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:

• 

  Kia Spectra: The New Yugo? - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By FLEECIV - July 13 - 10:00 am

  The Spectra brings the word cheap back to the world of inexpensive cars. From fit and finish issues to gas mileage that rivals an SUV, the Spectra was amazing in its capability to miss every expectation we had for it. Those expectations were not high, but we had been given hope after our Focus and Echo. The engine was loud and every bump was felt through the cheap seats. The car did start each time it was asked, a point that typically goes unnoticed in cars today. It is difficult to say anything else that could be considered positive.

• 

  Power Steering to be DESIRED - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By TFC Jason Thompson - July 4 - 10:00 am

  I have taken back to KIA Dealer 3 times, twice for power steering pump and after all this I cant even rate a 1972 maverick from the dealership to drive while they fix this reoccuring problem. The steering will be fine for a day or so and then its like driving a 1960 model tractor.

• 

  Piece ocrap - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By mvrab - June 20 - 1:51 pm

  Two failed power seat switches. Cheap Paint. Rattles till your teeth fall out. The Chevy Vega of the minivan world. Steering wheel placement requires either you have 2 long legs or 5 long arms...zero ergonomics...rather negative zero ergonomics. Geez, Im 511"...pretty average for the US.

• 

  I finally got rid of it!! - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By lee103 - June 15 - 10:00 am

  After 4 years of breakdowns finally had to trade it in. I was unlucky one with warranty at 3/36,000, due to my job used up in less than 2 years. Brakes/rotors needed changing at less than 18,000 & 4 times after that. After 2 weeks the coil pack went and didnt have the car for 3 weeks. Many major items went in this car. My muffler fell off at 16,000, and 2 more times after that. Couldnt trade in right away, because of the loss of value, no dealer wants one traded in. Most unreliable and cheap car around they shouldnt be sold in the US unless they seriously chang their workmanship. They need the 100,000 mile warranty.

• 

  Good for around town - 2007 Kia Rondo
  By Dave - June 15 - 12:26 am

  I bought the Kia Rondo to replace an Eagle summit wagon I had had for years. The Rondo has been a good Car. Now has 27,000 miles on it. No repair needed. I have grown to dislike the car however because it handles so poorly. The steering wheel has some uncomfortable vibration at around 65 mph, and the cabin is noisy at highway speeds. I have to crank up the volume on the radio to hear anything. I could have bought a much nicer car for a little more money. The worst part is the resale value. If you want a small van that will hold its value better, the Mazda 5 is much better.

• 

  Spectras are POS - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By pizz - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Spectra in July of 2003. I have had so many things wrong with it since I got it. Right now my clear coat is coming off my car. They are not a good car in the winter because they are so lite. The total amount of time I have taken my car in to get fix in the short time that I have had this car is seven. They might have a good warrenty on it but they wouldnt need to if they made a good car. I know many other people who own a 2002 Spectra and one had to but a new motor in it at 44,000 miles and another one has to get a transmission in the car. No wonder why these cars are cheap.

• 

  Please stay away! I beg you - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By monkey - May 29 - 1:13 pm

  This has to have been the worst vehicle i have bought. Purchased 4/2/2010 with 52,000 miles. 40 days later Im walking to work because engine blew and dealer wont fix it they blame me for changing the spark plugs. Before that in 3 weeks time it was in the shop 4 times first hub bearing went bad, then ac went out, then the van would just stall for no reason. They find nothing wrong. For people having this problem clean out the mass air flow sensor i found that out myself. Then a week later at 53,000 miles engine started knocking and smoking towed to the dealer and was told need new engine. Just the name KIA has lemon written all over it.Avoid the stress and steer clear. Very bad gas mileage.

• 

  never own another - 2004 Kia Rio
  By kia krap - May 26 - 3:03 pm

  Ive had my Kia for a few months now. The car has no take off. It ran at 4000 rpm going 65 mph then it dropped all 16 valves and blew the pistons into pieces

• 

  God Love this Car... - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By hildymac - May 19 - 2:00 am

  ... because I cant. Been in the shop over 20 times, the first time being 2 months after I got it for a leaky fuel line. Fan belts make it sound like a Singer Sewing Mach... and they cant EVER seem to fix them. Biggest POS ever. Im trading it in on a MINI when I graduate.

• 

  WORSE CAR EVER...RUN AWAY! - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By Angelica - April 18 - 12:00 am

  I will never in my life ever recommend ANY Kia car to anyone. This car was an absolute nightmare from the hour after I purchased it. Car had a busted radiator, which was fixed the next day. After that it ran smooth for about a good two weeks, then I had an electrical problem. Imagine riding down the highway at night going maybe 70 mph and all of a sudden every light, the interior, head and tail lights all of a sudden going dark? Yeah, it was that bad. Then it had a idling problem...finally I forced the dealership to trade it in for something much better. I would have paid $4,000 for this car, its not even worth $40!!!!