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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  WANTED CIVIC MADE BETTER CHOICE - 2010 Kia Forte
  By emmett linkous - May 8 - 6:26 am

  I really wanted to buy a Honda Civic. I had a hard time making up my mind what to buy when I couldnt get the price on the Civic to meet my budget. I decided to check out the Kia Forte Ex. What a wonderful choice. I saved over 5000 dollars and came away with a vehicle that i think in the long run will just as good as the Civic. This car is loaded with more options and seems to be as well built as the Civic. Only time will tell. This car is really fun to drive. It has more pep than the Civic. I really like the steering wheel controls and the Blue Tooth.

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  My 2010 Kia Rio - 2010 Kia Rio
  By kiaowner2010 - May 8 - 3:10 am

  Not happy with dark interior, car is too hot inside & must have window covered by sunshade. Other than that, I havent had a brand new car for MANY years, and I love this one. I was on the bus three years before deciding to buy this car.

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  Is that a Kia! - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By wessam ka - May 7 - 8:56 pm

  Ive owned it for 10 months now. This car cost $14k! It will still be convincing if it cost $20k. It is so hard to criticizing my car. It is smooth, powerful, stylish, well equipped and cheap. Thats a good deal. BUT... its noisy and needs a stronger engine.

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  First 500 Miles - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By DUANE - May 6 - 5:00 pm

  The car performs very well and is amazingly quiet and well mannered. A long drive does not beat you up. Mileage at mostly 65 mph with periodic in town stop/go was 43 mpg - really! Conversations are in normal tone of voice at 60+ miles per hour. Many conveniences on the EX model I thought would cost more and do on competition models. We are happy with the car and look forward to saving gas $$. Also rated very "green" top 30.

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  Perhaps too much - 2014 Kia Cadenza
  By Jeff Davis - May 6 - 12:36 am

  The dashboard seemed to contain too many things and appeared to be too close to the driver

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  Nice car for the money - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By steve schulz - May 5 - 10:40 pm

  I wanted a reasonably priced car with all the comfort features of a luxury sedan. The Amanti, while not the best on fuel economy, is a great driving car with all the bells and whistles. The warranty cant be beat. Resale value is still to be determined but it is a car I think you will keep for many years.

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  Fast Fun and Sturdy - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By 2x10 - May 5 - 3:13 pm

  I am comparing this vehicle to the jeep liberty I owned for 3 yrs. The 3.8 is incredible. lots of power and very fun. The structure is much more sturdier and stiffer than the liberty which gives my family a safer ride. The styling is sleek and packed into a small structure but not too small. The gas mileage is better than the liberty and WAY faster and quicker. If you are looking for an SUV that is VERY VERY basic with ALOT of get up and go, this is a very cheap way to do it. The passenger air bag light staying on is typical of SUVs so no bother. For the price these things are going for now, you cant pass it up

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  Great Car - 2008 Kia Optima
  By Norm - May 5 - 8:26 am

  Last summer I picked up my rental car from Hertz and it was Kia Optima. I was totally impressed with this car! After comparing to Camry, Accord, etc. I decided to buy one for myself. I have not been disappointed! This is one fun car to drive and I am very impressed with the peppy engine, interior room, and good looks. Great visibility gives a real feel for the road. Our car includes the Appearance Pkg which really adds lots of goodies and well worth the money. Also, you dont see lots of Optimas on the road, so that even makes it more fun to have a unique car. Current generous rebates clinched the deal for me and so far it has been a perfect car for our family.

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  Love the car - hate the Infinity NAV - 2012 Kia Optima
  By fixer199 - May 3 - 6:41 pm

  Just bought a new EX with Premium & Tech packages last week. More we drive it, the more we like it -- except for the Infinity audio/NAV. The center channel dash speakers overpower all the others. its almost like driving a car from the 50s with one dash speaker. I thought I didnt have it adjusted right, but you cant adjust it away and the Kia forums have lots of the same complaint from other owners. You also give up HD radio when you upgrade to the $1400 Tech Package. Dont do it unless you MUST have the backup camera! Harmon Kardon make this system and they should be ashamed! We would buy the car again -- but without the Tech Package.

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  An Easy Choice - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Fan4neil - May 3 - 8:33 am

  Traded in 2003 Toyota Tundra (awful mileage and impractical). Was wifes dream vehicle but common sense won out. I had driven Tucson and liked it but we both went to drive the Kia. Gearing made it feel sportier and interior is beautiful. Wife liked well enough to buy on the spot. Sportage is fun to drive, luxurious, practical, roomy. The value is unbelievable as Kia has so many nice features and they are done up in a great package. 6 CD changer is awesome and black leather interior with heated seats is a great place to spend time. Mix of freeway and in town getting us about 22 mpg. Cannot believe others would purchase mundane CR-V or RAV4 and spend much more to end up with much less. Go Kia!