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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  VERY HAPPY - 2003 Kia Optima
  By chiselstone - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I have had noting but fun since i have gotten it. The car purrs and hada a great sound when you punch it. I have a Blast driving it. Friends always want me to to let them drive it. For the Price I dont think any car compares. I got mine with every option.

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  Best I found - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By stevengood - November 30 - 2:00 am

  this is the best ride i have found in the suv market. the downside is supposed to be the resale value but witn 50k a year the dollar savings has proven to be worth it. a great ride, nice style and over 17 mpg all that for 25000 dollars and the 100,000 mile warranty doesnt hurt

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  Great Vehicle, Fun to Drive - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By jmb206 - November 29 - 11:06 am

  This is the second Sorento, that I have owned. I just traded a 2004 Sorento for the 2005 that I now drive. I have had no problems with either vehicle. The reliability of this vehicle is great. I love the interior or my Sorento, and all the features of this vehicle. I drove a Lincoln Town Car and a Lincoln LS before I got the Sorento; the ride and all will run hand and hand with the Lincolns . It drives as good as either of these vehicles and the ride is as good.

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  A Practical Way to Drive - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By william drury - November 28 - 11:23 pm

  This van does everything my wife and I want it to. It has convenient storage, plenty of space for the grand children, and is comfortable over the long haul. My wife and I drove to Oklahoma and the van never skipped a beat. We would recommend this van to anyone.

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  Big Rollin - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By L McPherson - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Overall the car is a winner, The style is excellent, the ride is very good, it has a big car feel, I wish the engine was a bit more powerful, however, that dosent take away from the performance I have enjoyed thus far. I have the optional leather package - the only way to go.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR!!! - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By 20042208 - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car (Navy) after a test drive, and reading all the wonderful reviews I read here. Was considering a Chrysler, since Ive owned one since the 80s. After the drive, the great warranty, and the look, couldnt pass it up! Very, very comfortable and solid feel. Have had soooo many people tell me what a great looking car it is. Many have asked, "what is that?" Im still finding out all the neat extras included, the car is just loaded! The gas mileage has only avgd. about 20 mph, but Ive only got 700 miles on it so far. Just hoping the service, and upkeep are as easy to take as the rest of the car. My husband drives a top of the line Lincoln, and I believe this beats it! :)

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  ok - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By spillerrs - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I traded a mercedes ml. no comparsion.kia much mor solid.

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  I so happy I bought a Kia - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Trena Anderson - November 28 - 4:06 am

  I wanted a Kia Sorento as soon as I saw it. So many people who had never owned a Kia made me skeptical saying," I dont know about that, why dont you get a Honda or Toyota?" But luckily for me I test drove the Kia Sorento for two days and fell in love with it. I have owned my kia for only about three weeks but I know I made the right choice. It had the looks and the right price, it was the whole package.

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  Wow what a little surprise - 2006 Kia Rio
  By Hauber - November 26 - 6:03 pm

  I have always been a Civic owner, but their size and cost priced me out. I needed a reliable and inexpensive little car to get me around town. In my inexpensive car search my expectations were low, but the Kia Rio took me by surprise. It is a well built, cute sporty car that reminds me of the Civics I used to own. It feels solid, it is comfortable and an easy ride. It is simple but seems far more expensive then the money I spent on it. Plus I feel like a bit of an environmentalist driving a little car that doesnt guzzle gas. It is a smooth ride for the most part and can keeps up with the rest of the traffic. A VERY wonderful car for an AWESOME price and warranty.

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  Greatest car on market! - 2011 Kia Optima
  By abc55 - November 25 - 3:28 pm

  What can I say? I love my Optima LX 6AT. It blows away any other Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chevy or Ford off the road. I looked and drove them all before buying. Looks slick while its doing it. Quality abounds from interior, exterior to engine performance and MPG economy. All the other car makers...watch out. This is going to catch on in a big way. Nobody can believe it is a KIA. Im getting 32-33 MPG on a twisty, turning, up and down road. Electronic stability control is the best.