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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  Been a great little car - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By libertyswanson - April 14 - 7:45 pm

  I bought my 2002 Kia Spectra in 2006 with 60k miles on it. It now has over 220k. Most of the work as been regular maintenance. I just put in a new head gasket and my clutch is starting to pop. It has been great in the snow (I drive a 100 miles a day in Colorado). And has always started. Ive replaced the alternator (no big deal), scheduled timing belts, and front wheel bearings. The back struts are gone and there are a lot of rattles developing. The arm rest is very uncomfortable and my wife hates the seats. But it has been very very dependable. Gas mileage right now is about 35 to 38 mpg. Im moving up in car class, but have daughter turning 16 and it will be a good first car for her.

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  Safety Warning! - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Endangered Consumer - April 10 - 10:00 am

  I have a safety warning for petite people or anyone who loves a petite person. The 2004 Kia Spectra has an airbag sensor for the front passenger seat that has a lower weight sensitivity limit of 125 pounds, which means the airbag may not engage during an accident if anyone who weighs under 125 pounds is sitting in that seat. Unfortunately, the local Kia dealership didn’t forewarn me of this situation before I bought the car, and a Kia company consumer affairs representative stated that “there is nothing we can do to ‘fix’ the condition.” So, buyer beware!

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  Kia Rio - 2007 Kia Rio
  By David - April 8 - 5:03 am

  Could have used better suspension.

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  good little car - 2003 Kia Rio
  By altimax9091 - March 31 - 2:38 am

  i replaced the timing belt and water pump at 60k ...a lot of people dont know ...right now has 92k ..its been reliable ..really good in gas since its standar ..power windows terrible ..don`t work ..but i don`t care as long the a/c, heater works ..very cheap to fix , parts etc ..and looks easy , my friend has a rio that has 140k and still running strong

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  Same Problems - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By Kevin - March 11 - 3:13 pm

  Same old things happening to me as well. Rear window on right will not open. Motor replaced 3 times. New Rear end, Gearbox, clutch replaced 3 times. First when Gearbox went. Driveshaft dropped out while driving. 4X4 does not work. I repalced with standard hubs. ($1600.0o to try to fix orgional) Molding clips let go. Painr bubbling over winshield. Plugs and wires replaced before they should have been. Cup holder both front and back pice of junk.Gas tank neck clogged and now it burps out gas if you try to fill normally.Rear coil spring on passenger side repalced twice.Engine light stays on regardless.Heater motor and switches replaced.Rear sparetire bracket replaced. More o So much fun right...

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  My Lemon - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By SheilaMarie - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I have put more milage on this vehicle taking it back and forth twice a month to have it repaired, than for any other reason. The dealership, is wonderful -- they are a great bunch of people and I would buy another vehicle from them as long as it wasnt ever another Kia. This is a Lemon. It is a piece of junk and I have evoked the lemon law on it and am just waiting on a reply from my attorney and the manufacturer.

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  Beware of faulty brakes - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By Unhappy Kia owner - March 2 - 1:13 pm

  Within a few months of buying our Sedona we began having brake problems. The brakes would grind when stopping. We took it to be repaired and they fixed it at no charge. The same problem happened again within a short time and the brakes had to be replaced for a second time. We read on the internet that the brakes were too small for the weight of the vehicle. This was a design flaw. A third time we had to take the van in for brake repairs and this time the dealership told us that they had a brake kit that would permanently fix the problem. They put in the new brakes but since the van had 50,000 miles on it they made us pay over $400.00 to finally fix the problem. We are furious about this!!

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  The Kia Rio SX is not what you want - 2012 Kia Rio
  By sumafluma - February 21 - 12:19 pm

  I bought the Kia Rio SX automatic thinking it would be something that would save me a lot of money, however, its been nothing but a disappointment. The mileage is terrible. I live in a rural area, nice long windy roads, no stops, no traffic. Using its "city" mileage reference, I get 24-26 in the city, on the highway I average a solid 29. Im an old guy and I drive with a light foot. So far this car has over 20k on it and the gas mileage has not improved. You can see where kia tried to make it fuel efficent by limited weight, but it equates to cheap materials: cheap plastic, chinsy seating material that rips. Dont buy this car. It has been my biggest regret. Get a Fit.

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  Good car bad rebates - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By kylet2011 - February 15 - 5:12 pm

  I have had my sportage about 3 weeks with no complaints about the car. Beware of your finance person and the fine print of your rebates. I am in a situation where the finance guy said I was ok with a rebate, and I drove off the lot, only to get a call a week later saying that I didnt qualify for the rebate. The finance guy was a real jerk about it, to the point that I refused to talk to him and would only talk to the sales mgr! Jack Miller Kia in North Kansas City, MO.

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  Get your motor runnin (if you can) - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By eatjustone - January 31 - 11:13 pm

  If its to good to be true than it is! 4,000 miles on the Kia and its had 2 recalls and now the check engine light is on. I have waited 8 weeks for a call to tell me my warranty recall parts are in. I know Korea is a long ways from here but I assumed they would mail the parts, not deliver them with a bicycle! Be warned, a pretty package and cheap price dont make up for the headaches you may encounter.