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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  Is any one there? - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By jsosa - February 4 - 9:36 pm

  My new experiance with Kia left me happy. I enjoy the power to pass when and who I want. Yet the fuel milage could be better. (20 mile per/gallon tops, on a good day). The room is adequate for my family of six. I had only one problem with my Kia in 8,700 miles. The rear heater stopped working shortly after I purchased my family van. And the dealer is so far away, it is a real experience taking it in (45 minutes away) for repair. Not only is it far, but with four kids it really makes it a miserable task.

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  Buy It - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Ed Katz - February 3 - 8:56 am

  Best price performance of the bunch. We are so happy, and saved $8,000 over competing models. Reliability is excellent. Sorry we did not buy the 4WD.

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  Great Basic Transportation - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By jbtolla - February 2 - 7:06 pm

  I purchased mine in May 04 as a new leftover from 2002, therefore, I stole it from the dealer. For the $10K I paid, I feel I got more than much more than I paid for. My nephew is over 6 tall and always complains about his legs cramping in the back of my Mustang convertible (hour ride), but I drove from New Haven, CT to Williamsburg, VA with him in the back, and not one complaint. I have made a couple trips to VA and several trips back and forth from New Haven to Yankee stadium and my passengers never complain. Since I am used to driving sporty cars, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it handles for a little truck.

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  Ya gotta have one of these! - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Mike from Moline, IL - February 2 - 11:40 am

  Purchased a new 2004 Sorento EX/4WD with luxury package, ABS & rear spoiler. Researched & test drove everything from a Hyundai Tucson to a Lincoln Navigator. No other SUV offers so much quality, options, warranty & pure fun! The ride is solid but comfortable and the fit/finish is great. Its a real head-turner. The absolute best bang-for-the-buck in the mid-size SUV class. Gas mileage is acceptable (I am averaging about 17 MPG in town but to get that you need to keep your foot out of it). This is one GREAT vehicle. Ya gotta have one of these!

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  2003 Sedona - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Rick S. - February 2 - 6:06 am

  I found the Sedona very comfortable to drive. I liked the overall styling of it, but I wish it would have had a bigger trunk area for luggage or groceries.The gas mileage could be better, over 20 mpg would be nice. The Sedona handled very well on dry or wet roads and we havent had any problems with it other than normal maintenance. The safety rating was a big factor in our decision to buy it and I would buy another.

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  Car from Hell - 2001 Kia Optima
  By Magentis - January 31 - 2:00 am

  The Optima is the U.S. name, it is called the Magentis in Canada. At 55,000 km the dealership has replaced all four brakes and the transmission. The new transmission is acting up just as the old one did.Door locks have been replaced.Windshield wipers have rusted. The life of the headlight bulbs is six months.The fuel guage was replaced after two months of driving.It takes 3 months to get parts at some dealerships.Ive been to three dealerships because the first two closed.

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  4X4 never works - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Tom991 - January 31 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 4X4 EX so I would have 4 wheel drive when I needed it. The 4 times it snowed and I needed 4 wheel drive I had none. 1st time the dealers service department said no problems found, 2d time they fixed a vacumn line to the 4 wheel drive but my fuel ecomony dropped from 22 MPG to 17 MPG, Obviously they did something wrong. 3rd time (two weeks out of the shop, it snowed again, the 4 wheel drive didnt work. Its in the shop awaiting parts again. Im wondering, is it the KIA or the service department? Had four wheel allignment done there came out with same pulling to the left problems when it went in.

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  Sorento is a beauty - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By kieibr - January 31 - 2:00 am

  This car/truck is FABULOUS! The appointments that are standard are superb. The performance of the engine is fantastic. I have read other reviews that say the power is inadequate. I hvent experienced that problem at all. I power braked from a dead stop and ran a test from 0 to 100 miles an hour to 0 to see if it had any pep. I also had it up to 110 miles an hour and it handled like a sports car with hardly any roughness or vibration at all. I dont usually drive like this at all, but I figured id give it the once over. I have previously been loyal to Toyota (a great vehicle manufacturer too)but so far my impression with this vehicle has been positive.

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  Happy New Owner - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By lilac0422 - January 31 - 2:00 am

  I have been researching to buy a new vehicle since November 2002. I saw the Sorento and fell in love. A test drive only confirmed how great this vehicle is. My dealer was great and I got a pretty good deal on my Black EX with Lux Package, ABS, Spoiler, Load Leveling, and Cargo Tray. Unlike other SUVs that I looked at, I feel like I got a lot of goodies for my money with the Sorento.

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  Key sticks in ignition - 2006 Kia Optima
  By Melissa Widener - January 30 - 12:40 am

  My Kia Optima purrs like a kitten and rides like a dream! Mechanically, it has served me well. It is an attractive car and I am a proud owner.