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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  Great value - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Rebekah - December 2 - 2:00 am

  I love my new van! I can not believe all of the features I got for the price! Leather, power everything, and a sun roof....who said a mini-van is not cool! The only thing that really stinks is the gas milage. I had a Chrysler Town & Country before and I could drive forever, I get pittiful milage on this. But over all, two thumbs up!

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  I am coming back 5 years later to write this - 2011 Kia Forte
  By kinsey - November 29 - 3:38 am

  I absolutely adored this car. Bought it brand new off the lot, had one weird fluttering valve issue to start, that got fixed immediately and for free, and then I literally never had a single problem with this car since. It was reliable; I drove it 4 hours to and fro from college to visit home quite a few times, and I took this thing across the US in three days. Fantastic. I just totalled it (I am unhurt, thank you, KIA!) and am already on the hunt for my next Kia. I guess a lot of people complain about road noise? I didnt notice. Stereo could be a bit better and front seat a bit more comfy. I never did any of the 15,000/ 25,000 whatever mile maintenance either. They kept telling me the car was in such great shape I didnt need to and it looks like they were right.

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  Got My Moneys Worth! - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By prissy - November 29 - 2:00 am

  Bought this suv only for the fuel mileage. My job required traveling and I live on the road. This car has surpassed my expectations on fuel savings and other than changing the oil & routine servicing, it hasnt cost me one penny! When I purchased it, it had 22k miles & now Im just over 113k miles. This is a lightweight suv and I found it odd to be rear-wheel drive. It isnt a luxury vehicle but I didnt buy it thinking it was. Its been a great vehicle and has saved me lots in gas and was easy to own. Low auto insurance, maintenance and property taxes. Not a great ride for long trips but if gas consumption is your concern - look no further!

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  Great SUV! - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By BSeverson - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Kia used in 2007. I had never even driven a Kia before this one and was a little uneasy about buying one. Turns out its one of the best cars I have ever owned. Perfect size for the family(wife and two kids). With good storage in the back and a decent roof rack. Love that it has full size tires and not the barbie doll ones like on the Sportage. Okay the wife is out of the room now, let me tell you what I really think! This car is beast! I live in Colorado where it can snow pretty good and when you put this thing in 4x4 and mash the pedal it can take you places. Im talking 4 ft tall drifts sometimes 20 ft across and this KIA got me across them. I have proof the car can take a beating.

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  Wheres the five speed auto and navi? - 2010 Kia Soul
  By so_cali - November 27 - 8:23 pm

  Kia has come SO close, but how could they offer an ancient four speed auto - this vehicle crys out for another gear an no navigation, while they were able to include speakers that light up? The red Sport interior trim is garish as well. Other wise this is a great vehicle, but these are two glaring ommisions.

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  Let the record show, 2017 Sportage awesome: - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By AGC - November 27 - 7:25 am

  I had an 05 Cavalier (since 2004), wonderful little car... didnt put anything into it except gas (when empty); oil and filter (every 5,000 miles); replaced the battery in 2011 (up and died on me, it sat for most of the year as I was travelling the world); put new tires on it a couple years back (the originals were dry rotting on me) and blew through some windshield wipers over the years... when the speedometer quit working (@42,000 miles) I drove it another 27,000 using my GPS for speed and cruise control (never got a ticket). AFTER ABOUT 13 YEARS of driving low to the ground (by the seat of my pants) I decided a change was in order... I have been retired since 1998 and had nothing but free time to sit in and check out all the competition (like Goldilocks) most were: too big or too small or underpowered or gas guzzlers or had too many whistles and flashing lights or too nuanced... THE SPORTAGE fit me and my plans just right. I like driving the back roads and at 45 mph and get around 38 mpg in echo mode (on level ground... if its hilly not so much); observing about 24 mpg in and around town (but thats with echo off, riding normal mode)... I am headed to the blue ridge mountains and fully expect to be using sport mode and couldnt care less what the mileage will be for that because it will be fun (no white knuckle driving but there will be no Miss Daisy along for the ride). Plenty of room for me and my stuff (and then some). The Sportage looks great be it parked or on the move... oh you can tell it might be top heavy (knowing how gravity works) but if you drive it like you own it (responsibly) there should be no surprises. I am really impressed with the different modes (echo, normal and sport), there is a remarkable difference in horsepower on demand between echo and sport... they make normal seem obsolete... but everything has its place, I suppose.

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  LOVE MY KIA - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By Tori - November 26 - 10:26 pm

  We love this minivan! Weve owned it for nearly a year, and it is so pretty, so reliable, so perfect! We havent had a single problem, and it drives like a dream. I am so pleased we were able to afford all the extra features we wanted, like a sun roof and leather, without breaking the bank. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this vehicle!

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  love my "killer kia"! - 2007 Kia Optima
  By mel_p - November 25 - 7:36 pm

  I bought my optima (4 cyl, 5 sp. man.) about 2 years ago with 41 miles. It is now up to around 87k and still going strong. It had been wrecked before i bought it but I havent had a problem in the world! I love it! Most of my miles are highway and I average around 26 mpg mixed, but my husband has gotten as much as 31 out of it. Its got plenty of pep through 2nd gear, but you loose ground when you hit 3rd. About the last two months Ive been noticing a noise when I am stopped with the car in neutral and the clutch released, but it stops when I press the clutch (think its a throw out bearing). Fantastic car!

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  Our Amanti - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Betty Campbell - November 25 - 5:30 am

  Although we have only had our Kia Amanti a few months, we love it and are very happy we bought it. The steering is so "light" and easy ... so simple to drive. Feels like a "luxury" car to me, but very affordable. The trunk is huge; very important to me. The interior is roomy, back seat comfy, and very attractive interior. Other reviews say its slow on take off -- well, I find I must watch my take offs as it seems to really GO! Very easy to glide along on the highway and loose track of your speed. We think its a beautiful car and so far, no regrets.

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  Solid little car - 2010 Kia Soul
  By JavaSoul - November 24 - 5:16 pm

  I like the Soul because it has the positive qualities of a small and larger vehicle. It has the fuel economy of small car but he interior space of a small SUV. It is fairly sporty like a smaller car but has enough ground clearance to not bottom out in all the snow we have received recently.