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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  AWESOM CAR - 2004 Kia Optima
  By SRatl3 - November 15 - 10:00 am

  This car is the most awesom car for the price. The power the optima v6 has is so fast, you will have no problem in taking off or passing. This car will definately put you back in your seats. It is hard to believe all the extras that come standard on my car. I cannot speak highly enough about this car except try it you will like it.

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  Sedona LX - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Mike Phillips - November 15 - 10:00 am

  We have only had the Sedona for 2 days. Gas mileage is crappy but the fit, finish and design extras are great. Excellent interior features like storage and lighting. Seats could be more comfortable (cloth). Drives very nicely, good power, very quiet interior. Far superior to the Caravan with respect to interior fit and finish and extras. Why cant we build them like this after 100 years? Just ask the cutomers what they want. Kia apparently did.

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  Some disappointments - 2014 Kia Cadenza
  By consumer64 - November 14 - 1:29 am

  The car is unsatisfactory 1) as it does not give the estimated mileage that was advertised on the window sticker and 2) the engine does not have sufficient pickup. 3) The navigation on the car has been giving erroneous directions over the last several months.I took the car to Braman Kia for service. The service advisor is not knowledgeable nor competent. I had taken the car to resolve this problem and for a maintenance (oil change). I asked him if he could take care of both while I went to lunch and come back a few hours later. After I did, neither had been done on the car. The Kia service person did not know how to solve the navigation problem even after I explained how to.

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  Mama mia - I love my KIA - 2016 Kia Optima
  By Joe Panozzo - November 14 - 12:39 am

  We bought our KIA LE s fairly loaded - Leather seats, moon roof etc., Plus so many on line criticisms, but not so much by owners, so I thought there might be some issues down the line. We got a great deal and the buying experience was just about perfect. And after almost three years it has performed flawlessly. Only one trip to the dealer, and that was a great experience. I really like to lay back in the leather seats and look out the panoramic sun/moon roof at night.

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  Great car, great value - 2012 Kia Sorento
  By newcarshoppe - November 13 - 2:48 pm

  Purchased my EX, GDI engine in Novermber 11 and after 3.500 miles I have been very pleased with every aspect of the car. Im averaging 23 mpg in and around town (San Antonio) and as high as 33 mpg on the highway. No complaints about the mileage. Fit and finish and styling inside and out continue to get complaments from my friends. When I purchased the car I had narrowed it down to the Toyota Venza and the Sorento. Although both cars have a very firm suspension, the Venza was choppy and the Sorento was much smoother. I think the duel flow damper shocks make the difference.

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  Love the pfeformance -Hate the headlights - 2017 Kia Sorento
  By Mark W - November 13 - 10:33 am

  Car has good performance. Interior is comfortable. Only problem have with the car is the headlights. They throw a shadow about half way down and all the way across the windshield. The lights look like somebody drew a line across in front of you and it is difficult to seen what is ahead of you. Very poor design and is A SAFEY CONCERN. I travel several times a year at night to northern Arizona and with a limited view I really do not want an elk or deer to run out in front of me. I took this problem to a Kia dealer, they tried to adjust the lights , but it did not help much. If anyone else has this problem contact your dealer and maybe with your help Kia will look into this problem

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  Love the pfeformance -Hate the headlights - 2017 Kia Sorento
  By Mark W - November 13 - 10:33 am

  Car has good performance. Interior is comfortable. Only problem have with the car is the headlights. They throw a shadow about half way down and all the way across the windshield. The lights look like somebody drew a line across in front of you and it is difficult to seen what is ahead of you. Very poor design and is A SAFEY CONCERN. I travel several times a year at night to northern Arizona and with a limited view I really do not want an elk or deer to run out in front of me. I took this problem to a Kia dealer, they tried to adjust the lights , but it did not help much. If anyone else has this problem contact your dealer and maybe with your help Kia will look into this problem

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  Thats a KIA! - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By RonB - November 13 - 9:53 am

  I have had my Sorento now for a little over a month. I am still being surprised daily at how nice this vehicle is. I am getting an avg of 21 mpg, mostly city driving. The power is comical in the fact that there is so much of it. A couple of nit pick items have popped up. Annoying buzz/rattle from dash on certain road surfaces. Slight vibration felt when slow left turns are used, I suspect tire noise. Other than theses extremely minor issues all is great with the Sorento. I actually have people ask if it is a new Acura MDX!

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  Why would you buy a Hybrid over this - 2005 Kia Rio
  By Mike Omera - November 12 - 8:20 pm

  I commute from Sacramento to San Francisco 4 days a week. I had been driving a Ford Taurus, and the recent gas prices made me rethink my driving needs. First stop was Toyota. I wanted to get into a hybrid, and save money on fuel. I was not able to find a new one, and the used ones were much more than the list price of new ones. Then it hit me. I can buy a Kia Rio for under $11,000, get 35 mpg, and save thousands of dollars. By my calculations, I would be driving a Prius for over 20 years to save enough money on fuel to cover the difference in cost of the Rio. And that does not include maintenance on the batteries, which no one seems to have an answer for.

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  Canadian Kia Forte 5 EX Auto - 2011 Kia Forte
  By canuck29 - November 12 - 7:28 pm

  Purchased 2011 Kia Forte 5 as a commuter car for wife. Test drove hatchback two times and came away feeling it was a good combination of value, space, safety features, fuel ecomomy, performance and interior room. So far have put on approx 900 kilometers ( approx 540 miles) all in the city and have averaged about 27 miles per gallon. Engine and powertrain ( 6 speed automatic) provide good driving dynamics for the class of vehicle. Unknown is Kia service as I suspect new generation of Kia vehicles are probably ahead of the service in terms of quality. Will find out in time.