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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  Excellent value! - 2013 Kia Rio
  By Oscar - July 26 - 9:57 am

  I bought my Kia Rio LX Sedan brand new in 2013 for about $15,000. I have the automatic transmission and also added the "Power Package" (Power Windows and Power Door Locks with keyless remote). The car has been absolutely great! I commute 100 miles per day, mostly on the Interstate. In 3 years time, I put more than 65,000 miles on the car. I have had zero issues, no repairs, no recalls. I change the oil every 5,000 miles and that is the only time I see the dealer. For a small car like the Rio, I am really impressed how comfortable it is on the Interstate. My cruising speed is usually around 85 MPH and tire noise, engine noise and wind noise are very low. No rattles or squeaks inside the cabin either. Car manufacturers do not make big profits on sub-compact cars and as a result most of them not only make the cars small, they also make them cheap (save money on sound insulation, thin glass, etc.). Not the case with this Rio! My average gas mileage is about 37 MPG and I am sporty driver. I must say my commute is 90% Interstate. City driving definitely requires more gas. You can actually get 40 MPG on the Highway if you stick to the 75 MPH speed limit and dont drive with a heavy right foot. I never use the "eco" button. Just makes the car sluggish. Compared to other small cars, this Rio is nicely equipped. It has a relatively large wheelbase, which means it is pretty stable on the Interstate. If you push it over 100 MPH, stability suffers a bit but by that time you are also going way over the speed limit (unless you live in Germany). No other reviewer has mentioned this, but the Rio also has excellent brakes. It does not have cheap drum brakes in the rear like most competitors. Instead, it has discs all around. Stopping power is awesome. I did not pay the extra money for the EX version, but instead I got the accessories I wanted on Ebay and installed them myself (i.e. fog lights, chrome grille, mudguards). I even put a trailer hitch on it, so I can use a bike carrier. The Rio does not come with a spare tire, only a compressor and tire repair kit/foam. So I bought the spare tire kit as well. One of the features the LX did not have, was cruise control. However, the computer in the car already has the cruise control software and the throttle is "fly by wire". So all you need to do is buy an EX-steering wheel and install it in your LX...and that gives you the cruise control buttons! I plan to keep the Rio for many more years. It is nice to know that the engine is using a timing chain, so you dont have to worry about a belt that needs to be replaced every 60,000 miles. The transmission is a "sealed unit" and according to the manual, you do not have to replace the transmission fluid...ever. Im not sure if I believe that, and my dealer recommends changing the fluid at 90,000 miles. I will probably do that. The automatic transmission is actually pretty smooth and quick. I use it in "manual/sport mode" all the time, so I can determine my own shift points. The engine is impressively powerful for just a 1.6 liter 4-cylinder. It does not make it a sports car, but the Rio does not weigh much and if you are willing to rev the engine a bit it is pretty quick! The last thing I want to say is that the styling of the Rio is best in class. I know taste is personal, but many sub-compact cars are just ugly. Go look at a Tpyota Yaris, or Nissan Versa, Ford Fiesta, etc... the proportions just dont look "right". The Rio on the other hand is really a good looking car! Overall I am very impressed with this little car. It is great value for money! Oh, and it has a 10-year 100,000 mile warranty (but you will probably never need it).

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  3 years later - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By Tennisfan - July 25 - 10:00 am

  3 years later and im still happy. The kia runs like day one, still perfect! Ive written two other reviews already, so this one is just a follow up to those. I recommend kia to everyone I know, they really make great SUVs.

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  Second Sorento 90k miles Strong - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Brian - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Great reliable vehicle. Its my second Sorento and third kia so far. I drive many miles to work so I first bought a Kia because of the low price, now I buy because of the quality. So far Ive had no mechanical failures, but my shocks and struts are getting weaker. Of the two Sorentos Ive owned, the first one did have the issue with head lights going before their time. This one has been OK so far though in regards to that problem. My first Sorento was bought used as well and was a 2004 EX v6 model. It was also very reliable but got totaled in an accident so I had to buy my 05 to replace it. By the way the car held up well in the crash and was still drivable afterward.

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  My Sportage is Awesome. - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By Love My Sportage - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Have had my new Sportage for over two months and am so happy. It has plenty of power and drives like a well built vehicle. The six speed auto tranny is a work of art and I know it took Hyandai 4 years to develop it and has 62 less parts than the previous transmission. The Theta 2 engine is so quiet at idle that I think it isnt running at the lights! Sirius satellite radio is fantastic and now I cant live without it.

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  The SX is awesome - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Guy in TX - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Kia did it right again! I had an 05EX and loved it. The SX has everything my EX was missing. I have the SX FWD with everything except AWD and sunroof. I plan on enjoying at least 5-7 years with my SX before I trade it in for the next generation Sorento again! GO KIA! Keep up the good work!

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  A Great Value! - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By KG in Tennessee - July 24 - 9:56 pm

  I love this little SUV. Looks great, ride is smooth and the V6 has plenty of power. I originally was looking at a Sorrento and spotted the redesigned Sportage. No regrets!

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  its good - 2000 Kia Spectra
  By duckydo1 - July 21 - 11:33 am

  Has style and good looks for this class of auto. The hatchback is marvelous in loading and carrying bigger items. It is comfortable. I think the gas mileage could be better for this small of car, but it is not bad. It is very roomy. I like this auto very much. They did have to replace the transmission at about 14,000 miles. All paid for, of course.

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  Nice and Practical - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By KJM - July 21 - 8:23 am

  Although this may be considered a "practical" car, its still fun to drive. The vehicle is as composed at 90 mph as it is at 55 mph. The radio and climate controls are large and easily laid out. Noise isolation and a weak engine are the cars only real vices. Engine and road noise will have you speaking louder or turning up the radio a few notches. Off the line acceleration is feeble at best.

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  WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By VICKIE STONE - July 21 - 2:00 am

  WE GOT THIS 2002 KIA IN MAY 2002. IN FEB. 2003 PAROMOUNT KIA HAD TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NOW IT IS DEC.2003 AND THE NEW ONE IS GIVING US TROUBLE. SO WE WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER KIA. WE SEE WHY THEY GIVE THE 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WAR. . BECAUSE YOU NEED IT .

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  Poor quality and brake system - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By tootsietwo - July 21 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle which I own 2001. The rubber seals around all doors was falling off when the car was 3 months old. The plastic inside door handles (can you believe plastic) have broken and I have replaced brakes around 10X and still are not good. I will never by this car again. Good price but I have put almost as much $$$$ in this car as what I paid for.