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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  Wow what a little surprise - 2006 Kia Rio
  By Hauber - November 26 - 6:03 pm

  I have always been a Civic owner, but their size and cost priced me out. I needed a reliable and inexpensive little car to get me around town. In my inexpensive car search my expectations were low, but the Kia Rio took me by surprise. It is a well built, cute sporty car that reminds me of the Civics I used to own. It feels solid, it is comfortable and an easy ride. It is simple but seems far more expensive then the money I spent on it. Plus I feel like a bit of an environmentalist driving a little car that doesnt guzzle gas. It is a smooth ride for the most part and can keeps up with the rest of the traffic. A VERY wonderful car for an AWESOME price and warranty.

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  Greatest car on market! - 2011 Kia Optima
  By abc55 - November 25 - 3:28 pm

  What can I say? I love my Optima LX 6AT. It blows away any other Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chevy or Ford off the road. I looked and drove them all before buying. Looks slick while its doing it. Quality abounds from interior, exterior to engine performance and MPG economy. All the other car makers...watch out. This is going to catch on in a big way. Nobody can believe it is a KIA. Im getting 32-33 MPG on a twisty, turning, up and down road. Electronic stability control is the best.

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  Best family micro van buy in USA period! - 2007 Kia Rondo
  By Steve J - November 24 - 7:00 pm

  This is the micro van the US manufactures should be knocking off! Tweak the styling a little and you have a top seller for the next decade! 5 star safety, stability control, tire pressure monitor, 6 air bags, 100k warranty, quieter/larger than Rav/CR-V, 30 mpg driven @65-70 and handles fine. Im a picky auto enthusiast/motorcycle guy and I cant believe how dumb US auto executives are! You can buy a 4 cylinder with air out here in the NW for as little as $14K/15K plus tax. Thats several thousand less than a honda civic/etc! The motor is bulletproof with a cam chain on the four banger, you get alloys and a complete power package.Come on Chevy/Ford/Chrysler! Knock it off with your styling tweaks!

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  My Kia - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Jeromy - November 24 - 2:30 am

  I bought mine May 7 and have put over 7k miles on it, I love the way it handles and drives, and that there is enough storage to put whatever I need in the back. My only problem and concern is that my front spoiler fell off during my test drive and I am still waiting on the dealership to figure out how to reinstall it and keep it on the car. My dealers service is really bad and I will not go to them even for the smallest things, like an oil change. Overall on the car, as my girlfriend would say..... IT ROCKS!!!

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  dont buy a kia - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By cmlmal08 - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Bought a kia used it had 37k & remaining 5yr/60k warranty In 6 mo and 15 k it needed a new trans The Kia dealer refused to work on the car b/c I didnt have proof of maintenance on the trans at 30k b4 I owned it. they wouldnt take care of the work for me. after a call was placed to kia consumer affairs they informed me that the trans had already been replaced at 35k. Now at 58k my car is back again b/c a rod blew right throught the engine They are trying to get out of covering the car under the warranty Needless to say I am not driving this car again after it is fixed and in my lifetime will I ever buy a Kia again

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  Bought it used - very happy with it! - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Luvitt - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Came home tonight in a virtual white-out with 50 mph winds and 1-2 ft drifts!! This is my 1st 4x4, so obviously, I was very impressed after seeing no less than a dozen other vehicles off the shoulder. Yes.....MOVE THE CUP-HOLDER! Otherwise, I cant say enough about this SUV. Very quiet & smooth riding - turns on a dime! No rattles, tight construction, and lots of room (unless youre Arnold...) Cant figure out why everybody wants an Escalade at a Kia price! 2.0L Engine (made in Japan) is nimble & responsive (5-spd manual), better gas mileage than the Geo Metro I came from. Guess I just got a good one.....wife bought a Hyundai Elantra same day!

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  Sorento - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By sorentobill - November 24 - 2:00 am

  I am surprised by the solid construction of the KIA, the ride is above average, the interior is comfortable. The dealer and the sales rep were great to deal with and the car is great for the price.

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  unbelievably good value - 2011 Kia Optima
  By ssekdad - November 23 - 10:07 pm

  I bought this car in early July and drove from Chicago to Colorado and back in August so I already have almost 5000 miles on this car. I love almost everything about this car so my complaints are really nit picky. The city gas mileage isnt great (15-20) but we got almost 33 mpg on the trip to Colorado where we averaged over 70 mph. In Eco mode the transmission seems to downshift abruptly when you are decelerate. The routing on the GPS and the POI library isnt great so I am continuing to use my TomTom GPS unit. Other than that I am thrilled with the car. The workmanship is top notch, its extremely roomy and comfortable, the panoramic sunroof makes it feel even more spacious.

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  Very Nice Ride! - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Very Nice Suv Value - November 22 - 11:26 pm

  Recently purchase d05 LX. Color outstanding blue sparkle gray this vehicle has 25000 miles on it. It was a leased vehicle very well maintained. Everything spotless. Have driven similar SUVs and this by far really ranks up there for comfort and performance. 6 cylinder kicks a little punch to it. Gas mileage is definitely the only thing that might be a little weak. But it still is better than a bigger truck or SUV. And looks and comfort are awsome. Lexus lookers stare at it. I laugh. Smiling now.

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  Love my Kia - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Valerie - November 21 - 8:50 pm

  Compared to the other car in its class I was highly impressed with the features and price of the Sportage. I have had it for a couple of weeks now and I LOVE IT. The ride is comfortable, there is barely any road noise and I am getting good fuel economy. For all the standard features that you get it is well worth the investment. I also like the fact that my insurance went down.