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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  05 Sorento - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Jim T - December 24 - 3:06 am

  Overall, I give it a B-. Lets face it, its no Lexus. That being said, my criticism is this. I am 6 foot tall and 195 lbs. The emergency brake handle is a nuisance, being constantly buried in my right leg. Also, the intermittent wiper switch is noisy and the wiper on the upstroke stops dead center of drivers vision. Paint finish also a little suspect, easily chips. Gas mileage average, 16.5 mpg combined. Nothing has gone wrong mechanically to date, no complaints.

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  My second worst car - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By Joe - December 21 - 9:53 am

  I bought the car new for $11000. The first thing that went wrong was the passenger side air scoop liner fell out on the road somewhere, Then the radio quit working. The warranty is practically useless unless you follow directions explicitly. Replaced the engine with a used one at 63,000. O2 sensors replaced three times, throttle body sensor went bad,ignition coils replaced twice. Shifter skirt fell down. Rear brakes hang up. Check engine light comes on unexpectedly, then goes out. Have spent $4300 in repairs in the past three years. Gas mileage 25 mpg winter, 31 summer, doesnt compare with my old 91 Mercury Tracer of 36 mpg. Conclusion: I will not buy another Kia.

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  Thats Normal for this Car - 2013 Kia Soul
  By sadjudy - December 19 - 5:35 pm

  Just got this car 2wks ago. During a rain storm I noticed condensation in front headlight. When the sun came out it cleared up. In order for it to be fixed, Kia has to examine it and they will not except the photo I took. Posted this and pic on Kia Soul Facebook. Had several responses, they have the same problem and Kia told them this is normal for that car. My 1st car hesitated at lights and turns. again several Soul owners said Normal for this car. I was proud to be a Soul owner, but not now. This is a small problem, and if my car was a couple years old it wouldnt bother me, but again this is a new car. And Kia wont do anything to satisfy a customer. This is my 2nd Soul & last 1.

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  Well, it wasnt expensive - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Bexley - December 9 - 9:06 am

  For an inexpensive car, the reliability has been outstanding, but over time the "little" things have crept up. Seat(s) have become rather uncomfortable, wind noise is more pronounced, and now a disconcerting noise is coming from the front end, as if a strut is loose ore something. Also, little bits of trim have fallen off, but mechanically, only the brakes have been replaced, at 55,000 mi. I might keep it longer if it werent becoming so unpleasant to sit in for more than 1/2 hour or so.

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  Some disappointments - 2014 Kia Cadenza
  By consumer64 - November 14 - 1:29 am

  The car is unsatisfactory 1) as it does not give the estimated mileage that was advertised on the window sticker and 2) the engine does not have sufficient pickup. 3) The navigation on the car has been giving erroneous directions over the last several months.I took the car to Braman Kia for service. The service advisor is not knowledgeable nor competent. I had taken the car to resolve this problem and for a maintenance (oil change). I asked him if he could take care of both while I went to lunch and come back a few hours later. After I did, neither had been done on the car. The Kia service person did not know how to solve the navigation problem even after I explained how to.

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  Another KIA with poor MPG... - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By padriver1979 - October 23 - 9:17 pm

  My wife and I purchased a Spicy Red 2011 Kia Sorento LX AWD in March 2010. The vehicle has 16,000 miles on it and we have yet to see over 20 mpg on a full tank of gas 50 city/50% highway. The original sticker said 21-28. The EPA changed the ratings for the 2012 and 2013 Sorentos I believe but not the 2011 models. Why? I contacted my local dealership and they said that the AWD 4 cyl should not even be sold in two cities--SF and Pgh due to the amount of hills. I would hate to see what the V6 gets if a 4 cyl is getting 20 in mixed driving conditions. In 2012 we leased a 2013 Optima LX thinking that perhaps Kias MPG on sedans would be better. False--19/20mpg. Buyer beware of Kia!

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  rental - 2009 Kia Rondo
  By majajh - September 30 - 8:13 am

  Good little car I rented. Only problem is wind noise, and struggles in mountainous areas.

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  Turning sour on a lemon - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By cm in boston - September 18 - 11:13 am

  We loved this SUV at first; great in the snow, nice interior and good price for features. However, now in its third year, it is falling apart. The transmission plug fell out, requiring a new transmission. Kia paid however we had to pay for the rental. Then one of the belt pulleys broke off requiring a new "lower engine block" This second repair took two weeks. Kia covered rental for this repair, but nothing for the inconvenience. Still like the vehicle, but I probably made a mistake buying it the first year out.

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  Issues to watch out for; - 2013 Kia Optima
  By mabstoa - September 15 - 12:46 pm

  Very good looking car but after 1200 miles I am now on my 6th tank of gas, mpg is about 13-15 in the city and 18-20 on the road. Dealer says wait until after 3500 miles for an improvement. Huge blind spots by rear quarters and both windshield pilars by the sideview mirrors, careful on turns with people crossing!! Wonders/drifts all over the road and constantly correcting for it, makes for a tiring drive. Kia knows about this but... Can not get comfortable in the seats. Very disappointed and lost a day from work due to a flat tire with no spare. Make sure you get the tire insurance policy, you need it. Very hard ride, not a road trip car!! Recommend renting one before you buy it!!!

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  Used To LOVE My 2012 Optima - Now I HATE It! - 2012 Kia Optima
  By imac7 - September 11 - 7:41 pm

  2012 Optima looks great; however, on the first day after I bought it, I was driving on freeway (regular freeway speed) and I noticed intermittent wind noise coming in by the top of driver door. I hope it was something that could be fixed. Three dealer appointments (time wasted) one which was arranged by Kia Corporate their bottom line was "normal noise." I owned a Sentra, Accord, Maxima, Camry, and a Pathfinder (which am not counting) and NONE of the cars had this issue. Also, my MPG average is about 22 (Last tank - no change in driving conditions - I got 19+)... MPG was a major factor when I decided to buy this car.