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:

• 

  Poor Choice - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By wjozz5 - September 12 - 7:21 pm

  The Sorentos initial appeal, styling, interior room and optional third row, made it a reasonable initial choice. Now, at 700 miles, the Sorento is back in the dealership for a brake recall, faulty vent gate, navigation/stereo replacement and traction control inspection. The traction control continues to make noise after being engaged. The manufacturers tire choice has to be the worst in the industry. Overall this new car has done little to inspire confidence that it is a 100,000 mile car. We are going to sell it before we are too disappointed to hide it.

• 

  Transmission went out at 60,400 miles! - 2012 Kia Optima
  By Tim - September 9 - 10:32 pm

  Weve have had this car since new, and didnt have any issues until it was out of manufacturers warranty. While driving approximately 55mph the vehicle went into "limp mode" and told us to "pull over and safely exit the vehicle" (this was displayed on the dash). If I tried to put it in drive it would make a very hard jump, and would not accelerate. Upon contacting Kia I was told that there was no road side assistance because our car was out of warranty. So we loaded the vehicle up on my parents flat bed and hauled it to the dealership it was purchased from in Ocala, Fl (we were in Jax, Fl and insurance wouldnt transport it that far). Thank God for the extended warranty! Because after sitting in the dealership for over two weeks while they were "waiting to hear back from Korea, because weve never seen this problem" the car needed a new transmission and new electric motor. If we wouldnt have had the extended warranty I would have set the damn thing on fire because I cant imagine what the cost of that was (our repair bill did not give a price). On top of the transmission and electronic motor going out, the buttons to change the station on the steering wheel do not work properly, and the steering wheel itself is peeling apart. Front air damn fell off going down the road. According to Kia it was because my wife couldnt park, but I think it was never put on properly. Steering wheel makes a clicking noise if you barely turn it while the vehicle is stopped. Im sure it will break while were on the highway. Fit and finish are decent but the car does not live up to its price tag or its estimated fuel economy. Our warranty goes out at 100k so at that time well trade it in for $1,500 and put that towards a Honda.

• 

  2009 Kia Optima TRANSMISSIONS ON OPTIMAS ARE BAD! - 2009 Kia Optima
  By unsatisfied - September 6 - 10:17 pm

  I had problems with acceleration from the time I bought this new. I was told there wasnt a problem they put it on the computer and there wasnt anything wrong....I am a woman so...it was well we cant find anything wrong. I was charged for the KIA maintenance plan for 5 years...and low and behold at the end of 5 years....they found it needed a new transmission....!!!

• 

  3 yrs later... - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By rifral - September 5 - 7:03 am

  I gave 5 stars too... 3 years ago! The styling is cool, awesome sunroof, decent cargo and passenger room and... well... thats about it. 2 brake switch replacements* (recently recalled), less than expected gas mileage, squeeks and rattles and lately the transmission is reving too high. I have no faith that this rather expensive model will last me the 10 years I was hoping for. It might be a hard sale once the warranty expires! *when the brake switch blows, the car is completely dead. I know things happen but I shouldnt have to see my car being towed on a flat bed twice while making car payments.

• 

  Lack of response - 2003 Kia Optima
  By Wanda Malinski - August 28 - 10:00 am

  New car checklist has not been completed. Kia Motors and dealership has not responded to my inquiries. Dealership made out 2 bill of sales with two different sets of figures, both which are incorrect. Minor problems have not been fixed by dealer.

• 

  Im not impressed - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By Im not impressed - August 17 - 8:56 am

  My wife and I bought the van in May 05. With two kids, we figured a car wouldnt work so we bought the van. As for room, we should have stuck with a car. Not much more room offered. The seats are very uncomfortable. The gas mileage - absolutely horrible! But considering the price, safety and budget well have this van for quite a while. Gotta do it for the kids.

• 

  Huge disappointment!!!!! - 2012 Kia Sorento
  By macgirl1 - August 16 - 7:11 pm

  We purchased this vehicle in Dec.12 and it has been the worst vehicle purchase we have ever made. The fuel economy on this vehicle has been awful. Weve been getting 14-17mpg with combined driving, no where near the promised 21-28mpg. Not only that the drive is sluggish, with little power. We have contacted Kia Motor America for support and been told there is nothing they can do even though our Sorento is not performing the way they promise it will. In my experience Kia does not stand behind their promises and I wouldnt recommend the Sorento and we will not buy another Kia. Our Sorento has been a huge letdown and Kias response to our problems has been an even bigger dissappointment.

• 

  Big Mistake - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Dee Dee - August 15 - 4:20 am

  I traded in a 4Runner for the Kia Sorento back in June. The 4Runner was just too big for me. I thought that this would be a good compromise. During the test drive I was taken on smooth highway roads. As soon as I got onto my neighborhood roads, WOW, the loudest road noise I have ever had in a car. I also apparently have the known defect of the right front strut. Sounds like thunder going over even the smallest bumps. Turning up the radio doesnt help at all. The red lights under the door handles are very off putting. I wish I was told about them before I bought the car. Test drive it at night! Not very pleasant interior lighting. The radio and navigation get stuck often.

• 

  Not very impressed - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By momof2 - August 15 - 12:26 am

  I bought the car used, was told that it is in great condition, well not a week later we were in the shop for a noise that I cant even explain, was told by KIA mechanic that it is the ABS doing a self check, the sound has never gone away, then received a recall for a crank shaft bolt the had to have the rear door hinge replaced and the light bulbs are constantly burning out, and now the Check engine light keeps coming on for a transmission code p0700, and I was told there is nothing wrong with the car. I will never buy another KIA again, the people that work there are rude and they need to make a better vehicle.

• 

  Shoulda bought a 4 runner - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By QCYNCY - August 7 - 3:36 pm

  Wife bought the car new in 2003. We have 70K on it now and to be honest, Im surprised it has been as reliable as it had been. Still, the maint schedule is unreasonable, $$, and he dealerships are completely incompetent. Last three times I needed to take the car back after maint because of dealer error. Will say the car has been off road on NE beaches all 5 summers about 60 trips in all and never had an offroad perf problem. Bought this over 4 runner because it offered leather,moonroof and warrnty for a few grand less than 4 runner. Stripped 4 runner is now worth 4K more at trade in than this though! if you can do w/o some options, there are better cars with better resale than KIA.