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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  first new vehicle in 40 years - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Armand - August 15 - 8:13 pm

  As an avid auto enthusiast building race cars and street rods, I always bought used and altered to what I wanted. Getting older now so I wanted a vehicle I wouldnt have to work on. After inspecting workmanship and seeing warranty I decided this was vehicle worth my money. Can be driven anywhere at any time with no worries. Vehicle has a sporty feel with a little more road feedback that I find important in a vehicle. Being driven daily and handles well.

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  Overpriced Cheap Money Pit - 2013 Kia Forte
  By petitemeow - August 13 - 4:29 pm

  Ive had it for about 1.5 years...seemed like a lovely little deal with the XM radio, I got an ex...I was wrong about 1 yr in the amfm and satellite radio acquires signal every 5 or so minutes, the heat barely wants to work, the steering wheel looks horrible, the seats look horrible and the drivers seat sits like a hard church bench, it takes longer to stop running the ac and now its starting to drink gas. Yes Ive taken it in for service and had gas treatments...at first I was in love now Im very unpleased and am stuck with it bc its worth nothing, come to find out its not even that safe to drive...so when they wanted me to trade up to the new body style I was like no

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  Mpg nightmare - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Josh - August 13 - 2:16 pm

  I can only drive 8 mikes before the needle is almost on the first line before a half, I get about 230 mile range and about 14 city no where near 20.

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  Nice Car - POOR fuel economy not as advertised - 2012 Kia Sportage
  By hellcat2000 - July 31 - 3:24 am

  Bought a new 2012 Kia Sportage EX. Initially very pleased with the purchase. Rides ok, has nice features with the premium package to include the NAV system and backup camera. Tracked the MPG and started noticing poor fuel economy. Things havent changed. Sticker stated 21/25/32 for city/combined/hwy. Real world achieve 25-26 highway, 16-17 city. Usually average 20-22. Consumer Reports fuel economy testing is spot on and exactly what I get, unfortunately didnt do my research. Bottom line, descent car for the price, pretty cool features and nice looking car. Reasons to stay away: No longer trust KIA due to false claims, and FUEL economy well below sticker claim.

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  Never Again! Read before you buy! - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By B. Nichols - July 18 - 5:50 pm

  Like everyone else, I read the reviews before buying my 2005 Kia Sedona. Sure there were SOME bad reviews, but they were small compared to all the positive ones. Besides, it was a new vehicle year with a new design so we bought one. Here we are, just 47k short miles later. The A/C has gone out entirely (needs new $470 compressor), the engine almost dies (shudders) when you press the pedal to go. And now the check engine light has come on!! Its on its second front brake job. Whats next! I bought a 2002 GMC truck (w/13k miles) the same time and have not had a single problem with it. If you buy one, dont plan on keeping it long. Were trading this in on a new GMC!

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  Sedona Big on Comfort - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Sedona in AZ - July 18 - 8:20 am

  Performance when not in the shop this van drove and handled great but only gets 13/mpg. Serious problems with the quality of all interior materials: plastic (crumbles), carpet and cloth headliner (tear easily). I question quality of materials used on motor and other parts, within 4 years Ive replaced all the motor mounts, timing chain, transmission, CV boots and both power window motors and both sliding doors quit working. Van is really roomy inside. Front seats very comfortable, back are seats okay somewhat stiff. Seats are really heavy but easy to get in/out. Lots of headroom in this van. You do feel quite a bit of vibration through the floor from the road and it is a bit noisy inside

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  dissatified - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By armleg - July 6 - 10:00 am

  mileage is poor,gas tank is too small.interior storage is great.I dont like the locking system.

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  Buy American not Korean - 2007 Kia Optima
  By lwa57 - June 29 - 7:40 am

  Bought new. Rear brakes wore unevenly. Down to metal at only 25k miles. Taylor Kia of Boardman says brake pads are not covered by warranty. However, the rear passenger brake is dragging. They claim caliper is ok. Uneven wear between wheels, (3 mm and 0 mm left rear vs 7mm and 3 mm on right rear pads) shows excessive wear on the outside pads. Wear indicator is on the inside pad so damage to rotor can happen before indicator makes noise. The dragging brake explains the poor mileage and sluggish power. Previous posts show a couple rear brake issues. Hmm! KIA called me back and said they stand behind their mechanic. Not warranty issue. So my next car will not be a Kia! Buy American!

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  Sloppy - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By fourthrowe - June 10 - 2:06 am

  Ok, I know its not a Honda, but when I had to borrow my friends Integra, and got back in my Kia, all I could think was "sloppy." The shifter, the brakes, you name it, sloppy. It has never failed me, even with 163k miles. I still love the sag-proof roofliner. Some people have problems with the dash buckling, I havent seen it yet. Oh, and I was wrong in my other review about the Mazda engine/Getrag designed tranny, that was 98 and previous Sephias. I certainly would not recommend this car to a friend just because its slow AND gets bad mileage. I average 23mpg city/hwy. Highway only is 33mpg. Also, this car will scare you if you go over 80mph. It acts like its in a hurricane.

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  Ill Never Buy Another Kia - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By Shannon - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I dont know where to start. This was my first new car purchase and I am so disappointed. I guess Ill just make a list: 1) recurring transmission problem (shifts hard) its intermittent and the dealership can never replicate it so they wont fix it 2) passenger airbag sensor only works intermittently, theyve changed the whole seat cushion twice, it still doesnt work 3) the air conditioning compressor has been replace twice and a pulley once 4) rear hatch rattling 5) horrible gas mileage, 6) terrible sound system 7) rear floorboard trim keeps popping off 8) air blows out all vents no matter what setting you have it on 9) headlights 10) valve cover gasket is leaking, I would not recommend it!