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:
Showing 1621 through 1630 of 7,338.00-
Great value - 2004 Kia Sedona
By markymark - January 15 - 10:00 amGreat looking & value for the money. We got the EX because of all the extras...and its not that much more. This one has everything you need. Got DVD, sunroof, ABS (a necessity), spoiler, leather seats as options. Never thought the spoiler would add so much, looks great. If you want a great minivan with value for the dollar...this is the one. Try to find something else with so many features, warranty and safety. It rides great, looks great and my family loves it. Very quiet, no rattles or shakes, excellent shifting transmission...very responsive. Engine is solid...there when you need it.
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Good deal - 2006 Kia Sedona
By Paul - January 14 - 6:56 pmIt was this or the Grand Caravan, I like the stow and go of the caravan but the 2006 Sedona had stow in go in the back and the seats folded down. The caravan also had many bad consumer reviews. I was amazed at the power and roominess. I got a great deal on it by playing 1 dealer against the other. Saved about $3,000 over the price of a caravan and about $9,000 less than new. It only had 15k miles. Sure beats buying new.
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Still new to me - 2016 Kia Rio
By Gini Maddocks - January 13 - 8:52 pm -
Excellent - 2005 Kia Rio
By Mary Felt - January 10 - 5:36 amThe Kia Rio is an awesome car! It is the second brand new Kia I have purchased, my first being a Kia Sephia. I would purchase Kia in the future.
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More for your money - 2005 Kia Amanti
By KB - January 10 - 4:43 amThis is a quality vehicle for a very reasonable price.
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This is not the old spectra - 2004 Kia Spectra
By Dottie Jackson - January 9 - 10:00 amWe I first talked to a salesmans about the spectra I didnt want one, because my son had a 2002 model and he really hated that car. Well when I saw this new Kia, it looked nothing like my son Kia. When I showed the Spectra to my son he was blown away by how good the Spectra now looks. I have been so happy with my Spectra, it drives great and it looks even better then it drives. Thank you Kia for making a great redesigned Spectra. Dottie Jackson
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#1 and the only #1 - 2005 Kia Spectra
By JJ Lucky Winner - January 9 - 10:00 amI have had this great car for 6 months now and I am very happy with it. Everything about this car is great. If you are looking for a peace of mind and the safest cars of its style, this is the one you really need to consider.
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Good Reliable Car - 2005 Kia Spectra
By Gaby - January 9 - 10:00 amI just bought the 2004.5 model and I really enjoy it. Its a great, fun car. Though a bit noisy when above 60 mph and specially while going up hills, the car is really the best in its class and definitely out performs the 2004 Honda Civic that my husband bought in March. If we had known about the Spectra before buying the Honda, we would both be driving Spectras. Its supposed to be more fuel efficient, but I dont find this to be the case. As a former 2000 Toyota Camry dirver, I used to get more gas mileage than I do now with the Spectra. The overall price, warranty, car design are PERFECT. I highly recommend this car and KIA to everyone. Go KIA SPECTRA!!!!
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Love It - 2004 Kia Sorento
By wilusmil4me - January 9 - 10:00 amawesome ride and an awesome price.
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kia sorento - 2005 Kia Sorento
By buddy450 - January 9 - 10:00 amlooked very hard at the lexus rx330, also a very nice vehicle, but the KIA is almost identical, about half the price, and the 100,000 mile warranty is hard to beat!
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Kia Amanti 395 Reviews
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Kia Borrego 61 Reviews
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Kia Cadenza 35 Reviews
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Kia Forte 295 Reviews
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Kia K900 4 Reviews
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Kia Optima 955 Reviews
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Kia Optima Hybrid 8 Reviews
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Kia Rio 539 Reviews
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Kia Rondo 177 Reviews
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Kia Sedona 1,046 Reviews
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Kia Seltos 1 Reviews
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Kia Sephia 124 Reviews
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Kia Sorento 1,822 Reviews
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Kia Soul EV 5 Reviews
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Kia Spectra 736 Reviews
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Kia Sportage 706 Reviews
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Kia Stinger 5 Reviews