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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  2004 Kia Optima V6 - 2005 Kia Optima
  By Lynda Schwartz - April 9 - 1:36 pm

  This car is easy to handle, responds quickly and has excellent heat, air and defrost systems.

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  Great Used 2003 Optima - 2003 Kia Optima
  By Ace Shot - April 9 - 8:36 am

  Bought this car with 26,000 miles and 11 months left on the factory 5 year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty! It had only minor issues (power window switch and power locks) and the dealer made the repairs for free, under warranty. Fun to drive it with its "sportmatic" transmission. I like putting it in manual shift mode from time to time to pass slower cars, or to perform better on hills. I used to think it was a gas guzzler, until I changed my driving habits: If I dont stomp on the gas in the city, and on the highway I speed up slowly and drive 80 mph or less, I get very good gas mileage. Performs very well and looks very nice. I got a lot of bang for my buck with this car.

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  Dependable - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Ben Marcus - April 9 - 4:23 am

  Good car for the price. Very dependable, great warranty. Not the best gas mileage, but definitely for the price. Id have to say this is the best sedan under $15k that you can find. Handles well. 2 liter engine gives it a little pep and it handles nicely on the highway and just around town. Good interior and spacious back seat (as far as a backseat in a sedan goes). Im 63" and there is plenty of head and leg room in the front seat. Revs up a little much when switching gears, especially when going fast.

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  Best MPV - 2007 Kia Rondo
  By dodgekia - April 6 - 4:41 pm

  I love my Rondo, it is small, at the same time spacious. We got it on March 2014 and we have loved it. If you like a car small for many people, get yourself a Rondo. We got the V6 and the power is incredible. For just our LXV6 we have a lot of safety features, as convenience and comfort. Our only problem is the uncomfortable third row seat for an adult, if you are using the third row for children, it is going to work well. There is a very small cargo space when using the third row seats, but there is a lot of storage spaces around the car.

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  Forte in PA... - 2011 Kia Forte
  By nepaforte - April 5 - 2:23 pm

  Bought a 2010 Forte Koup SX on a great deal. Brand new on the lot with the two features I wanted (Moonroof and auto-dim mirror) for $16,500! Driving on Northeastern PA roads does put this car at a disadvantage: Between too stiff of a ride and 45 profile tires, you REALLY feel everything. Also had the misfortune of busting two tires within a month on the areas wonderful roads... That aside, it handles like a dream, has fun acceleration, is one of the best looking sub-20k cars on the road, and the accelerator pedal can be tweaked to feel better through this guide: http://www.forteforums.com/forums/do-yourself-articles/1342-best-throttle-mod-ever-2.html#post16307

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  Help Is On The Way - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Scooter - April 4 - 2:00 am

  After researching the SUV market my wife and I slected the Sorrento 4WD EX. At first we were very pleased until about 1 week later. Our Sorrento has been towed to the Dealer 5 times within 65 day period for the same problem. It was disapointing that the problem could not be solved until recently. Given the facts KIA did come through and is looking to replace our Sorrento with a new one. If you ever have to used KIAs Roadside assistance youll be pleased. We got to know them very well and found they were most helpful in our time of need. Even after all of the problems we expirenced we are anxious to get into another Sorrento!

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  2013 Kia Sportage - 2013 Kia Sportage
  By luv2golfnski - April 2 - 9:09 am

  Great little SUV. Fun and easy to drive and at a price that is very easy on the pocket book. Love the color selection, we picked "SeaHawk Blue" and couldnt be happier

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  I am alive - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By Charles_wr - March 30 - 10:00 am

  On May 1, 2003 I lost control of my car (my fault) traveled 30 feet off the road through a barbed wire fence, two tree and slammed into a utility pole head on at 70 mph and came to rest 150 on the other side of the pole. Three hours after the wreck I was at home resting with only a scratch on my elbow. Amazingly, NOTHING on the inside of the car moved from the impact. This car did save my life.

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  Great Value and great fun! - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By FN - March 30 - 10:00 am

  I own a LX470 and its a great car to use. I purchase a Sorento EX diesel as a utility vehicle and now ended up using it more than my LX470. The Sorento is such a fun vehicle to drive with good finishing, thoughtful instrumentation and a quiet and comfortable ride. Being a diesel version, I have no problem with fuel consumption (average of 32 miles per gallon). The commmon rail diesel egine also provides a surprising strong punch which is not much of a difference from that of the 3.5 L V6 engine. (i.e at least 90%). Great value and great fun to use.

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  Economically Great - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By Kelly Hall - March 29 - 6:53 pm

  This minivan has all the features you need with several cupholders, compartments, and evan a locked compartment under the passenger seat.