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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  unhappy car owner - 2007 Kia Rondo
  By unhappycarowner - February 22 - 1:33 pm

  I purchased this car a year ago and have been extremely unhappy with the performance in the winter. If it snows less or more than an inch of snow the car will not move it does nothing but spin. It also was parked on a lawn and had to be towed out for it would only spin up mud and not move. I have brand new all season radial on this car and still it cant get out of its own way. The rack that is provided by the factory is terrible I am scared to put my kayaks on them for fear that the rack is to weak & it will break under the pressure. It also does not go wide enough to accomodate the length of the kayaks. Over all this vehicle is to light for the maine winters and I have been very unhappy.

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  Please Buyer Beware - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By ambeaubian - February 21 - 2:07 pm

  I foolishly purchased a 2004 Kia Sorento EX, in 2009, to date I have replaced the following, Crankshaft, rings, bearings, head qasket, radiator, oil pump. At a tune of 5300.00, at that time is how much I owed to pay it off. I now have a burning smell and smoke every morning that I drive it..No mechanic knows why it occurs, Also have the lights to be replaced rear and front, at least 6 times, my dash lights do not come on at all. Then the paint is chipping off of the hood. If the car stays running, its semi-reliable . If there is another two grand I have to put in this car. I will be buying a new one...A Ford.

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  Nightmare - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Lrnosbig - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Loved my Kia Sorento until 20,000 miles. Then the nightmare problems began. Front axle broke in a busy intersection, ripping up the transmission (risked my life). Waited 3 weeks for parts. Took a deep breath and trusted the vehicle again. 2 weeks later the front CV boot failed on the freeway (risked my life again)! Kia headquarters would not buy it back. Kia dealership said "no thank you." They wouldnt even accept it as a trade- in. We ended up taking a huge loss on it as a trade-in with a different car company. Buyer beware. Id like to hear from other folks after they have put 20,000+ miles on theirs. Ill never buy another Kia product again.

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  Should have got a honda - 2004 Kia Optima
  By frankl1955 - February 5 - 2:10 am

  Well its been almost 5 yrs and only 34k mi. For the most part the car has been ok, but there is a troubling problem with rust. If you live in a salt state like Ohio, do not buy this car. The 2004 and earlier optima has a bad under body rust problem which includes the sub frame. Things like metal brake disc shields have already rusted off and most hardware like hose clamps and other hardware in the rear are about gone. None of this is covered under their warranty. The drive train may last 10 years, but much of the underneath won’t be there.

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  Do not Waste your Time or Money - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By djruss84 - February 1 - 4:04 am

  I purchased my Sorento SX in november of 2010. About a month after my purchase the engine decided to blow up the day before christmas eve!!! The engine let out a loud screechy grinding sound then the car stoped dead in the middle of a busy intersection. I was without my car through the holidays then it took Kia over a Month to get the engine to the dealership. Also the paint on these are Rice paper thin and just a simple pebble with chip the paint to bear metal and it will rust within a few days if you do not inspect it daily. I would stay away from any KIA and spend a little more for a brand with a better record of quality.

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  SO Disappointed - 2008 Kia Rondo
  By drivingmom2 - February 1 - 2:21 am

  We bought our Rondo new in 2008. At the time it was exactly the car we were looking for, as it had the third row stow-and-go seats. We had reasonable performance from it for the first five years, although it did have a few factory recalls in that time. HOWEVER, two months after the five-year warranty expired, the engine failed. Despite the fact that I had followed the warranty maintenance schedule, KIA Canada would do nothing to assist us with this matter and we ended up having to have a second-hand motor installed. Apparently KIA create disposable cars and are not prepared to back their products. Like a previous poster, I too am a bit embarrassed about having recommended KIA to friends.

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  kia------>>> killed in action.. - 2010 Kia Soul
  By jeepers20 - January 31 - 1:30 am

  bought a used 2010 kia soul, had major engine troubles. high revving jerking.. had back to the dealership ,changed tsc units, still had trouble.. called kias consumer affairs ..may i say ,the worst consumer affairs out there!1 eight phone calls to them, never returned one terrible!!..

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  kia good start out car - 2000 Kia Spectra
  By drew - January 29 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle looks like fun but after trying it out as a second car it left a lot to be desired. It would be great for someone starting out but for me I bought it on a whim while moving and it has served its purpose but Move on after the warranty is gone. The resale value doesnt hold. If you like to be low on the road, this is for you!!

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  I should have known better. - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By deacontull - January 26 - 1:07 pm

  At 1K miles this thing rattles/squeaks/pops more than a 15 year old Dodge caravan. Highway MPG is awful (24 if Im lucky). After the first washing, I noticed crud in the paint. No mechanical problems yet, but Im not encouraged. I deliberately waited a year or so for them to get the bugs out before buying, but clearly that doesnt cure cheap. I let the allure of long warranty, looks, and the array of features on the "convenience package" suck me in and blind me to the lack of quality. My bad. Do yourself a favor and ignore the sparkle. Pay a few extra bucks on a quality vehicle like Toyota or Subaru. This vehicle is no bargain.

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  BEWARE!!! This is a tempting trap! - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By jenn223 - January 9 - 10:00 am

  We have had nothing but PROBLEMS with our Kia Sorento! We bought brand new. At 3000 miles the trans. froze on an offramp, we had it towed but they "could not duplicate the problem and did nothing". At 12000 miles, the transmission went out on me. The dealership did not want to pay for rental while they fixed, I contacted BBB and they did. They replaced transmission. They also fixed the back armrest that broke after a WEEK of owning. I spoke with a car insurance agent she said she had a Sorento too and the first week she had it her fuel pump went out, then her suspension! She got a lawyer because they didnt want to fix it, now her trans. is going out too. My suggestion, pass this by!