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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  Love the car - hate the Infinity NAV - 2012 Kia Optima
  By fixer199 - May 3 - 6:41 pm

  Just bought a new EX with Premium & Tech packages last week. More we drive it, the more we like it -- except for the Infinity audio/NAV. The center channel dash speakers overpower all the others. its almost like driving a car from the 50s with one dash speaker. I thought I didnt have it adjusted right, but you cant adjust it away and the Kia forums have lots of the same complaint from other owners. You also give up HD radio when you upgrade to the $1400 Tech Package. Dont do it unless you MUST have the backup camera! Harmon Kardon make this system and they should be ashamed! We would buy the car again -- but without the Tech Package.

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  An Easy Choice - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Fan4neil - May 3 - 8:33 am

  Traded in 2003 Toyota Tundra (awful mileage and impractical). Was wifes dream vehicle but common sense won out. I had driven Tucson and liked it but we both went to drive the Kia. Gearing made it feel sportier and interior is beautiful. Wife liked well enough to buy on the spot. Sportage is fun to drive, luxurious, practical, roomy. The value is unbelievable as Kia has so many nice features and they are done up in a great package. 6 CD changer is awesome and black leather interior with heated seats is a great place to spend time. Mix of freeway and in town getting us about 22 mpg. Cannot believe others would purchase mundane CR-V or RAV4 and spend much more to end up with much less. Go Kia!

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  Just bought my Optima - 2003 Kia Optima
  By Bubba and Buster - May 2 - 10:00 am

  Have been looking for two months at other makes (Ford, Hyundai, Honda, Mitsubishi). I was getting frustrated because the other makes with the features I wanted were TOO expensive. I hadnt even thought to look at KIA. We were passing by the KIA dealership and decided to stop by to browse. WOW..I found just the car with all the features I wanted and a price I could afford. I would recommend anyone who is looking for a well equipted car at a reasonable price to check out the KIA, and the warranty cant be beat.

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  Love My Sorento - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Katrina Webb - May 1 - 10:00 am

  I traded down from an Expedition EL Limited to the Sorento SX and I would NEVER go back. I love it. I wanted something with 3 rows but with better gas mileage. I test drove everything under the sun before finding this one. It is so fun to drive, but watch your speed, I got pulled over within two days. I learned very quickly to use the cruise. I love the red lighting, sunroof, sound system, and especially the bluetooth. I also love the push button start. I never have to get my keys out of my purse. MPG is just as described on sticker. I have had no problems and would recommend this vehicle to anyone.

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  Spunky Soul is great fun - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Soulman Bob - April 29 - 4:30 pm

  My wife and I were looking initially at the Kia Forte, but liked the roominess and ride height of the Soul(previously we owned a Jeep Cherokee). We both like the great number of safety features standard on the Soul. Unlike the Soul Sport that Edmunds was provided, ours does have the tire pressure sensor system included. I really prefer leaving the electronic stability feature on - it makes the ride and cornering much smoother and tight. I do some city delivery work with the Soul, and with the AC on and a lot of stop and go, were still averaging 24 mpg or so. We havent had it long, so well see how it handles the snow and ice of Nebraska. Also, Ill be interested in its reliability

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  Surprising car - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By Rich - April 28 - 6:03 pm

  This is a fun car to drive. At todays gas prices, I am glad to report that the car actually gets the advertised mileage. They stated it would get 18 mpg (city) and 25 mpg (highway). While mileage depends on driving habits, I get at least 18 mpg city, and up to 28 mpg highway. The 28 mpg was reached while driving on an interstate doing 85 mph (dont tell the police.)

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  Dont knock it til you try it! - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By jordans_stang - April 26 - 10:42 pm

  I am impressed. My wife and I have a 2012 Mustang and a 2013 Elantra and decided we wanted a cheap 3rd car to go off-roading and camping. I was so impressed with our Elantra that I decided to look at Sportages and Tucsons. I found that Sportages were listed cheaper, so I tested one. I actually really loved so much about it and so did my wife so we got it for such a good deal. It has so many features for a 2005! We took it up the mountain in 4 inches of fresh snow and it never slipped once--even going up steep hills. It easily tackled rocky and bumpy steep hills, too. I am more than impressed and cannot wait to go camping in the next few months. It has 125,000 miles on it and runs so smooth!

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  Amanti - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By ggage4000 - April 26 - 2:26 pm

  All the comforts and styling of a 60K luxury car for a lot less. Great reliability and warranty. Very easy steering and very smooth ride. The largest import luxury car I have driven.

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  Cant wait to Drive - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Soultastic - April 26 - 3:50 am

  I am a Kia Loyalist! My first car was a 02 Spectra and I drove the car everywhere! I bought it at a Kia which is gone now but I felt it was too small. Then I saw the Commercials for this car with the light up speakers and I was hooked! A year later around my birthday I bought a brand New Soul! I wish I would have been able to get the Sport but this works great. I went from only holding 2 of my friends to 5 and everyone loves the space! the ride is pretty smooth but the sun roof and sound over come any of that road noise. The handling is nice once you put snow tires on your good! I cant wait for the Hybrid 2015!

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  Best Decision I ever made - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By eternalaggie - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Friends warned me about kia suggesting they were unreliable. I am here to tell you they were wrong. I havent had a lick of trouble. And the price cant be beat