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 car - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By kia sephia - May 11 - 10:00 am

  Engine and transmission so far reliable. Brakes, electrical, air conditioning, body, interior, are bottom of the barrel cheaply built. HORRIBLE in the snow. I have been driving many years in winter conditions and this is hands down the most dangerous car I have ever driven in the snow. Brake and electrical problems have been since day 1, numerous trips to shop. Worst car I have ever owned, wish I could have my 13 year old nissan sentra back!

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  Sell it Quickly - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By Nathan - May 11 - 10:00 am

  Horrible build quality. Just a short list of replacement items. Ecu x 2, throttle body x 3,3 fuse blocks, tpms system, wheels, rotors, brakes every 25k, door seals, had a misaligned panel that allowed water into rear of vehicle, dashboard replaced, o2 sensors x 2, sway bar, various suspension parts, 2 batteries, 17 headlights, 3 turn signal lights, 4 brake lights, 3 ac compressors. We had various misfire codes, abs system faults, steering faults-binding up steering, car sometimes would not start. Idle would vary between 600 and 1200 rpm, was told this is normal. Shifting was imprecise and started to flare. Gas mileage as low as 12 mpg then 17 mpg the next tank. Got rid of it.

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  Cannot see Speedometer needle in bright light - 2014 Kia Sorento
  By hobby1 - May 4 - 9:31 am

  My 2012 Sorento was great so I traded to 2014 when time came. The auto dim feature of the instrument cluster makes it difficult and at times impossible to see speedometer needle. Kia says it is "working as designed" "Kia cannot help you" It is bright with no problems at night/in garage and on cloud/stormy days. Since design features are not covered by warranty Kia America refuses to address the matter. 7 others have filed same complaint with National Safety Board. I must get rid of the car before i have an accident while trying to locate my speed. Also window shade rattles "no adjustment can be made". Will be my last Kia.

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  Friends dont let friends buy Rios - 2004 Kia Rio
  By peterssd - April 28 - 3:37 pm

  I purchased my Kia Rio new in 2004 and treated it well - always got oil changes on time, replaced the timing belt at 90,000 miles (I was told to do it by 100k). Within 3 years of purchase the brake proportioning valve went bad. W/in 2 years the rear tires were going bald far faster than they should have - turns out I was sold a new car with a bent rear axle. Past 2 years (100-120k): intermittent electrical problem that we finally realized (after replacing the spark plugs/wires 2x) was a cracked engine coil. Last week (139k): fourth cylinder blew.

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  OVER RATED - 2013 Kia Optima
  By josejose - April 25 - 6:45 pm

  Be prepared to buy a car a car and not like it once you have driven it for a while. Most new car owners look forward to taken it for a spin , not here. The ride is noisy and stiff and the electric steering is rough and stiff. Not worth it , the reviews saying it was a good car are bogus. You should rent one for the weekend before buying it , I wish I would have.

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  to quote the Simpsons; "Worst Car Ever" - 2002 Kia Rio
  By Randy - March 28 - 11:00 am

  My wife actually bought the car before we got married. It seemed like a cute little car. It was also nice that it had a "warranty". However, the first time it rained, the entire trunk filled with water. When I checked about the seals, and how to have them replaced, they were not covered as a warranty piece. I tried to seal it several times, but they never seemed to stick in place. At 55mph, we had a loud whistle noise in a door that the dealer could not figure out. It was a non-fixable air leak in the window seal. Then, my favorite, at 55,000 miles, it mushroomed a piston-head. I could only prove 18 of 19 oil changes, so it was considered not under warranty. Kia, the enclosed go-cart!

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  Terrible - Upset - 2012 Kia Optima
  By Brandon - February 28 - 4:03 pm

  I bought my 2012 Kia Optima SX in October of 2014 with 42,000 miles. Now...November of 2015, I hit 63,000 miles and the engine just blew on the expressway. No Kia warranty as it expired, relying on a 3rd party warranty group. I provided the warranty company with all my service, oil change and maint records. Its taking a while to get updates. Future Kia buyers, ensure you do ample research and read owner reviews. I will never buy Kia again due to the fact that my model was very well maintained with Kia service dept and general car owner maintenance duties. I have friends who own Kia model between 2012-2014 and they to have had engine blew... One model Being Kia Soul. Very disappointed.

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  It stinks - 2004 Kia Optima
  By sjspiva - February 28 - 4:26 am

  I have had trouble out of it ever since the belt broke, left me strand on the side of road with out warning. I had no power on the car, shut down everything. Broke the motor support now the power steering is messed up. The mess up rack and pinon ad to clean out hold system and do for wheel alignment and this leaves me without a vehicle and 661.00 in debt on disability I think it stinks oh yeah buy a Kia

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  Worse car ever - 2004 Kia Rio
  By littlebluetoad - February 27 - 7:50 pm

  I bought this car in january of 06, it ran fine until june the following year where just randomly the engine died so i spent 3k to get it fixed then on top of that i had the cooling motor die the brakes have been replaced a few times already, and now even after the newer engine its still giving me problems. I am scared to get into my car and drive it every day in fear of it breaking down on me. Also, as others have mentioned, the AC sucks all the power out of the car so in the hot summer you cant always have it on. I feel bad for those i see who just bought a kia rio and are driving it around. Plus the resale value goes down a couple grand right off the lot. its not worth it at all!!

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  DO NOT BUY! - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Shelly - February 26 - 1:26 am

  This is the absolute worst vehicle I have ever owned. It needed new brakes after only 25,000 miles. The brakes squeal when they get wet. The tire on the back is the biggest pain - hard to see around while driving and hard to close after loading cargo. The fact that the seats dont fold flat really limit the cargo area. The electronics in the car leave a lot to be desired - the power door locks make locking noises when you are exiting the vehicle. The cup holder in the front is in the worst possible place. You cant see the clock or reach any of the climate controls when it is in use. The one in the back is in an even worse place. Who puts a cup holder on the floor?