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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  the jurys still out - 2010 Kia Soul
  By newman - December 23 - 7:33 am

  After searching and researching for a small car for several months I got a soul +. Had it a week and the car was pulling to the right, took it to the dealership for repair and they gave me the run around, took it back in a week same problem rotated the tires; which seems to have helped (till the tires wear) bought accessories from dealership and they didnt fit the model had them install them. Attached a bike rack on the back and that was not good, car doesnt seem to be that strongly built ( for bike rack @least). Im not sure if I might have made a mistake or just gotten a lemon by buying this car before getting the bugs out. Thus the jurys still out.......

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  Fuel Pump - 2012 Kia Optima
  By slh2 - December 23 - 6:00 am

  Not too bad of a car other than road noise is pretty loud. It sounds like air leaking in the windows but they say there is nothing wrong with the windows. My fuel pump went out and it was $700 to fix (not covered under the warranty). The tires that come on the car are terrible in rain. I have had to use Synthetic oil since my 2nd oil change because it was low on oil. I am really not happy with this car. I have 80,000 miles on it now and I drive 100 highway miles a day. It doesnt seem like it is going to last as long as my 2003 Toyota Highland that has 299,000 miles on it and never replace the first think except tires, brakes and spark plugs. The toyota was an excellent vehicle!!!!

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  Very solid - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Kaye - December 22 - 7:03 pm

  The ride is smooth. Some might complain about going over bumps, but in reality, who drives on bumps all the time? When on the freeway and going 75 mph, it is very smooth. On streets and avenues, the ride is comfortable. I have driven in BMWs X5, Lexus and the ride difference is minuscule. Im not interested in a bunch of bells and whistles, I want a good radio, blue tooth and iPod hookup. And it has all of that. This SUV gets me from point (a) to point (b). In reality, that is all you want.

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  Very unhappy kia owner - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By william - December 22 - 5:46 am

  I am very dissatisfied with this vehicle. To pay this much for a vehicle and have it develop so many rattles so soon is very disappointing, also the strut noise is constant, something I would expect in a $12,000 car, not a $30,000. very unhappy customer, would not buy again

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  Not an all weather vehicle - 2011 Kia Soul
  By jermany1104 - December 21 - 9:01 am

  Ive had my Kia Soul + for almost one year. Being 6 ft tall, there is plenty of head & leg room. The car has great pick up & passing & merging are never a problem. I love how the back seats go down for extra storage. However it hadnt snowed since I got the car & Im not happy with how it attempts to drive in the snow. The car would not drive up my hill, wound up sideways & had to be backed down the hill. Driving on the flat surface wasnt any better. I was told that the tires may be sport tires & may need to be changed, but I hate to change tires on a new car already. Im pretty disappointed with this, since I live in an area where it snows in the winter.

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  After 6 yrs, I still LOVE my Kia Sephia - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By Goldie - December 20 - 10:40 pm

  I enjoy the handling of my Sephia. Turning around in small areas is a snap. The seats are nicely padded. The comfort of driving it long distances without feeling stiff has been wonderful. Accelerating onto a highway is great. The trunk really holds a lot. Passengers have felt comfortable. It is great on gas. It has been very reliable. I just love driving it. My husband and grown daughter enjoy driving it when I will let them. ;>)

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  the review - 2004 Kia Rio
  By papridegurl - December 20 - 2:00 am

  It is the worst

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  safety - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By armleg - December 20 - 2:00 am

  only have driven a few hundred miles but it performs very well.milage is somewhat less than my previous 2 montanas but still acceptable.

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  KIA SORENTO - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Shawn Cook - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Overall i have no problems. But trying to do some of the maint. yourself is difficult. It is very difficult to change the headlights and to change the oil and filter you have to remove a plastic skid plate

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  Good Car - Great Value - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By bulldog37 - December 17 - 2:00 am

  I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I saw the price. I got my 2001 Sephia for $9250.00. That included tax, title and license. I wanted a car to go back and forth to work with that would not break the bank. I paid cash and have never been happier. No problems whatsoever with mine. I truly belive that Kia and Hyundai are now positioned in the same manner that the Japanese were in the late 70s and early 80s. Quality cars for a great price equals loyal owners and repeat buyers. I highly recommend this model.