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:

• 

  A $16K 6cyl 4x4 - 2009 Kia Sportage
  By Laura - August 23 - 9:50 am

  What is not to like about a quality 4x4 6 cylinder SUV for $16K. Electric windows, power locks, cd player, excellent in the snow. Only one problem was the right side power mirror stopped working. Will wait for a month and see if any other little things pop up. The best deal is a 10 year / 100,000 mile warranty. Come on now see if you can come close to Toyota and Honda with this kind of deal. I researched this hard before I bought and I am please as punch to get this great car. Time will tell how it stand up but so far so good.

• 

  WAY impressed with this car! - 2013 Kia Optima
  By c1carroll - August 23 - 1:28 am

  Went shopping for a used Optima the minute I realized it was car time. Found a used 2013 with 44K on it, and almost dismissed it out of hand for high miles, until I drove it, then ...WOW! Like it just rolled off factory floor. Loaded EX with ALL the bells and whistles. Have had it for 7 months and another 6K, and I cant find the slightest flaw. Getting about 24 MPG around town, and up to 38MPG on hwy, so I do NOT understand the MPG complaints Ive read here. Car drives like its on rails, and very quiet. My wife has the 2011 Sonata Limited so were always comparing cars, and shell admit, the Optima is the better of the 2. For the price, you cant beat it

• 

  This car awful! - 2009 Kia Sorento
  By citysliker - August 22 - 9:23 am

  Is anyone else as dissatisfied with their Sorento as I am? I have a 2009 with about 6000 miles on it and its already falling apart. It was in the shop today for several problems and the only one that was repaired properly was a warped interior panel didnt fit from day 1. Suspension is sloppy and car pulls badly to the right. kia claims its in proper alignment, the drivelive jerks on starts and stops like the rear end is about to fall out of it and kia says they cant find anything wrong, and the headlights dim every time you hit the brakes. kia says and I quote "its just the way those sorentos are". If I werent upside down in my loan I would trade this thing in tomorrow.

• 

  So Far So Good! - 2009 Kia Spectra
  By MJ DeYoung - August 21 - 7:06 pm

  Bought this car brand new last August, so this is its first winter. So far so good! Honestly, no complaints (-:

• 

  Sportage Rocks! - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Jeff - August 21 - 3:33 pm

  Electronic Stability Progam, ABS and traction control are standard! Great stereo 6 cd changer, "Sportmatic" slap stick is storty.

• 

  Best deal we ever made - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By ry-guy - August 21 - 10:00 am

  We used to have a 2000 Corolla without any extras. For some reason the check engine light kept coming on and we had to keep paying $80.00 to get it checked out. We finally decided to trade it in for the Kia with an awesome warranty and so far we have loved it. It has been the best deal we ever made. We got everything on it including sunroof, foglights, keyless entry, 6 airbags . . . the works! And we lowered our payments by 20.00 a month. It is a tad louder than the Corolla and the gas mileage is not quite as good but it definitely was worth the trade. Intererior quality is superb. Attention to detail is outstanding. Good job Kia!

• 

  retired navy did the buy 1 get 1 free - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By robert savage - August 21 - 10:00 am

  TEST DROVE EVERY VAN UNDER 25,000 NEW I COULD FIND, NOTHING BEAT THE KIA!!!

• 

  love my kia - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By jose garcia - August 21 - 10:00 am

  l did a lot of reseach before l brought this kia and for the price you cant get a better deal. l drove it in the snow and the four wheel drive was great. if you dont mind the name kia on your truck then this is the truck for you.

• 

  justins sorento - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By jrrocque - August 21 - 10:00 am

  IT is a very comfortable automobile. It has plenty of power to get out into traffic. The price was excellent. I also like the 10 year 100000 mile warranty.

• 

  Good trade-up - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By P - August 19 - 6:50 am

  I purchased my Sorento and am luvin it. I had a sports car and got tired of it due to a lifestyle change.