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:

• 

  Korean fit - 2018 Kia Sorento
  By luis p - November 3 - 3:17 pm

  Being 6.2 and heavy, found out this vehicle is not for long trips, for unless size/weight is average person from Korea, it gets cumbersome on a long haul. As to the back being comfy, not really. Seats do not adjust properly, and passengers have complained about lack of comfort. Admittedly, these individuals are older, and previous to this vehicle, we had a Honda Odyssey Elite. Why did I buy it then? A blunder, in my case. Performance is good, and the adaptive cruise control works like clockwork. Storage spaces throughout the cabin is quite limited. Ours has under 3000 miles, and for those more on the average/petite size this SUV should be more pleasing. I must tilt my head a little when boarding the vehicle. Stereo is average, and CD player heats up rapidly, hate to play it too much during hot weather. 3.5 Stars.

• 

  Surprised - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By chipface - November 3 - 10:13 am

  Went shopping for our first mini van on a Saturday. We were armed with prices and knew what each company had to offer. We narrowed it down to the Mazda MVP or the Kia. One drive was all it took. Than we dealt and the price blew us away. It stickered fully equipped at over $27,000. We got it for just over $20,000. And still had rebates left.

• 

  Excellent Cost / Benefit - 2012 Kia Optima
  By seson - November 3 - 5:30 am

  Researched and compared to the Malibu, Camry, Accord, Altima, etc., and found this to be the best choice for me. Quiet and smooth ride, stunning looks, good interior materials, Bluetooth, USB, 10/10 drive train, 60/60 bumper to bumper (lifetime drive train from the dealer). With what Kia includes even on the LX AT, Ive only added a factory spoiler and window tint. All this for under 20K after rebates..Gas mileage has been 25 around the city and up to 36 on the Hwy. Best of all, its made here in the USA by American workers in Georgia.

• 

  Very Happy With Purchase - 2008 Kia Sedona
  By like_it! - November 3 - 12:36 am

  Weve been driving our new vehicle for over a month. I am very pleased with our new 08 Kia Sedona EX (has power doors/power gate). We got a good deal, I think, being a 2008 model (paid 18.7K). It has been working great, drives well, works perfectly. It gets decent highway gas mileage (23.5 or better hwy). The middle seats are so comfortable; much better than stow-n-go seats. I love that the middle windows roll down, but I guess most minivans have that feature these days. CON: The drivers seat arm rest is too low. I can tilt the arm rest up and use it, but I wish I could actually raise the whole arm rest. Same with the front passenger arm rest.

• 

  Love the Sorento SXL except for: - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By Paul casassa - November 1 - 8:16 pm

  Everything is as advertised. Love the list of features. The problem I have is there is rattling coming from the passenger side of the sun roof. There were 2 areas rattling. Brought to the dealer and after 4 days the vehicle was returned. The say they adjusted the sunroof. It 90% repaired one rattle. Still appears when the sun is on the roof the other rattle coming from the area of the sunroof and passenger side. They did hear it. It happens when driving over rough roads (which in Massachusetts are easy to find) after confering with the "help desk of kia" they told me it is a carteristic of this vehicle for a 46k$ Vehicle it is unacceptable beware of this problem. If you are looking at the sorento test drive it first over rough roads.

• 

  Great Value for Good Car - 2006 Kia Amanti
  By Harry - November 1 - 7:30 pm

  I love the looks of the Amanti. Sound system is great and it is very comfortable to drive. Have driven 900 miles in one day and arrived feeling pretty good. Gas mileage OK on highway (around 24 at 70) but sucks gas around town (17). I saw review about chips in paint and have several on my white Amanti. Paint may be fragile but pearl white is gorgeous. Steering is a little numb and throttle could be a little more linear. Ride is comfortable but cheap tires are noisy and stiff. Ride motions need to be better damped without being harsher. Love the way the interior looks. One warranty claim to replace master brake cylinder at 2 days and that is it.

• 

  kia eval - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Leslie & Karl - October 31 - 8:06 pm

  I use it to pull a trailer to craft shows and because it has a tighter turning radius, I have not had to back up my trailer except when I park it in my drive way! I like being higher on the road and feel safer when I can see more than the rear of the car in front of me.

• 

  Bulb Replacements - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By B Spiller - October 31 - 4:40 pm

  Ive had my Sorento for 4 years and I had to replace the low beams, high beams, tail lights, etc, about 2-3 times per light every year. So far this year (this is March), Ive replaced the low beams twice in the driver and once on the passenger side. I just replaced the driver side yesterday and the tail light is now out. The battery has been replaced 3 times since Ive had it, at 70% of the cost. Does anyone else have these problems? The dealer says there is nothing wrong.

• 

  Great buy - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By D.Davis - October 31 - 2:50 am

  Best bang for the buck. Smooth, quiet ride. Dealer installed running board really adds a classy look. Compliments on the looks of the car everywhere I go. My car color is black with body-color side cladding/fender flares and Sports Package.

• 

  2012 Sorento SX AWD - 2012 Kia Sorento
  By wjozz5 - October 31 - 1:51 am

  Our current Sorento is our second SX AWD in 8 months. The first was a 2011 purchased in Nov. and exchanged under our states lemon law in June of 2011 for a 2012 SX AWD. Upon receipt of our new Sorento we noticed a few new features that were welcome improvements. The passenger side power seat, multiple temperature heated and cooled seats and seat/mirror memory are nice additions to a comfortably appointed interior. The cabin is quieter than our previous model. Overall performance and handling are unchanged from the previous year. In comparison to the Highlander and Edge, the Sorento is an exceptional performer. Fuel economy is great. We have high hopes this model will last more than 8 months.