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:

• 

  Fun car to drive, but watch the MPG - 2010 Kia Forte
  By hmowner - October 25 - 6:46 pm

  I chose to buy SX sedan 6spd. It took me a while to get used to the soft clutch and sensitive gas pedal, but its a well worth effort. Car handles well for a non-sports car and it really accelerates! The ride is a bit bouncy. I get about 30 - 32 mpg on 75% highway/25% city driving. If you push it a little, the mpg suffers a lot. The instrument panel is not fancy, but very simple/easy to view. I love the voice recognition-enabled bluetooth. The rear trunk sits very high compared to other compacts, but the space is huge. Maybe due to visibility, but this car feels larger than other compacts. The front buffer is a magnet for bug splashes and multiple rock dents into the plastic bumper.

• 

  Good car for small budget - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Luthy - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I really like the way the engine accelorates. I have been having fun racing other people in much faster cars. People are so surprised when I keep at least a whole car length ahead of them for a quarter mile. The high red line sure helps out a lot.The fit and finish is just about par. You will see better in a Honda or Toyota. I think that this is a wonderful car for $13,000 loaded.We will see how it lasts.

• 

  Never Again - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By Ruth - October 24 - 5:45 pm

  I had bought this vehicle coming from a Saturn SUV. In comparison the KIA rides like a truck, feeling the road & hearing the road--not very sound proof. The radio speakers are poor quality and cant let you adjust the bass. The acceleration is poor. When starting from a stop light the car needs extra gas and then it is too much. You cant hear the horn, no sense in having it. Very unhappy. I still owe on it and will never get out of it what I had bought it for. I will be downgrading to get rid of it.

• 

  Reliable - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Lee P - October 23 - 6:46 am

  If you are looking for a reliable inexpensive vehicle this is the one. I have 170k miles and have had any issues. It has been an excellent commuter car but not exciting.

• 

  never again - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By kiajunk - October 22 - 10:16 am

  I have had this car in 12 times. Both back window motors, oxygen sensor, radiator, valve cover gaskets and brakes all had to be replaced, tailpipe rusted off -- all before 28,000 miles.

• 

  Just starting - 2009 Kia Sorento
  By Pocahontous - October 22 - 8:53 am

  First driving this, I thought it sounded like a jet ski vs. a merc: loud but no guts. I have only given it cursory trials but am growing to love it. It is not a luxury vehicle but very functional and easy to drive. The Interior instruments all make sense and operation isnt distracting when you are driving. Exterior is pretty except a few undercarriage parts that hang down below the silhouette. 4WD has gotten me out of snow issues with ease.

• 

  Lived thru crash - 2014 Kia Soul
  By stan morley - October 21 - 2:33 pm

  Blacked out, drove off road @ 50mph into ditch rolled over slid into elec pole .. side airbags deployed .. never got a scatch

• 

  I Love My KIA! - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By theatregrl - October 21 - 4:26 am

  Never thought Id buy a Kia, but I couldnt pass up the value offered by the Sorento. For a reasonable price, I was able to get a nice looking vehicle with fancy features. Ive owned it for 3 months now, and like it more and more. I bought the EX--my only regret is that I didnt buy the luxury package.

• 

  You get what you pay for - 2002 Kia Optima
  By DavidR - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for one year with no problems yet. It is very responsive on the highway and in the city. I love the sport shift. A very comfortable and quiet car. The only problem I see with it is the resell value. The darn thing has virtually no resale value. Only time will tell on reliability. After one year and 45000 miles it is a pleasure to own.

• 

  You get what you pay for - 2002 Kia Optima
  By DAVIDR - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for one year with no problems yet. It is very responsive on the highway and in the city. I love the sport shift. A very comfortable and quiet car. The only problem I see with it is the resell value. The darn thing has virtually no resale value. Only time will tell on reliability. After one year and 45000 miles it is a pleasure to own.