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 Rio Cinco Worst car ever - 2005 Kia Rio
  By Joe Cacadeech - August 20 - 12:40 pm

  I bought the Rio as mainly a commuter car and I regret I did. Its really cramped interior whether in the front or back. If thats not enough the totally underpowered engine will make you sick. The gas mileage is terrible considering how small the car is (average 19 city/25 hwy); come on it doesnt even compare to cars that are bigger or have more power, and forget about merging onto a highway or passing. If youre considering a car in this market, avoid this one at all costs and go with the also Korean made Chevy Aveo. Trust me the Kia is terrible. But to be fair it does start up every morning and it has an excellent warranty

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  good for transportation only !! - 2002 Kia Rio
  By tok - August 8 - 2:00 am

  if you need basic transportation, then get the rio...nothing good about it. should consider the new toyota corrolla, suzuki aerio, or ford focus zx3..etc. also, if has a horrible engine, no power.

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  What a Disapointment!! (Did not purchase!!) - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By Dick Parker - April 4 - 12:07 pm

  Test drove this vehicle today with my wife as she is looking to replace our 2001 Honda CR-V SE. Dealer did not have the lower priced model we wished to drive (SX V-6), so we test drove the SX V-6 which listed at $40+k. Less then 5 minutes into the test drive in a 55 mph zone at 55, my wife said take it back. The wind noise was terrible!! And worse than in our 16 year old 97000 mile CR-V. The salesperson was polite and courteous; the vehicle was well appointed, great instrumentation, handled, rode, and drove well, and was well finished, but for their top of the line model, the wind noise was totally unacceptable. We buy our automobiles carefully and plan for them to last. Current daily drivers are the 2001 Honda CR-V and a 2002 Lexus LS430. My hearing is impaired due to firing black powder long guns without proper ear protection, but the wind noise bothered me as much as it did my wife. Prior test drives within the past couple of weeks have included both the 2016 Toyota Highlander and the 2015 Honda CR-V; both of which had no significant wind noise at 60+ mph and were well appointed. My low ratings are due to the unacceptability of the wind noise knowing that over the time we would own this car, it would not improve. Would not recommend if wind noise bothers you.

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  Piece of Junk - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By KIA Sportage Limited - January 15 - 1:33 pm

  My 2001 KIA Sportage (or should I say Shortage) Limited is the worst vehicle I have ever purchased. I have had a great deal of problems with rust around the back window since it was 24 months old and the company would not fix it (it looks like a junk car because of this horrible rust problem that has spread all over the rear hatch). Things inside have broken off like visors, cup holder, and it doesnt go over 25 mph unless it warms up for a half hour once the temperature dips below 50 degrees. It is now in the shop for an electrical problem and the service people are rude about fixing it since it is not a pretty sight due to the rust.