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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  surprised with the kia - 2012 Kia Sorento
  By jclaudio - August 18 - 2:13 pm

  needed a new car for my family of three> dont make very much money so it was all about the price range. after doing our share of research nuthin came close to the style and warranty that kia offers.i battled with the chevy equinox but would of spent more money for less of a vehicle> asked chevy can you explain why i should buy your chevy? theyre responce"its a chevy" wasnt good enough so WE went with the smart choice. so far so good>getting lots of compliments on the style and price we ended up spending. only time will tell how my sorento will perform but im focusing on the positive cuz any car can brake down!!!!! question is do u feel ripped off my answser is no

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  Kia Sedona, the perfect minivan - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Haja Peer - August 18 - 10:00 am

  Im completely satisfied with my purchase. Its almost a year im driving the Ex model. The vehicle engine is very smooth and very comfortable and i have made lots of long trips.

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  2 months of ownership - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Norm Sheldrake - August 17 - 11:23 pm

  The over all car has been great however the seat ratchet device has been a problem since purchase, The company has a new seat ordered and have to set up a time to replace it. All the tires are mounted on Aluminum alloy wheels; they are awesome however both the right tires have been losing air and have had to be reinflated on a daily basis. there is what appears to be a brake caliper noise in the left front wheel are since first purchasing the vehicle in June up to the present of july , 19th 2005. I started off with getting 23 MPG. it went up to 40 MPG. after having it in the garage for check up the mileage has deteriorated to 28 MPG. Overall, I truly love the vehicle.

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  You Get What You Pay For - 2003 Kia Optima
  By James - August 17 - 2:43 pm

  We purchased this car used and we know why the original owner sold it. Although the car drives great, the car has had many electrical problems and the transmission started slipping just after we bought it. Each time we put it in the shop it takes two days to get it back. Electrical problems include headlights, remote entry, radio, and battery draining down if not driven daily. Also, we have had the emissions worked on several times. The steering growls like it is out of fluid but it isnt and the dealer cant find the problem. We like the way it drives but with all the electrical problems, would like to get rid of it. We paid way too much for it, no resale!

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  36000 miles - 2010 Kia Soul
  By doc - August 17 - 3:06 am

  Best econo-box on the road. Love everything except: front seats too narrow and firm. Bad blind spot at rear small window. Almost got two accidents. And Im a great driver. VERY disappointing gas mileage. This was a surprise. Still best bang for the buck.

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  HOT! HOT! HOT! - 2010 Kia Soul
  By SF Bay Area Hottie - August 16 - 5:36 am

  Its HOT! Got 1st RED Sport in SF bay area. So many stares & people coming up to me in parking lots, etc. Everybody wants to know what it is & where they can get it. For a while, I just handed out the dealers business card! So fun to drive!Overall visibility is good cuz you sit a little higher up. Fits tall people-- had a 66 passenger & still more head room! Great at turns & U-turns-- no more 3-point turns for me! Audio system is the bomb-CD/Ipod/USB (just plug in USB flash drive & have TONS of music)and interior LIGHTS that pulse to music(yes, gimmicky & a little juvenile, but so very fun.)Go up steep hills & accelerate like a champ(turn off the econ-over-drive for more power.) I LOVE IT!

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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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  Sedona: Not the quality I expected - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By badexperience - August 15 - 1:03 am

  I researched minivans for 6 months prior to buying a Sedona. I really wanted a van that would last me for several years. We purchased our van from the dealer in Feb. 2004. Our problems began about 6 months later. It started randomly locking its doors. My husband was locked out once with it running and had to run home 3 miles to get the spare key. The air conditioning would every once and awhile turn hot and the car would randomly not start. They replaced the computer chip for the locking mechanism, the alternator, and the radio (it would also randomly go on and off). I have had the vehicle serviced under warranty issues approx. 7 times since Dec 2004. I am frustrated with this vehicle.

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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.