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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  sorento - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By bob43 - November 17 - 2:00 am

  love the sorento. It has alot for the money. would not buy anything else shopped and looked at tahoes and trailblazers, explorers and expeditions no comparison to the ride and drive.

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  Great Car - 2009 Kia Optima
  By nick - November 17 - 12:10 am

  Never thought Id buy a KIA, but thought Id take a look and was really surprised. If you want a V6, move on, but the 2.4L 4-cylinder is more than competitive with the smooth automatic. (Surprisingly, much better power than Mazda 6i, which I tested just before.) The SX trim level offers sharp handling for a sedan, and its something different than yet another Accord or Camry with more features for 1000s less. The build quality, noise levels, and ride are all better than expected with no problems so far. The warranty is impressive. This car will certainly convert those KIA haters (like me a year ago), and folks often ask me if thats an Audi I drive, which Ill take as a compliment.

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  Wished I had purchased one sooner. . . - 2008 Kia Rio
  By Todd Finch - November 16 - 11:20 pm

  Its roomy enough for four adults, very fun to drive around town, and gets a whopping average 35 miles per gallon (50% highway, 50% city driving.) Its very pleasant at all speeds (never taken it over 80 mpg). What an amazing value! I wish I had purchased a car like this sooner. I listed "Performance" as only a 7 because its not designed to be a race car. Its a 4-cylinder, therefore performance should be a little sub- par. That said, Ive never had a problem keeping pace at a light, or going uphill.

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  Happy Owner - 2006 Kia Optima
  By Happy Owner - November 16 - 1:13 pm

  I have owned this car for over a year. I bought it as a repossession with only 8,250 miles on it. It replaced a 1996 Buick LeSabre which was an incredible lemon. Although there is less space inside the car the comfort and quietness of the ride are comparable. I have also had good luck with the Kia dealership. Id definitely consider buying another Kia if I were in the market for a vehicle.

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  Take That! Oil Barons - 2005 Kia Rio
  By B Holmes - November 16 - 12:53 pm

  Although the EPA fuel economy ratings were in the mid-30s, I consistently get 40+ MPG. This car is not a luxury status symbol, but as a commuter car, cannot be beat. I paid only $7,000 for a new car with excellent economy, reasonable power and great handling. Would love to see Ford or Chevrolet match that. I went from driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee that averages 17MPG to this. I commute over 100 miles a day, and the fuel savings are more than I pay for the car.

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  BEST RIDE FOR THE DOLLAR - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Eddie - November 16 - 2:40 am

  Fantastic looks, and quality, purchased mine after rebates for under 20 grand, LX auto with lots of accessories. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a midsize SUB and on a budget. Decent gas mileage; I get 21 on highway drives and about 15.5 in city.

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  Im Amazed - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Iceman8147 - November 15 - 4:43 pm

  Having owned (2) 2002 2 Door Sportages (which we both loved dearly), I am amazed at the improvements for the 2005 model year. This one is for my wife and she loves it even more than the 2002. The fit, finish, and standard features are unbelievable. The vehicle is a joy.

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  JCOLE22370 - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By jcole22370 - November 15 - 3:00 am

  Very roomy, easy to maneuver. Seats are very easy to take out and are on rollers if you cannot carry them. Gas mileage could be better but is ok, seats are very comfortable with plenty of leg room for everyone.

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  Traded my AUDI for this KIA... & NOT LOOKING BACK! - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By Kent Johnson - November 14 - 8:22 pm

  Bought this Sorento 8 months ago, and weve driven it every day around town and taken it on cross-country touring. Were very, very pleased. This is no 1990s Kia. My previous car was an Audi A8L - a very premium car - and Im actually more comfortable in the Sorento. I know these two cars are not really comparable, but for what its worth, the Sorento is a quieter, smoother and more enjoyable vehicle. (OK, so its not as fast, and it doesnt take corners the same; but it does what I need it to do, flawlessly). A non-quantifiable assessment thats perhaps most germane: This car makes me smile. (And not just because it cost half of what I paid for the Audi). It is a really nice piece of machinery. The little engine has ample power for an SUV; and I saw 27 mpg overall in our cross-country trip, including short stop and go forays in several cities. (Around 22 in town; averaging almost 24). The huge panoramic sunroof is fun. The longer we drive it, the more unexpected positives we discover. The active speed control is fantastic; keeps distance from car ahead and slows to a full stop if necessary, then starts again without touching accelerator (unless youre stopped more than 20 seconds). Blind spot warning is flawless. The lane keep assist warning is helpful. Automatic opening hatch has been a real help when carrying groceries, etc. The downloadable apps are useful. The voice recognition actually recognizes words (a lot better than my Audi). The sound system with the tech package is pretty good. Especially down here in Dallas, the cooled front seats are a happy surprise. Obviously, Im not swayed by those who insist on a luxury brand. I deeply appreciate quality, regardless of its author. Give me the genuine experience of excellence over a label any day.

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  Excellent car, comfortable and quiet - 2013 Kia Optima
  By happykiadriv1 - November 14 - 3:44 pm

  Driven more than 30,000 miles, excellent car with no problems. Variable mpg depending on the weather...goes way down in the winter. Comfortable ride, quiet on the highway. Lots of standard features that make the car an excellent value.