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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  DFW, TX/05 Sorento - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Taunia Richey - April 11 - 12:43 pm

  Probably still early for review. Purchase based on Edmunds review & test drive. Finding driver seat uncomfortable/not enough adjustment for 53" female comfort, no lumbar support. Experienced transmission issues at 1500 miles. Unhappy w/ service department knowledge of problem & to fix. Especially disappointed to know that once you purchase, Kia customer service stops there. Service department had for 2 days and took apart and reassembled and symptoms disappeared, but they dont know what the problem was or how they fixed. Biggest issue was brand new vehicle in shop and Kia as a company doesnt authorize loaner or rental. Hoping transmission problem was fluke & Edmunds was right: best mid-SUV value for money.

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  my hatchback - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By debmck - April 11 - 12:03 am

  Dependable, good gas mileage. Window seal on driver side bad, wind noise. All weather strips on hatchback fell off. Had to replace tires at 30,000 miles. Air conditioning weak. Regret not getting power windows and door locks.

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  Safety Latch for Hood Failed - 2011 Kia Soul
  By Gabby - April 10 - 11:20 pm

  I just turned 16 and got a car, red Kia soul, for my birthday. One week later, when driving on a highway at 57mph my hood flew up. My safety latch failed to do anything. My warranty is only a couple miles over. Thankfully my windshield did not crack by I am left with huge and costly dents in roof and hood. Thankfully when this occurred my dad happened to be driving. Being the new driver that I am, I probably would have swerved from the loud and shocking impact and killed myself and others. The damage cost $4,910 and Kia will not help. I had read numerous accounts of this same situation happening to others on other sites and I myself have reported a recall request for the safety latch. Kia needs to do something!! Also, another defect (not as important or major) is that the cigarette lighter and USB port doesnt work. My guess is that it has something to do with the fuse box. Be warned and check your safety latch for rust or any other malfunctions and lubricate properly.

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  Perfect Car - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By Nilesh - April 10 - 9:53 pm

  I was lucky I bought this car!! I drive like 200 miles a day back and forth to my work, but Kia is one tough car which gives me performance which I need. I love the shape of 2002 hatchback, it is like sports car. I get around 30 miles per gallon for 2002 model, thats extraordinary. I will recommend to buy Kia Spectra, it is a really nice car.

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  JUST BOUGHT - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By Mario Suarez - April 10 - 7:01 pm

  Almost purchased the LX but ran into the EX on the show room floor and thought it was worth the extra money. Push start, Beautiful touch screen, power seats, fog lights, and leather did it for us. Got 30 mpg on the way home for a 2 hour drive. Look forward to many years with this sexy beast

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  Would Rather lose money - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By Upside Down Kia - April 10 - 10:00 am

  Well I am so glad my wife and I decided to go totally upside down on our car loan and managed to buy a 2005 Ford Focus. This car was a lemon since mile 60001. The dealership ordered parts and never called us back, they would charge an arm and a leg for basic problems, the brake dust was awful, there was no power uphills, no one wanted to work on it, the radio was horrible, the interior design was not well thought, the only thing I can say somewhat positive is that we basically putted into the dealership and left that day with a car. Although, I see now why they were all smiles.

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  Safety Warning! - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Endangered Consumer - April 10 - 10:00 am

  I have a safety warning for petite people or anyone who loves a petite person. The 2004 Kia Spectra has an airbag sensor for the front passenger seat that has a lower weight sensitivity limit of 125 pounds, which means the airbag may not engage during an accident if anyone who weighs under 125 pounds is sitting in that seat. Unfortunately, the local Kia dealership didn’t forewarn me of this situation before I bought the car, and a Kia company consumer affairs representative stated that “there is nothing we can do to ‘fix’ the condition.” So, buyer beware!

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  2008 Kia Spectra - 2008 Kia Spectra
  By Bob E. - April 9 - 12:16 pm

  Overall the vehicle has done what I needed and expected. Power is fine, mileage was about 30-31 mpg until I reached 25000 miles then I tipped 38mpg a few times depending upon passenger content, and city/highway percentage of driving when tracking the mpg of a tank of fuel. Sound system is good with nice bass and crisp highs. My tires wore out at 27000 miles to the wear bars even though I kept pressure monitored closely and rotated according to recommendations, but you know how the new car new tires are worse mileage than the ones you replace them with! The only thing would keep me from another spectra purchase is the timing belt has terrible moaning noise in the engine. Dlr says its fine!

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  The Right Choice - 2008 Kia Optima
  By Phil - April 8 - 7:00 am

  This is my first new car, and I would have to say I made the right choice. This car provides all around safety, convenience, and just the right amount of sport as well. All of this is available at the right price. I believe this car is entirely too underrated. It drives tight, the infinity sound system sounds great, the controls are easy to follow, and it goes. The only problem is that it says Kia. People ask me what I own. All I can say is let me take you for a ride and ill prove that this car is awesome.

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  Kia Rio - 2007 Kia Rio
  By David - April 8 - 5:03 am

  Could have used better suspension.