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:

• 

  My Kia Sedona - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By aw - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Good van, great price.

• 

  Love it -- A real surprise - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By D P from Virginia - November 9 - 11:23 am

  Looked at minivans for 6 months. Almost bought a Honda, but same options were thousands more. Fully loaded Kia - leather, DVD, power everything - has a bigger engine, and warranty. I have driven it for nearly 7000 miles, and the gas mileage is getting better as I go along. I love the split, rear, fold down seats. Middle row also on a slide to provide even more room to the 3rd row. Glad I went with the Kia. I have suggested it to several friends--they too are considering a Sedona EX with all the bells and whistles. Would like a Nav system, but I can get the portable one for under $1000. Truly holding up to slogan -- Power to Surprise!

• 

  Lots of life left after 100K miles! - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By kikithekia - November 8 - 11:50 pm

  Bought this car (my first ever) with 100,000 miles; have put 4500 on myself. Anything Ive had to do mechanically is to be expected with the high mileage and was coming eventually — replace OEM alternator and serpentine belt, plus timing belt as a preventative measure. Mechanic said the rattling I hear in the body of the car can be fixed inexpensively, but is mostly cosmetic and can wait. Very low to ground; be careful over even small speed bumps. Overall I love it, pleasantly surprised! Expected better MPG (22/30+) but fun and easy car to drive. Serves me quite well. It keeps going and I feel like it has lots of life left even after so many miles. Id consider a Kia in the future!

• 

  OH MY GOSH!! - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By KC Comfort Seeker - November 8 - 6:06 am

  Great car--great buying experience. It took me about 18 months to pull the trigger on a new car. I usually buy used and drive them forever. But I fell in love with this car and it has lived up to my every expectation. Feature function value to the max. Friends and family cant believe the extras included for the price. I didnt think the dual heat/AC would be that noticeable but my wife and I can ride in total temperature comfort with no problem. Interior looks like a much higher priced luxury car. Controls are easy to adjust and intuitive to figure out. Decent gas mileage but you dont buy a car like this for the gas mileage. Very roomy, very comfortable. Bargain hunters delight.

• 

  Great Vehicle - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Monica - November 6 - 6:33 pm

  I moved up to a Sorento from a mustang. This car is almost as much fun to drive. It is well equipped, stylish and it handles great. If you are looking for a new vehicle you have to test drive the new Sorento. I was not sure I wanted an SUV. I started looking at the Honda Accord but after test driving both i felt more comfortable in the Sorento and love it more each time I drive it.

• 

  Money well spent - 2002 Kia Rio
  By Roguebull - November 4 - 5:43 am

  Bought Rio with 53K miles on it (still in warranty!), took the back seats out, used it as a mini ranch truck so I could drive my truck less. I live in the cold Pacific Northwest but the Rio has never failed to start on the first revolution. Ive had it off road, (which it is not designed for), and on snowy mountain fire trails. I carried lumber, pipe, dogs and feed bags inside with the windows up and the rear seats out. It got from 29 mpg to 37 mpg depending on how I used it. Only complaint: little hard for big man in western hat to squeeze in and out of. But it never let me down in 40K miles, did all it was asked to do and more, and thus is one of the best buys for the dollar Ive owned.

• 

  I love my Kia! - 2005 Kia Optima
  By melly07 - November 3 - 11:30 am

  I bought my car used with 84,000 miles on it, its been a great car, currently we have to replace the blower resistor in the a/c but warranty is covering it. This car has plenty of power and handles very well.

• 

  Our Little Vacation Car - 2008 Kia Optima
  By Hummer Guy - November 2 - 9:40 pm

  Have a new H3, a 6yr old Sunfire, and an 08 Dodge Avenger (son). Needed a new smaller, more economical car for vacations now that both of us are retired. Looked at all of them in the one-year-old under $15000 range. I wanted another Avenger which son loves, but wife not comfortable in the seat. Ended up getting this 2008 Optima as a former Enterprise car. Absolutely LOVE IT. Wanted a four, but settled on a six, but the power is amazing -whiplash acceleration -and the economy on three fill ups has been 34, 34, 38 on combined interstate and city driving. The four could not have done much better. It has all the toys like steering wheel radio controls. Only had it 1 mo. So far VERY PLEASED!

• 

  Decent car for the price - 2015 Kia Optima
  By cvs8floz - November 1 - 4:18 am

  Purchased a new 2015 Optima EX with premium package in January just when we got all the snow in Boston to replace a 2009 Hyundai Sonata that was totaled in an accident. Kind of had to rush the buying process and only looked at a few other cars. Got the car for under $23K delivered before taxes and fees, more than $5K off sticker. Generally happy with the car, good power, handles well, comfortable drivers seat. City mileage worse than advertised. Head clearance could be better. More difficult to access rear seat than other cars. No spare tire. Trunk release button hard to find with gloves. Front passenger seat is way too low, feel like you are sitting in a hole, did not catch in test drive

• 

  Almost one year with Cadenza - 2014 Kia Cadenza
  By aikonerom - October 31 - 9:26 am

  Some problems started early on and some continue. Here is my list of issues: 1. Sunroof button is terrible and way to sensitive - need to redesign. I have had one button replaced. 2. Metal Clanking noise from front end while driving slow. Dealer tightened hood but problem still continues. 3. Intermittent wind noise from drivers side mirror. 4. Bluetooth is buggy. Software was updated November 2014. You must wait 3-4 seconds when using the hands free system. 5. Voice control is annoying. Literally the system yells at you if you talk too soon after hitting the hands free command button. You must wait 3-4 seconds every time you hit the hands free button. Frustrating.