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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  Watch the Warranty - 2002 Kia Optima
  By zodda - June 11 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I bought 2 new Kias after hearing about the great warranty. Our 2002 Optima now in the shop while we gather up the $1800 needed to repair clutch and flywheel for a warranted car! I know flywheels are covered. As for the clutch, its a wearable item, but who ever heard of a clutch burning out after 30K miles? With the worst driver, 30K miles for a clutch is totally unacceptable. Said burned clutch caused the failure of other parts (pressure plate, flywheel) No way I could have foreseen the clutch going in 2 years. Other things: door moulding fell off. Check engine light on and off, driver side window fixed twice. Tires are already wearing.

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  kia van - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By rocwilliam - June 11 - 10:00 am

  gas mileage is a bit low, hope this improves after vehicle is broken in, rides well family loves it, overall seems to be a good vehicle

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  2016 Kia Optima, boom, youll love this car - 2016 Kia Optima
  By Jamie - June 10 - 10:05 am

  The car is worth the price. Shop around for best pricing. Dont settle, get the options you want.

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  this car sucks - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By bos sakoa - June 10 - 2:00 am

  Ive had problems with the car starting at 40,000 it wouldnt run right, kept loseing power, like when your learning to drive a 5 speed the car jerks.every two weeks it was in the shop they fix it but it kept breaking,they said the codes kept blowing out.But kia motors stood behind it everytime iam still trying to fix it, tge paint is starting to peel off by the trunk of the car.

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  none - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By deekle - June 10 - 2:00 am

  I am very dissatisfied with 4 wheel drive ability of vehicle. I seem to slide more with it engaged than remaining in 2 wheel drive. It has been very reliable mechanically. It just seems that minor annoyances occur such as rattles and noises which I do not know where they are coming from. The ride is very hard and stiff. As far as appearance goes, I do not like the fact that the wheel rims get brake dust ground in to them and no matter what I spray on them to clean them, it wont come clean

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  Excellent Value - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By Seguin - June 10 - 2:00 am

  You get a lot for your money. Appears to be very well built and very quiet on the road.

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  Fun To Drive - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Jaco - June 10 - 2:00 am

  It is just absolute Fun to drive

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  The Power To Surprise! - 2006 Kia Optima
  By Octogon - June 9 - 5:13 pm

  My wife and I bought a new 2006.5 Optima in August, after test driving the competition (minus the Accord). We decided over the 2007 Toyota Camry because of KIAs Price, and the "07 CAMRY PARADE" of cars on the street (gotta stand out). The 06.5 Optima is BEAUTIFUL and it feels exclusive on the busy streets, not seeing another one for about some 40,000 cars later. The deep paint job, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and built-in 6-disk CD changer with Infinity speakers echoes cars that cost $1000s more. My reading and research suggests that the Germans, the Japanese, and American car makers are going to be following the Koreans real soon. With the 06.5 Optima, KIA lives up to its motto!

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  crankcase and mnemonic balancer - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Ontario - June 8 - 3:10 pm

  I purchased new in 2005. Overall, Im satisfied with this vehicle. Two things of disappointment: Fuel milage and the Crankcase Mnemonic Balancer bolt broke at 104000 Km. Imagine! It was fabricated out of a cheap aluminum by-product. It cost us $1200.00 to replace! Not happy, at all, about that. Would I buy another one? Yes, because of the dealerships unmatched customer service and the price point.

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  Great for the price - 2008 Kia Rondo
  By bjfails - June 8 - 4:46 am

  Great vehicle for a small family car, seats are a bit small but not uncomfortable. Lots of room for kids to stretch without burring knees into back of seat. Two row has a lot of storage options. Nice pep off the line but lags above 50 mph. Exterior doesnt command a lot of attention, but doesnt repel the date for the evening either.