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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  Do not buy this cheap poor mans car - 2003 Kia Rio
  By terence gomez - September 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought this thing two months ago and let me tell you its a real piece. No power and horrible gas mileage (for its size),handling and build quality. The suspension set-up is a joke, I mean a solid rear axle? come on now. I guess you cant expect much though. This is what I get for being cheap and poor. If your poor like me then just buy a decent used car for less, youll be much happier.

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  Horrible Mistake - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Belen - September 17 - 10:00 am

  The worst mistake ever, we decide to give KIA a chance, and now we are full of regret. After only 5 months of having the car, the second row seat broke after pulling it down for the first time, it took 3 visits to the dealership to have it fixed, and now I was left stranded in a gas station at 10:00 pm with 3 small children by myself because the gas door would not open, I tried the "emergency" handle to open it unsuccessfully for 30 mins. By the way the "emergency" handle is a big joke, is just a very thin thread. Dont waste your money!

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  Waste of Time - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By Natalie - September 15 - 6:29 pm

  This car is not worth the money. Kias are not mad to last.

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  Youve got to be kidding me!!! - 2006 Kia Optima
  By dezjet - September 12 - 1:00 am

  I bought this car, 2006.5 Optima two years ago based on the semi-glowing reviews of this and other sites. What a mistake. Im wondering if there are any real drivers out there. This car is an engineering piece of junk, nice looking with accessorie wheels, but not much else. MPG is puzzling also. Only car Ive ever had that got poorer mileage on the freeway than around town-dealer cant explain this phenomena. Oh, great ad campaign, Kia, all image and no substance. End note: if you drive like grandma or the snowbirds we entertain in Az, by all means, buy the Kia. If youre any other kind of driver, push it far, far, down your list. Disappointment is waiting.

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  KIA Mechanical Problems - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By mcdonald340 - September 4 - 6:09 pm

  2011 KIA Sorento - Transmission Problems/Pulls to the right/Sudden Acceleration/Cruise Control problems. Transmission broke on trip out of state. 6 Weeks to repair. Broke again. Accelerated on its own. Too dangerous to drive. To initiate a recall, file complaint with www.safecar.gov then go to vehicle owners then file a complaint. Stay away from 2011 KIA Sorento.

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  Van is trying to kill us - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By price family - August 28 - 5:46 pm

  Twice in a 12-month period our throttle body has needed replacing. "Normal" auto shops wont touch a Kia, so emergency repairs are a no-go: not helpful when mom has two babies in carseats and is literally stranded with a self-decelerating van on the side of a highway.

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  2006 Sedona "Lemon" - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By jwmrjm - August 19 - 1:43 pm

  Within a few weeks the transmission went out. The technicians had difficulty diagnosing the problem before deciding to order a new transmission from Korea. Two "loaner vehicles were provided. Both of these Sedona’s had electrical malfunctions. The fuel pump has been replaced. The intake air system has failed. The tire pressure sensors have failed. The horn has failed and Kia installed the "wrong" replacement making yet two more trips back to the shop. The vehicle has spent 1/4 of its life in the shop. Kia has failed to honor terms of extended warranty contract. Do not buy Kia.

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  BEWARE of the left pull!! - 2011 Kia Optima
  By jfogs - August 9 - 1:27 pm

  Purchased brand new 2011 Kia Optima from Nationwide Kia in Timonium MD. Car was defective off the lot with a marked left pull that requires constant pressure on the wheel to keep the car from flying off the road. DO NOT believe the dealer if they say they can fix the car. This is a known defect with many Optimas and their kissing cousin Sonatas. I was told there is "nothing else we can do and your car still pulls to the left" from their "service" tech. I have lemon with 800 miles on it - great.

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  Dont know about this one - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By CC - August 7 - 1:10 am

  The car has had its share of breakdowns and I will be glad to get my new car next week. You can feel the bumps on the road and the rubber around all four doors is coming off. I tried to get a CD player and the panel would not come off because the screws would not budge. Lately performance has been okay but I have not forgotten about the past. I guest you get what you pay for.

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  bad car - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By furball - August 6 - 10:00 am

  We bought our spectra in january 2003.we have had nothing but problems with it this is the list of problems we have had.(the tires were bad, the sterio didnt work,paint is peeling,front seat broke,glovebox was broke,mirrors broke,gas tank recall,check engine light the car shakes when we get to a certain speed) There is No room in the car for any thing i would not buy another spectra.