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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  front edn problem with 2011 Kia - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Williams - August 19 - 4:00 am

  We bought a 2011 new Kia Sorento 1 month ago. From the start the the steering pulled to the right. I took the car back to the dealer twice. the problem was not fixed. Yesterday ,I got a call for the service manager that there is a problem with the v6 2011 Sorento and it is with the spring coils in the front end. Apparently this has been a problem because the spring coil parts are on back order. I guess a lot of poeple are having this issue with their Sorento. I am very disappointed with Kia. This is a brand new car and already Im having issues with the car. The car has not been fun to drive because of this uncomfortable hold I have to use while steering the car.

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  looking for something else - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By angryKowner - August 12 - 7:16 pm

  At first I loved it, despite the fact that at the dealer when I had to take it back for a missing cup holder and a wash that didnt happen. It was dry wiped but once I got home and decided to wash it myself I saw why, they had ran into something, a dent and some scratches with yellow paint was on it. But I let it go, it had been christened. Not even 2 years old yet and has been towed twice during this winter weather. First they said it was frozen and or flooded. Second time they did a fuel induction ($171.00 out of pocket) thinking that was the cause of it not wanting to start...not. The next time it didnt start I used a blanket to cover the engine over night, it started! Silly but true.

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  2012 Kia Sorento - 2012 Kia Sorento
  By sdrayton - August 11 - 1:51 pm

  This is my 2nd Sorento. My first one (2011) made a grinding noise when breaking. After confirming it was not the ABS brakes and multiple attempts by the dealership and Kia to repair the car Kia agreed to replace it (with a reasonable charge for the mileage). The 2012 Sorento I purchased as a replacement started making the same noise after approximately 2 weeks. Kia has now says it is a common characteristic of Sorentos but it will not affect the safety or value of my car. Want to buy a 2012 Sorento with less than 10,000 miles that intermittently makes a grinding noise when you stop?

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  Overall - Good - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By able - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Plus - finish and fit, quality of materials used and engineering design elements (drain plugs in transmission pan and differential unlike american vehicles) Minus - unlit cruise controls, no radio volume on the steering wheel (whats up with that???) and last but not least abismal gas mileage!!!

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  Big mistake - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By dswanson1 - August 4 - 1:40 pm

  This was the worst vehicle choice ever!! We had it for 3 months and the radiator blew. Then all the window switches stopped working and the AC would not hold its charge. The transmission started going out when we hit 110,000 miles and when we traded it in, we only got $1500 for it. Thought that would be the last time I got a KIA that was build prior to 2005, but my wife tricked me and bought a 2003 Kia Spectra. We have had nothing but issues with that one also.

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  Automatic Door Issues - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By maememories24 - August 2 - 4:32 pm

  We bought the van used in Dec 2010 with 25K on it. Two days after we drove it home it was back in the shop for issues with the hatch not closing, come to find out there was a recall on it. Two weeks later it was back at the dealer for issues with the sliding doors not closing and jamming up. We have now had the vehicle 8 months and from May - August it has been at the dealer WEEKLY for the same door issues. They can not seem to fix it and when they say they do you no sooner get home and the doors do the same thing. The passenger side door has actually opened up while in drive! Be very cautious when purchasing this vehicle. I will go back to my trusty Honda, I gave Kia a try and they failed.

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  A Dent & Scratch Magnet - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By bizymom - July 25 - 2:46 am

  Very disappointing! The gas mileage is 10 to 11 on avg. Only the few long distance trips where we run in to zero traffic do we see an increase in MPG and then its dramatic. Like 15 MPG. My purse scratches the paint. Everything scratches the extremely thin paint. The plastic trashcan put a dent in the body. All 4 doors have small dents due to other car doors touching them. They seem to be rounded in a way or at a height that most other cars seem to hit when parked next to it. back windshield burst the 1st time the rear defroster used which was within the 1st 4 mos of ownership. Kia Corp or the dealership would NOT cover it! Paid WAY too much for this inferior vehicle.

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  na - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By gainery - July 22 - 10:00 am

  could get better gas millage and the take a very long time for the window to defrost or clear enough so you can see no heat for the exterri mirror and some time the eigen light come on and wont go off the car only has 17700 miles bought it new in 2001 i really dont think a car like this such have that many problem

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  Lousy fuel economy... - 2012 Kia Soul
  By dwilson - July 19 - 10:11 am

  I waited for the 2012 due to its supposed improved fuel economy. I had a Honda element AWD which averaged about 25mpg. Much bigger and heavier than the soul. I am averaging about 27 or 28 with this little car... Same type of driving. I figured to save about $700 a year on gas... Actually maybe $150.... I wish I had kept the Honda....

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  Frustrating beautiful car - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Tai - July 17 - 6:50 am

  I bought this vehicle brand new! 2 months ago and I was in the dealership service shop within a week or so. KIA customer service has not helped much. I have been in and out of the shop 3 times with the same problem. One time the car was there for 3 weeks waiting for "Techs" who admitted that they dont know whats wrong with the vehicle. I called KIA and they told me there was nothing they could do but "make sure the dealership would commit all their resources to fixing it" which they have failed to do 2 times already. good luck if you get it.