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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  Okay, but... - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By chief503 - April 30 - 2:00 am

  We bought this van new in 02, really like most features. Engine light came on and the dealer can not fix it. Through arbitration with BBB, I am receiving a new one. Factory and dealer had problems following through with their written deadlines. Selling new van when it arrives, not because of the van but because the dealer and factory are hard to work with.

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  So Close... so, so close... - 2015 Kia Optima
  By cbevil - April 28 - 6:40 pm

  First, let me say that I bought the 2015 Kia Optima to replace a 2014 Ford Fusion that was an absolute POS. After spending a solid year fighting with FoMoCo about transmission and interior issues, I traded the Fusion at a severe loss because I just couldnt trust the car. For Edmunds to prefer the Fusion over others is mind boggling. The Optima is almost a great car, but it is beyond me how you can screw up something like stereo features on a 2015 car. Ride is good - not great. Interior is roomy and comfy. Performance is much better than the Fusion... But the stereo and steering wheel controls are just goofy - bad layout and bad function.

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  I bought a Lemon - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Garcia - April 27 - 9:06 pm

  This would have been great, especially for the price. Unfortunately, I bought a lemon. The car needed an alignment when we test drove it. That should have been a sign. But we liked the car and what it had to offer compared to the other compact cars. So that was the first thing wrong with this car. The O-2 sensor has gone out twice in the car. The odometer messed up so the whole dash had to be replaced. Countless times the check engine light has come on supposedly because the gas cap was not closed right. When youd think wed learn the by the second time how to put on a gas cap. Now to top it off right now our car is in the shop because the transmission needs to be replaced. LEMON!

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  pay less, get less - 2002 Kia Optima
  By scruff - April 27 - 9:00 am

  I have owned this car for 3 years now, and cant wait for the moment I can get out of it! I spend about $1k in repairs a year on this car, and Im not talking about routine maintenance. Speaking of that, it doesnt like to go more than 3k miles without an oil change. It needs to be babied. Its a comfortable car and a Nice look, but unreliable. Interior components falling apart/peeling/breaking. Wears tires out like no ones business, but thats due to the factory recall of a rusting sub frame! Hard to find someone that knows how to work on it too... Parts are never available and needs to be ordered. All in all, if you want a cheap car, go Hyundai, my brothers car has lasted way longer than mine

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  Great value! - 2008 Kia Rio
  By braindeadunit - April 25 - 7:47 am

  Im getting great gas mileage, and despite mixed rated for 29, Im getting 34+ mpg. The gearing is just about right, giving its power (and efficiency) in all the right places -- with the manual trans you wont feel like you have such a small engine (reviews on internet says the auto can feel sluggish). The car has a lot of nice touches -- arm rest, aux input, stub holder, center console orientation, the list goes on. All of the small things add up to get a comfortable ride. I cant think of any downsides, although friends have reported the back seats feel a bit cramped. I bought it used, and I think when it comes time to buy a new car, Ill go with a Rio (or Hyundais version, the Accent).

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  Kia Sedona - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By VIGIL6617 - April 24 - 10:00 am

  This is my third minivan, a geat value for money if you dont drive a lot of miles. Gas mileage is never been over 16 MPG, even if I drive all freeway. My Toyota Previa with a supercharge engine got better mileage than this van. Little trunk space. If I have to do it again, I would probably think twice about buying the current model. The van needs to go on a diet at 4900 pounds, its to heavy. causing the gas mileage problem. Other than the gas mileage and little trunk space its a good van.

• 

  extended review - 2008 Kia Amanti
  By herb45 - April 21 - 1:00 pm

  update.after 17000 miles,i have realized that this car i lousy around town,both in ride & quietness,but take her on the highway,away from the virginia beach roads,and she shines.highway mileage is around 30mpg,but the ride in city driving is not even on par with cadillac.all rattles have pretty much disappeared,but still concerned with the ride which tends to turn harsh over sharp bumps.i thought this was a luxury car????????? the power is great,but the tranny seems to hesitate at times,unless you use the manual gate.

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  Best van out there! - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By guitarrista - April 21 - 6:12 am

  We bought our Sedona in 2002 and have put over 120,000 miles on it. It is very reliable and comfortable. We get about 14 mpg in city and 24 on hiway. 2002 was the first year for this car, and ours was built early in the year. We read the reviews before we bought, and knew that certain things would break, and they did, and they were covered by the warranty. Kia put stronger versions of those parts on vans sold later in the year, so if youre buying a used one, look at the MFG date and get one built later in the year. Example: transmission and engine mounts, and sun roof cable. When ours broke, we discovered they had changed the spec to different, stronger ones.

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  Ok to own - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By Aw - April 18 - 10:00 am

  Great for the money

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  Ks Amanti - 2006 Kia Amanti
  By RVEIL - April 15 - 9:23 am

  This vehicle is a nice handling and riding car, but has a little too much herky-Jerky on acceleration.