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 - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By M. Curtin - January 22 - 6:22 am

  You would have to pay $1000s more to get same features in an Acura, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, BMW or Mercedes.

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  Love the car after a year! - 2002 Kia Rio
  By DesertBum - January 18 - 2:00 am

  I have owned the car for more than a year now. I got it when the car had 10k on it. So far, I had the dealer replace the shocks (front) under warranty and a rear seat belt, under warranty. I also just replaced the tires (all four) with Pirelli tires "P3000" 185/60/14 w/85,000 mile warranty (Great tire) and that it, oh, I got tires, cause I wanted a better tire! I get 28city/33highway. I also did the exhaust (2"catback) which improved performance 100%, a must. Might even buy another one or wife!! I would say if your looking or thinking, go buy one. PS. My other car is a Suburban (Big Block) and I enjoy driving Kia more =)

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  Best buy - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Andi Lynn - January 18 - 2:00 am

  I love my Serento. I looked at other SUVs and there wasnt enough room or power. This is classy and tough to handle my life and well worth it.

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  Best Lil SUV in America - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By Delta Don - January 18 - 1:33 am

  We test drove the Kia after driving the Highlander, Pilot, Acadia, Outlook, Veracruz and 4Runner. In terms of the features we were looking for, overall performance and value, the Sorento beat the others hands down. My wife especially likes the turning radius which allows her to make a full U-turn on our neighborhood street when she forgets her cell phone in the morning.

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  Careful: The Bear Wants Christmas Money! - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Jake - January 16 - 6:03 pm

  The compact hatchback is styled "right". The day I purchased my Spectra I had the check engine light reset. It has been back to the dealership two other times for the same thing, but I have been out in less than an hour each time. As a former line mechanic, I have reset the computer twice myself: once at high altitude above Sante Fe and the other on a foggy morning. It has a dash rattle which I may not get fixed unless it gets louder. I change my own oil and keep all receipts, but I really dont expect problems with the warranty. It is a great second generation vehicle which I rate behind a Corolla or Civic, but I paid an exceptional price-$3600 below MSRP-they met my earned interest rate!

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  Sorento - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By ric - January 13 - 11:03 pm

  I am on my 4th Kia and have never been happier with a car, My Sorento is the best SUV I have ever owned. All my friends comment on how little I paid for it and how well it is built and the standard features are the best on the market.

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  Never been happier! - 2001 Kia Optima
  By Meshoo96 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Kia Optima in 2001. It had 14 miles on it when I drove it off the lot. To date, it has 81,150 miles on it! Other than routine service and recently the alternator letting go, I have no complaints. It handles well, has ABS brakes, and gets excellent gas mileage. Id have to I drive about 150 miles round trip to work every day.

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  Great car - 2004 Kia Rio
  By lYxFizzyl - January 13 - 10:00 am

  its a great car for the money i havent had any problems with mine yet and i plan on fixing it up.

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  I have owned two - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Graham Johnson - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I have owned Two, a 2001 as a lease and never had a minutes problems. Idecided at 98,000 kilometers, that a lease was not for me, so I bought a new spectra in August 2003 I love my car, I bought a Dodge Minivan new fully loaded and it fell apart as I drove it and so I decided to go to a foreign car I had good things about Kia and I have not had a complaint. These cars are terribly under rated!I have enjoyed my two, and I live in the country in southern Alberta, adn30miles to work and it is extremely good on winter roads

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  bbpyl - 2004 Kia Optima
  By bbpyl - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Its grace on the road