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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  Like a rock! - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By drblptq - March 5 - 2:33 am

  I owned this for three years, bought new, as a work vehicle. This has to be the the heaviest build small suv I have ever driven. Although there were numerous trips to the shop under warranty all was taken care of efficiently with little fuss. The gas mileage is abysmal, at 15 city and 20 highway, but built like a tank. I was rear ended at 50,000 miles and all I had was a cracked bumper cover! The honda that hit me was totalled. The car never let me down, and honestly I have been considering buying a used one as a second vehicle for my wife.

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  Used Lease Kia - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Paul - March 3 - 8:16 pm

  This is our poor mans Jag. We both like it, only my wife not real crazy about the need to shift to the overdrive.

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  Amazing Little Machine - 2011 Kia Soul
  By happy2pappy - March 1 - 3:37 pm

  One month and a thousand miles now, and I couldnt be more pleased. The Soul has exceed my expectations....a high level of refinement, quiet engine, smooth clutch and shifter, good stereo, and very comfortable seats. Its a delight to drive, the little 1.6 litre mill is quite happy at low RPMs resulting in AMAZING mileage that way exceeds the EPA rating. Ive filled up four times so far, about 80% around town driving, and averaged right at 35 MPG! 31 was the low fillup, 37.1 the best. A really sensible car for tooling around town.

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  Pay more for what, exactly? - 2011 Kia Sedona
  By Father of four - February 27 - 10:00 am

  Our 2011 Kia Sedona is our second minivan (we have four children aged seven and under). Traded in a VW Passat wagon, and it hurt to say goodbye to our last car with any "coolness" factor. Our other minivan is a Toyota Sienna. The Sedona is an improvement upon the Passat in every way. Far more fun to drive, with great pickup and handling. We added leather, which makes it look sharp. The interior gives the impression of being larger than the Siennas. And other than a higher sticker price, we are not sure what advantages the Sienna offers. The Kias mileage around town is somewhat less than advertised--around 16 mpg--but it is up to the Toyotas quality in every other way. Safe and reliable.

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  7000 Mile Reflections - 2014 Kia Cadenza
  By tunabear1 - February 25 - 4:40 am

  Great responsiveness. Quiet engine. Loaded with extras.

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  Nice...But - 2011 Kia Optima
  By shortstop6 - February 25 - 3:27 am

  We purchased this vehicle new...loaded. Looks great but right off not excited about gas mileage. 25 mixed driving and its on eco. Hopefully you dont wear nice clothes to work because if you do and its raining youre gonna ruin your slacks or nylons on the frame as you try and step out. Its so far out to the left that you need to look like a carricature to exit without getting a wet and mud stripe on your pants. Also, road noise is deafening and makes my Acura sound like a church at 2am. The brake pedal has an annoying thump every time you take your foot off the pedal which if you let it, will drive you crazy. The road trip we leave on this wed. could send me back to Lexus.

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  PLEASED ............UNTIL! - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Douglas - February 24 - 8:30 am

  I bought my car used from a reliable car dealership. The car was emaculant contion. The interior and exterior looked new. I was more than pleased with the car until I was told car needed new pistons, $1,800 plus tax. Although I was the second owner, the cars records have kept and the car has been maitained faithfully. (The car has been literally pampered). WATCH OUT WHEN YOU GET TO 80,000 MILES. I asked the KIA technician what causes it or how did it happen and the answer was " maybe the previous owner" and before he could get his answer out, I informed him of the upkeep AND records of the car before I purchased it. I even brought it to their dealership had it checked out before buying it.

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  Stuck key in ignition - 2009 Kia Borrego
  By Phillip - February 24 - 1:25 am

  Key got stuck in ignition and I called a lock smith, lock smith looked at it and referred me to dealership. I called dealership and was informed that a recall specialist would call me back( almost a month later I get a call back and was informed that my 2009 Kia borreggo doesnt have a stuck key recall("up the road without a key")My kia has 106,000 miles. When car is working, its great, but comes to service, Im not very pleased with the SERVICE!!!

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  Lots of car for the bucks - 2005 Kia Optima
  By lEMAC - February 23 - 9:53 pm

  Great looks, quality workmanship, price a deciding factor, average gas mileage, most options included in price.

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  Kia Optima EX V6 - 2004 Kia Optima
  By Nauman - February 18 - 10:00 am

  Great driving car with alot of extras for the money. Would like to have a little better gas mileage.