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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  KIA MY LEXUS - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By DEBRA ADEN - May 14 - 4:50 am

  This car has been a great joy to drive as well as so many features that are on the car. We looked at more expensive cars and couldnt find a reason why the Kia Sorrento should not be considered a tremendous value for the money.

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  amazing - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By Walter Harrington - May 12 - 7:57 am

  This is a very nice car. An exceptional value. I bought the base model, its all I could afford. For under $28,000 I think its a steal. I like the size, the ease of handling, the smooth ride, and pretty much everything about the car. The Sorento I bought is the base 2.4 liter 4. This engine is all you need unless you are planning to race it. If I could have afforded the higher payments I may have bought the V 6. This 2016 Sorento with the 2.4 engine will run circles around my 2014 Honda CR-V. And they both have a 2.4 liter 185 horse power engine. They both have a six speed automatic tranny. they both cost the same. The biggest difference to me is the highway. The Sorento accelerates effortlessly on the interstate. The Honda is much slower. The materials in the two cars are day and night difference. The CR-V, also a base model has base model interior. The Sorento has far nicer seat upholstery, the dash, doors, carpet and so on are much more attractive, and in fact to me do not look like base model interior. The Sorento rides smoother and over all is ore comfortable. To the Hondas credit I have had a few close calls with it, and the braking and emergency maneuvering to avoid hitting deer were very good. Over all for every day driving, trip, touring, and so on I would chose the Sorento Over the Honda. Gas mileage is the same on both Please dont get me wrong, I like the Honda, and have no plans on trading. What Im saying is that for the dollar I think the Sorento is a better value for your money. And the hundred thousand mile warranty is unbeatable .

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  Best Choice Ive made - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By Dennis - May 10 - 9:40 am

  Just got my Sorento Ex a few weeks ago and couldnt be happier. Had Remote start installed and is awesome getting in the car in the morning and the seat already warm. Had looked at a CR-V and am really glad I didnt get it. Got MUCH more for my money at lower price. Rides GREAT. Had 5in of snow and had to get out before streets were plowed to check the 4WD. Hugged the road as if on dry pavement My ONLY complaint is gas mileage, but have not done any highway driving as yet, so sure it will improve when I do. LOVE sitting up higher, Just have to remember to step down..lol!!! A real pleasure to drive.

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  DRIVER DOOR STOPPED WORKING IN A DARK PARKING LOT - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By TOM-JENNB - May 9 - 7:43 pm

  The SUV is awesome the driver door will work with the fab i have to crawl across the seats & console 8000 miles KIA Corp made would not give a rental and it is $45700.00 SXL V6 Napa Leather and Kia corp said how do we know until we look at it! they would not even send a roll back to pick up the vehicle i have spinal issues thats why my husband wanted me to have this SUV heated seats & cooled seats so i dont over heat because i have other health issues, then they offered $35.00 a day for 2 days rental we front the money. Kia does not care they showed that! We bought 3 new high end Kias in 2 1/2 weeks and they kick us in the face.

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  Asian styled interior/ European exterior - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By zhdf - May 9 - 2:00 am

  A beautiful car from an up and coming brand. definatly worth taking a closer look at for someone that likes a quiet, comfortable, and safe automobile. Its basically a nice riding box with the look of mercedes, Bentley, and jaguar slaped with the name KIA!

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  price is right - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By d-byers - May 9 - 2:00 am

  what can i say this car is by far more than i ever expected, i get stopped every day with someone wanting to look inside or commenting on the looks of it,

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  Spectra review - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Tracy Lewis - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I have been extremely pleased with the KIA vehicles... I purchased a Sedona Mini Van 8 months ago and LOVE it...I appreciate alot of the standards that come with the KIA vehicles (air conditioning, CD player, etc..) I just purchased the Spectra and love it... there is plenty of interior room for myself and my son (who sits in a car seat in the back)... its a very smooth ride on the highway... and much more pick-up than i expected. There is also alot of trunk space (which is surprising b/c the vehicle looks so small from the outside...)

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  LOVING MY NEW KIA SORENTO - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By SCORPIO07 - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Just got my Sorento 5 spd lx with the sport pkg on 02/19/2004. So far so good I love it.

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  Affordable, Fun and Roomy - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By SR46 - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Sorento (top of the line EX)for 6 months now. In all my personal driving test on real road and off road, the Sorento has come through excellent every time. True there are a few bumps in the road and not completly flawless as with a top of the line car. But then again it is a real truck with a cross ladder frame, as compared to the other truck on car frame wanna bes. Power is also there when you want or need it. I wouldnt trade this truck for anything in the same or even higher price range. I have driven the Lexus 300RX and found it to be a big disapointment for the hype and money.

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  love my sorento - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By busterman - May 9 - 2:00 am

  My wife has a soft top Kia Sportage. When I was ready to trade my Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited I went back to the salesmen I bought hers from. I had been looking at the Sorento and a couple other SUVs. Once Velton called me and said he had gotten one in I went by to test drive it. That was all it took. I fell in love with it and really have enjoyed driving it.