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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  LOVIN IT - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Kings - March 11 - 12:20 pm

  This is an awesome little car. We went from a gas guzzling Mazda 6 to this awesome 31 avg. MPG car. This is our very first new car and what a buy! There have been no issues. Our MPG is just amazing to us and we are saving money on our payments. If people dont like that it doesnt have auto everything I say to them,"QUIT BEING LAZY!". As for MPG, if ya cant get great milage, maybe try keepin it in ECO MODE or just try driving the speed limit. This isnt a Ford, Nissan, or GM, this is in a class of its own. One awesome car, way to go Kia.

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  Its Hip, Funky and Fun ... - 2010 Kia Soul
  By theFUNK - March 11 - 5:13 am

  Test driven the Soul 4u Burner(CDA spec) aka Sport, loved it and got it. The exterior styling is hip and good looking compared to the scion xB and nissan cube. The interior is also nice as well. Performance is pretty good. Its pretty speedy once your off accel. The engine noise is LOUD when you are up accelerating to the 1st and 2nd gear (gear ratios are high). When in cruising speed is pretty quiet compared to other economy cars. The manual transmission was pretty fun but is not that great. When you shift you dont feel that youre at that gear yet. So i might suggest automatic. Finally Kia has brightened their lineup with this. Really impressed.

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  Great quality - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By Ken - March 9 - 10:20 am

  My Amanti has been just great. Its a beautiful car. The quality of this import is superb.

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  Kia Forte SX - From 0 - 225k Miles - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Tim C. - March 8 - 9:19 pm

  I bought my Kia Forte SX Sedan with manual transmission brand new back in August 0f 2010. I had fallen on some pretty challenging financial times and owned a very unreliable used American made automobile. I shopped around heavily in attempt to find something reliable but also within my financial means to get around to work and to tote my little daughter around safely. I visited the Kia dealership in Ann Arbor, MI. They had this model sitting in the show room. I was looking for something less in cost, but they were very motivated to move out this particular vehicle due to it being a manual, which in that area was a tough sell for the market the dealership was in. I preferred owning a manual transmission, so I drove it, loved it, and the dealer worked out a great deal to help me help them. Fast forward to November of 2017 ... I have 225,000 original miles on the engine. Vehicle runs like it did the day I bought it. The body is in near mind condition with zero rust. Most amazing is that I have never had to replace the clutch or any part of the manual transmission! 225k miles with the original clutch! Ive never owned a car where I had so little to repair while keeping up on basic maintenance and service. I just recently decided to hand over the keys to this wonderful ride over to my teenage daughter who I taught to drive a manual. She is new at it all, but also loves the car that she grew up riding around in. Im not sure how many more miles that quick little Forte SX has left in it, but Im anticipating many more safe and reliable miles to go. Hats off to Kia Motors!

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  High-country commuter - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By CeBeU - March 3 - 7:53 pm

  Use/specs: A "commuter" to handle ~400 miles per week, consistent 5%-8% mountain grades transitioning between 6000 to 9200 elevation daily on everything from asphalt freeways to washboard/rutted high-country roads, AWD for heavy winter snows and recreational pursuits in the Rockies, acceptable MPG, reasonable build quality / warranty to survive for ~3yrs, pre-owned, low miles and inexpensive price-point. Other than the "twin" Tucson, nothing compares (for me anyway). Is it my "ideal" vehicle choice for these needs? No, but for the above this is/was an excellent buy. Highly recommended if you have similar needs.

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  My 2nd Kia - 2001 Kia Optima
  By JayS - March 3 - 10:00 am

  Much better than my Sephia that I was happy with.

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  What a Difference - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Burntbyford - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I have to admit that the Kia was not my initial first choice for an SUV. I actually bought a Ford Escape in April because I had not heard of the Sorrento at that time. Unfortunately(or fortunately)at 4 months old my Escapes engine caught fire due to an engine (fuel injector) malfunction. The Escape was totalled in less than 20 minutes. Now I have the more comfortable and more reliable(they dont blow up)Kia Sorrento. The Kia is 150% better than the Escape and it cost less!! I guess I should be glad that Ford made such a poor quality product because now I am happier with my KIA!! :)

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  The eye catcher - 2010 Kia Soul
  By JC - March 2 - 2:40 am

  It is great car very fun to drive and a lot of features for the price. I get compliments all the time and even invitations for dinner just to be able to get a ride in my SOul...lol...Great car....way to go Kia...you made it big this time. For those that are interested on joining a Soul group you can visit the brand new www.kiasoulclub.com

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  2015 Kia Soul Exclaim w/ Umber2 pkg. - 2016 Kia Soul
  By BILL Shurtleff - February 28 - 2:55 pm

  This car has it all. I bought it used from a dealership in Dallas Texas. One previous owner. Clear carfax report. Came w/ all service info she had done. Only one smart key, and no spare tire. Ive ordered these 2 items online. Comfortable for 4 adults. Lots of room. Im 64" tall. Almost a stretch for me w/ drivers seat all the way back & and still lots of room in the back seat. Has a killer stereo, subscribed to SIRIUS XM radio. A fun car to drive.

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  Bang for the Buck - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Ed K - February 25 - 2:00 am

  After looking at most SUVs in this class, I was taken back by the quality of construction and features offered in this SUV. Then match it with a warranty unmatched in this price range, they had me sold. After 6 months I love it as much as the day I bought it. Kia could use a little work in the bang for the gallon area.