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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  Surprisingly impressed! - 2006 Kia Rio
  By Doug Madaga - November 21 - 1:10 pm

  First look at the Rio and I thought "not bad". Sat in the car and said, "not bad". Went for a test ride and said, "WOW"! Quite an impressive ride for a small economy class. Good looks, good price, superb handling and great gas mileage. With the solid warranty the car is virtually maintenance free for many years. Indeed I was surprisingly impressed!

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  Great Deal for the Money! - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Tara - November 20 - 4:10 pm

  Ive had my Kia for a year and I absolutely love it! I had to take it in for a recall for the passenger airbag sensor and also for a broken clip on the seatbelt and in the overhead console. Outside of these minor issues, I have nothing negative to report. The car provides an excellent ride and is comparable to other SUVs in regards to gas consumption. I only have to fill up once a month under local driving conditions. Auto reviews that I have read provide a really accurate description in all aspects. The only negative that I have found, which is exactly what has been reported in reviews I have read, is that you definitely feel the potholes and bumps that you hit. Great deal for the money!

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  Best SUV for the money - 2017 Kia Sorento
  By Carlover - November 20 - 11:22 am

  Leased this SUV for 3 years this past week. I choose the snow white pearl with merlot leather interior. I traded 2 other vehicles in for this one as my wife and I didnt need 2 since we are retired. I have leased over 20 vehicles in the past 20 years including BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Lexus. The Sorento is one of the best vehicles I have ever leased. I have the SX with Advanced Technology package which includes Lane Departure Warning, Advanced smart cruise control, Forward Collision Warning Autonomous Emergency Warning and Electronic Parking Brake. I added remote start and Home link rear view mirror. The build quality is exceptional, doors close with a solid thud like the German cars, and interior quality is as good or better than Lexus RX350. Interior noise levels are exceptionally low with no tire hiss being heard in the rain which makes listening to the very good 10 speaker Infinity sound system even better. Heated and ventilated front seats are great along with the heated steering wheel. The 3rd row isnt that roomy but I will probably not use it that much but cargo room behind the second row is very good. If you will use the 3rd row often this may not be your best choice. Reliability isnt known yet since I only have 650 miles on the SUV. I hope this helps anyone looking to purchase an suv.

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  Love my optima - 2012 Kia Optima
  By Patricia - November 19 - 9:21 pm

  I bought the car 2012, new. Drives nice, good mpg, a little noisy, trouble shutting trunk. Drivers seat starting to feel springs 4 yrs out. Maintenance, knowing your manual is key to keeping engine &transmission in good shape. 74000 miles to date..no repairs, just maintenance.

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  I Lied - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By Mike n Barb - November 19 - 10:00 am

  After owning Kia Sportage & finding out the depreciation I said "I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA". 3 yrs old, 60K miles and worth only $3.5K to $4K on trade at 6 dealers. I found this out after falling for the SEDONA. Tax, tag, title, out the door for $14,500 & my 1999 Sportage. May have done better with more time (had to leave for daughters wedding in 1 hr). 1,800 miles since purchase 11 days ago. We Love It. Highway 75-85mph 19.75mpg and climbing. 1st tank 16.3mpg.

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  A Solid Bullseye... - 2012 Kia Optima
  By kitchendzyn - November 19 - 3:41 am

  This car far exceeded my expectations. I traded in my 09 Audi A4 for this car and have zero buyers remorse. It handles better on turns, takes the bumps better and accelerates as well or better than the Audi. But the most noticeable difference is the controls function easily without digging thru menus. I have owned 3 Lexus and 1 Audi before this car and if you looking for style, function and fun to drive, this Optima SX handily beats them. Koreans are a proud people and are over achievers. They have designed and built a very good automobile. Some of my friends would never buy a Kia, not enough of a status symbol for them. They dont know what they are missing.

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  It is cool, not expensive and.....it is a hybrid!!!!!!!! - 2011 Kia Optima
  By luisguido - November 18 - 2:40 pm

  I am a Hybrid guy (previously owned a Prius, then a Camry, the a Fusion and finally an Insight (I average 28000 miles per year). I bought my Optima Hybrid three weeks ago and I already drove 2,765 miles. Guys with this car you can have all of the above: the Camry comfort, the Fusion solidity, the Insight low price, and if you drive your Optima Hybrid by placing an egg between you foot and the accelerator, you can get 32/38/43 miles per gallon - trust me, I get that all the time.

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  Killed one, going on another! - 2006 Kia Rio
  By adoom - November 15 - 7:37 pm

  I had a used 2006 Rio5 for a short bit before getting t-boned in a winter storm. The offender was a dodge caravan making an illegal left turn. The Rio took the hit well, with little damage to me...but the car was a write-off. After much searching for a new car, I ended up buying the exact same model. The Rio5 is great on gas, the 5sp is peppy enough to be fun. The spare tire cover is crap, I recommend buying a piece of plywood to cover it. The balljoints in the 3 kia rio5s that I have driven have all needed replacing.

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  I love my new Kia - 2009 Kia Optima
  By lweems - November 15 - 1:10 pm

  I purchased my new Kia in August and even as a former Toyota Camry Driver, I absolutely love it! The price was right and I am constantly turning heads in my new black Kia. I feel like I have one up on the Camry and Honda drivers. The drive is nice, the car is roomy, great on mileage and highly rated for safety. This was the best purchase I could have made.

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  shes real pretty - 2004 Kia Optima
  By jo beadling - November 15 - 10:00 am

  i needed something that got good gas mileage.i now get 425 miles on a tank.thats mostly back roads and some highway.