both back window motors, oxygen sensor, radiator, valve cover gaskets and brakes all had to be replaced, tailpipe rusted off -- all before 28,000 miles.

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  LOVE My Serento....At First - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By kimcar23 - October 3 - 12:11 pm

  Was the first time I spent over 25,000.00 for a car. Had what I thought were minor problems the first 3000 miles. Radio would not come on when I stated car, iPod accessory would not work, back seat rattled when driving on any surface. Radio problem fixed(I thought) and complain about seats and vibration everytime I bring in for oil change. Tires rotated twice, no help. Sometimeswhen I start AC will not come one or the radio will not come on,driver side window will not want to come up. Now I went to park my car and would not go into park. Then I could not get my brake to press in so I could start car. In shop now. Everytime I hear we could duplicate problem or nothing wrong was found.

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  Safety questionable - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Heather - October 2 - 9:46 pm

  I recently was in a bad accident with my Kia Spectra 2006 has no more than 9,000 miles. I hit an oncoming vehicle with my left front into their left front at 60 miles per hour. My front end is pushed in and ripped most of it off and none of the air bags deployed. The auto body shop along with the Deputy on the scene stated there is no reason that the air bags should have not went off. This incident is currently under investigation with Kia. I have three young children and I bought the car because it was supposed to be a safe car, and then this happens. I have a friend that also just got into an accident, rolled his Kia and the air bags in that vehicle did not deploy either.

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  02 OPTIMA LX - 2002 Kia Optima
  By JOHNNY B - September 16 - 10:00 am

  I BOUGHT A FORMER RENTAL OPTIMA FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP.SINCE DECEMBER OF 03 TO PRESENT I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE KIA IN 5 TIMES FOR SMALL STUFF. WINDOW REGULATOR,KNOCK SENSOR,RECALL ON EMMISSIONS,SPEAKERS NOT WORKING,AND A DOOR LOCK SWITCH. OTHER THAN THAT THE CAR IS VERY NICE TO DRIVE,COMFORTABLE.

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  Poor Reliability - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By Mschloe - September 16 - 10:00 am

  Eight months after we bought the van it had an electrical problem. Five more electrical problems in about two and half years, we sold the van. Dealer would say I left copper pennies in the outlets -- I pay for them to fix. Then within 24 hours, they would have to come get it for the same problem. This time it was the alternator. Less than 24 hours they have to come get it again, say it was the battery (this would be the third battery in this van / had to pay for prorated battery). That was the last straw. Other items replaced on van included air compressor, left fog light bulb, cargo bulb, radio replaced, and lumbar switch.