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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  Bang For Your Buck - 2009 Kia Borrego
  By Francie - June 22 - 1:06 pm

  Just purchased and so far love it. Never thought that I would own a vehicle without an American emblem on the front- felt a little guilty! I have had 3 Explorers in a row. However, a few days of driving it through a foot of snow up and down our mountainous driveway took care of that. I live in the mountains of WV(some people still need a real 4-wheel drive) Has good pick-up, smooth ride, and oh so roomy. I did not choose it for the gas mileage,as I am 2 miles from work. Tried to buy a Traverse- way out of line on pricing, for what you get-did not compare to the amenities that I got on the Borrego-esp.leather seat pkg.

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  2004 optima - 2004 Kia Optima
  By aqeelz - June 19 - 2:00 am

  just got a 2004 optima after driving a 2000 sephia for three years it is qutie a improvement power,confornt,control,

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  GREAT CAR - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By selbone1 - June 15 - 3:16 pm

  97000 and still going i am the only owner and i have put full synthetic everything since new i plan on getting 300000 or more out of this car.

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  Glad I bought this car - 2009 Kia Spectra
  By Makeda - June 15 - 5:23 am

  This is my very first car and I know I made a great choice. It takes less than $25 to fill up my tank and I am good for the rest of the week. The interior is comfortable and I get compliments on the exterior. For a first car or something that in inexpensive and good to drive get this car. It is also roomy for my family of four.

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  not bad - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By kenya - June 10 - 5:03 pm

  Overall not too bad of a car. Have a strange clicking when turning in reverse. Interior is real nice, need to make a change to the exterior rear of auto - too plain looking, doesnt go with the nice front end.

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  want dependable, this is your car!!!! - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By jlc/mrsjettcarnes05 - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Kia Sportage since November 2001,I bought it used with 30,000 miles on it.Now it has 102,785 miles and is still running like new!!!!!Me and my husband have taken severly trips with our kia,One was a 1,000 mile trip up to Conniticut and it got us up there and back,no problems.Weve also drove to Kentucky from here which is 500 miles and back,thats been done 6 times,no problems at all,If anybody want a good, reliable,fun to drive suv.This would be your car.

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  Will stay with Kia - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By sargrebe - June 7 - 8:06 am

  We bought our first new car in 04. It is technically an 04 model, with an 05 body style. We loved this car so much that when my husband wanted a new one we bought an 08 manual for him. Great Gas mileage! Great starter car for a young family. The only cons are that the gas tank straps failed after 5 years, and I had to have those replaced, scary! And the interior after 8 years is failing, seat is falling apart.

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  Not Bad! - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By twhnumber1 - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I was very impressed with the warranty offered, as well as the price--the main reason I chose this car. I bought this 5/04 and already have about 6700 miles on it and average about 31-32 mpg. My fiancee is 66" and fits very well in the passenger side with plenty of room. The car has a different look to it, so I have lots of people checking it out. I am so far very satisfied with this vehicle! The back seat room is decent for a compact car and trunk space is pretty good as well. All buttons are easy to read and the night lights arent too bright.

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  Decent car - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By cayley6 - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car thinking good gas milage and so far I was wrong. Kia says 25 in city 34 on highway. Im lucky to get 24 on the highway. Interior design is great and has way more power than the Rio.

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  You dont drive the Soul; You WEAR it - 2011 Kia Soul
  By bill6505 - June 2 - 9:01 am

  Bought my base model Kia Soul in late May, 2011 and have put 8,800 miles on to date. Good value and fun to drive. Lots of room inside. The car is nimble and the brakes excellent. Biggest problem is driving it like a sports car, and forgetting that the vehicles around me cant stop as quickly under yellow lights.Gas mileage averaging 27.5 local, and 29.5 on trips Shape is unusual and draws comments and curiosity. Like the fact I can find it in a parking lot, because it doesnt look like a lot of other cars. ( I am a 68 year old male). This is my third Kia, if I count the 1992 Ford Festiva, which was made by Kia. Cant beat the value for the money. Quality and dependability good.