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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  Awesome Wagon - 2002 Kia Rio
  By kialover15 - September 12 - 6:26 pm

  We recently bought a 2002 Rio Cinco, and we are loving our decision. This car was purchased by my grandfather. This is his work car, and soon, I will share it with him. (I get my license in July.) We sold a 1994 Cadillac Deville. A nice Caddy, no problems, but with gas at 4.18 a gallon, there was no option but to sell it. Once we got the Rio, we were a little unhappy, no AC, but when we filled it up for the first time a got 31 mpg, we were fine with no air. The gas mileage kept getting better too. The highest is 34 mpg, complete city! Great car!!

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  Mixed feelings. Under-rated, but I wont buy a Kia again. - 2002 Kia Rio
  By harmonia2927 - September 12 - 5:08 pm

  This was my first college car. I bought it in summer of 2010 with 96,000 miles on it. I blindly went into buying it, no research done. I ended up falling in love with this little car. I drove it to school and back SEVERAL times (10 hour drive), and went on many road trips in it. It also made it up my mile-long dirt road at home. Im surprised it lasted. PROS: great gas mileage, runs well with normal maintenance CONS: noisy engine, doesnt accelerate well with the AC on, tin can, cheaply made, manual windows and locks, tiny back seat I drove it to 118,885 miles. It could have lasted longer, but I hit a deer and totalled it. :( Lesson learned, I wont buy a Kia again. But it was fun.

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  so far, so good - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By mamabear - September 12 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Kia Sedona EX in July 2002 and have put about 1000 miles on it, both city and highway driving Massachusetts. It has leather interior, ABS, sunroof, homelink and two tone paint. We were amused by the professional reviews saying that the van had sluggish acceleration. We dont know what the reviewers were comparing it to, but compared to our old mini-van this car has plenty of pick up and go. We baby-sit our grandkids and have two carseats to contend with when we pick them up. The dual sliding doors are convenient especially for loading and unloading the toddlers. Were still learning about the vans features but we are pleased so far.

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  OK so far...some minor issues - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Robert R - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Purchased for 16.5K (has everything but 4WD and leather)after taxes with trade in. Took delivery in July, 02 and had a paint scratch on rear door, a scratch on instument panel plastic covering and my headlights would not come on. Have had everything repaired but the instument panel. The paint has also chipped in bottom door molding. I will get Kia to fix.

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  First foreign built - 2008 Kia Optima
  By fred r - September 11 - 11:36 pm

  Now have 1000 miles on 2008 LX. Fun to drive. Corners very well. Have only had city driving and getting 21mpg. Like the interior setup and the blue light on the dash. Would like a softer driver seat with a longer front cushion. The car has a "ping" sound when driving on rough roads. I had the car undercoated thinking it would help but it didnt. On smooth roads it is a quiet ride but a definite metallic ping on rumble strips.

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  Great SUV for your $$$ - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By Danielle - September 11 - 10:23 am

  I really like all of the neat features that come standard with the vehicle. For example, something as small as the shopping bag hooks in the back are very female-friendly for all those female shoppers out there like myself.

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  Lovin It - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Misser - September 11 - 4:50 am

  I just bought a Spectra EX, with the moonroof, rear spoiler, and alloy wheels and Im lovin it. My husband is 65" and we were replacing my Chevy Lumina and looking for something I liked but he could fit into. All other cars this size (Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Camry) all very uncomfortable for him. We went to look at a Sportage and while at the dealership I saw the Spectra, love at first sight, he got in and had LOTS of room. Took it for a test drive, loved the pick up it has for a 4 cylinder. Interior very comfortable, TONS of space, large trunk. The car is an optical illusion, so much interior space in a smaller car. Love the warranties, cant beat them.

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  Fun, Cute, and Reliable - 2005 Kia Rio
  By EJP1978 - September 11 - 12:30 am

  Ive had a few cars before this one, including a Ford Tempo 91, and a Volvo from 1990. (Volvo is a great car, but old ones become money pits when old parts start wearing out all at once. NOT a cheap vehicle.) The Rio is a great car because of reliability. And of course the number one thing is gas mileage. The 2005 does pretty good, somewhere around 30-32 on highway. (At least for mine.) Even in bad traffic its not too hard on the gas tank. Unfortunately only months ago it cost about $25-$30 to fill the little Rios tank, but nowadays its getting close to $40. Fuel economic or not, America is going to make driving nearly impossible in say six months...

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  Needs better gear ratio - 2009 Kia Rio
  By tony - September 10 - 6:36 am

  It gets perfect gas mileage as long as you do not get on the interstate-run 4000 rpm in 5th gear @ 80 mph-runs 3000 rpm in 5th gear @ 50 mph-needs 6 gears or different ratio for top end- accelerates fast through 1st and 2nd car is very quiet

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  Optima EX shortcomings - 2013 Kia Optima
  By altair47 - September 9 - 11:31 pm

  Car was delivered with a half tank of fuel and empty winshield washer fluid tank. The passenger seat is extremely low, my wife feels like she is sitting on the floor and there is no adjustment up or down? Dealer was not very friendly or helpful. The sales managers personal car was a new Ferrari and he had it parked right in front where all Kia customers had to walk by. Did not look good for KIA.