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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  6 month owner - 2003 Kia Optima
  By ChuckSH - September 5 - 2:00 am

  I went from a 2000 Integra 5 speed manual to my Kia LX V6 auto trans. The Integra was more fun to drive and I miss the gas mileage, but overall, I like the Kia better. The Kia rides better and is much roomier. It was also less expensive and comes equipped with a better waranty. The stereo sound quality between the two is about equal. Power equipment (windows/locks) seem to work better in the Kia. I just hope the car turns out to be as reliable as my Integra.

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  Great Car Very Poor Mileage - 2011 Kia Optima
  By ischreiber - September 4 - 7:21 pm

  I bought this car because I thought it was beautiful and still do. I t comes with great features for the money and is very distinctive. The one big problem I have is the mileage. I get about 17-19 in the city and about 26 on the highway. The estimate they advertise is 24 City 35 Highway. What is particularly disturbing is the response/lack of response from either the dealer or KIA customer service. The dealer did a fuel economy test on the car and came up with combined city/hwy of 22.5 mpg a far cry from the advertised mpg. I am totally frustrated with KIA. I previously owned an accord EXL and will probably go back to them next time I buy.

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  A nice car for a reasonable price. - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By LORI DEARSTONE - September 3 - 5:06 pm

  A very nice vehicle with a lot of features for a good price. It turns a lot of heads. Some have compared its looks to a Mercedes & Jaguar.

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  More Bang for the Bucks - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By Peg - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Looked at several other similar cars including Elantra and Focus but Spectra drove and felt better. The price was lower and the dealer was much better to deal with. KIA offers the best warranty and the car is well enough equiped that there are only a few options.

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  This vehicle has been great - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By jacobe - September 1 - 11:44 am

  Okay the problems that people have been stating are easily solved. The rattling in the trunk, its the jack in the back, simply put a towl back there with it, the back seat trim is just to cover the hinges on the seat. They are not that important, and the airbag sensor in the passenger seat is working the way it should be, you just have to sit in the seat the correct way. Now to the car its self. It has been great 70k and no troubles at all. I do have to say though the transmission does shift hard sometimes but its not that big of a deal. Great power from the engine, it does suck up the gas though. Overal it is an excelent reliable car to have.

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  New Kia - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By pam0927 - August 31 - 1:46 am

  I have only had my Kia Sorento 3 weeks. So far it was an excellent choice. the only issue I have with it is the pairing of my cell phone. I have a Samsung Omnia and it doesnt want to reconnect with bluetooth when i get back in the vehicle after leaving it.

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  30 Days of Ownership - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Bill G - August 30 - 2:33 am

  Mileage is not what is advertised and now wish I had gotten the 6 cylinder instead of the 4. My turn-signal lever started sticking and will not turn off when the wheel is straightened after the turn. Blue Tooth problems about which apparently KIA failed to tell the dealership. My Motorola Moto will not consistently work with the KIA blue tooth. Check the phone list before you discover this. There is a list which KIA can send you to show which phones do and do not work. The list is out of date and most phones on it are NLA. I hear sounds and I am not sure if it is my vehicle or what. I am getting nervous about what else is about happen

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  Could this be a GREAT minivan? - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By pgstein - August 28 - 10:00 am

  An interesting vehicle. Very heavy, and drives smoothly and comfortably as befits a heavy. Gas mileage suffers a bit as a result (a real 20). Drivetrain is outstandingly smooth and powerful - surprisingly so. 195 horses and a FIVE speed automatic contribute to that. ABS brakes feel a bit spongy but work fine. Handling is quite neutral, with pronounced torque steer only when accelerating hard. Interior is well laid out and comfortable and only a bit cramped for very big drivers. Its an enormous amount of van for the money.

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  A Great Value for the Money - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By Chief Ike - August 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car second hand in 2001. Since then, we have put nearly 50,000 miles on it, and driven it everywhere. Given that the price is so low compared with the CRV, Jeep Liberty, and other similar mini SUVs, I dont have any complaints. Honestly, we have driven across the country twice, and used the 4x4 on a daily basis during tough northern winters. If you treat your Kia well, it will treat you well in return. No joke, for the money, pound for pound, this is the best investment I have ever made in a car. I highly recommend it.

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  Unbeatable Value - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By garyb - August 25 - 10:00 am

  Features, warranty, and price got us to look at Sedona. Test drive, nice interior and exterior design, quality materials, and excellent build quality sealed the deal. Nothing else comes close when price is considered.