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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  Inexpensive Luxury - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By dsnykng - July 19 - 10:00 am

  You must test a Kia sorento , if your looking for a midsize SUV. I am driving a 2wd EX w/luxury package. I was looking to drive a 4wd, but this was the interior and amenities I wanted. Handles with ease. Very comfortable, everything at your finger tips. Would you like a luxury vehicle?..and a Truck?.. This is it !!!

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  Great SUV - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Dennis DAgosta - July 18 - 10:56 am

  This a real good SUV. Looks smart, runs even better. 3 critisims... 1)Gas mileage is not the best. 2)left front wheel well mud flap interferes with tight turns. 3) Michelin tires are worn at 30,000 inspite of several rotations. This could be a tire issue or suspension problem..Im not sure which. Overall I like the Sorento vey much. I bought the LX. Next time I will buy the EX for more options.

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  2005 Kia Sportage - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Mark Dearborn - July 15 - 12:56 pm

  If you are looking for an affordable, spacious, fuel efficient and fun to drive SUV, the Sportage is the one. We were looking for more room yet not a SUV that would take up two parking spots. We got the 6 cylinder ( a must) completely loaded with all options (leather, 6 cd, amp, subwoofer, sunroof etc) except 4WD for less than 22K. It sits up high enough for the feel of a SUV yet drives like a car. The 100,000 mile limited warranty is a plus. My wife loves this vehicle as everyday transportation to and back from work.

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  a lotta SUV for the $ - 2017 Kia Sorento
  By tim Marzofka - July 14 - 5:29 pm

  We compared several mid sized SUVs by test driving and pricing them out with similar features/packages and the Kia was the best value that we found. We were also very impressed with the ride and the safety features (autonomous braking, lane monitoring, blind spot monitoring and a great back up camera). The basics of the vehicle are great as well - a smooth and surprisingly quiet ride and solid acceleration with the 3.3 V6.

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  Great buy! - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Jesse - July 12 - 12:06 pm

  I recently purchased a Kia Spectra after reading good reviews on the car and I have not been disappointed. I commute over 100 miles per day for work and (over 90%) hwy driving) and this car gives exceptional mileage. I have a large Dodge truck so I needed something fuel efficient and comfortable and this car does not disappoint. The build quality is really high and the materials feel as high quality as a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civit (and a step above a Mazda 3) I would recommend anyone to purchase this car. You will not be disappointed.

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  Great car Bang for your Buck!! - 2016 Kia K900
  By Rich Arabian - July 11 - 3:06 am

  Great luxury without the high maintenance cost and typical breakdowns with most luxury high-end cars. It is a reliable, sharp looking and luxury ride without worry of high cost and high maintenance bill that you would have to pay $4000 plus for an extended warranty for some German made luxury cars and a less expensive Japanese luxury car. An engineer at KIA from R and D said KIA buys their engines currently from Toyota. Essentially, you are buying a Lexus for half the cost.

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  Great solid car - 2005 Kia Optima
  By Rhonda - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for 4 yrs now. Bought it used with 20,000 miles on it, now has 130,000+. Only money I have spent on the car is oil changes and tires (still havent tuned it up), oh yeah and like many others, lots of headlights. Just 3 weeks ago though my speedometer went out. No idea how much that is going to cost me to repair. I have taken the car on many across the country road trips with no problems. Love the car except the annoying headlight issue, what is up with that anyway?

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  Loving the new model! - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By Blair - July 10 - 10:00 am

  The 2011 Sportage has come far from its predecessors. I am a middle school administrator, and each morning, one of my students is dropped off by a parent driving one of the early Sportages. I look past that older one to my brand new one sitting in the parking lot, and I cant believe they wear the same label. I drove an 06 for three years and only got rid of it because my lease was up. I bought a high mileage accord because I didnt want a payment, but after a year and a half, I decided it was time for something new. I checked out the Soul but decided it was too small. I saw the new designs for the Sportage last spring and decided it was worth the wait.

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  2007 Kia Spectra5 - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By Thepumkin - July 10 - 5:10 am

  I read all of the reviews posted here before buying. This is a great car! I could not fault one thing with the car. Granted I have only had it a week. I have found good reasonable performance from the engine, the suspension, the transmission, the fit and finish inside and out is good and the car is not "plain Jane". It is a stunning car just as it is. Then there is the price. I will report more after a few miles have been put on it.

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  Great price,geat ride - 2009 Kia Sorento
  By Jeff - July 9 - 4:30 pm

  Bought the 09 Serreno new, Vehicle go 400 miles or more every tank, runs great and has good power. Rear seat leg room is better than other suvs this size. only thing I would add is a foot operated emergency brake and do away with the hand operated one this would add a little more room. Also would add a compass and outside temp. feature to all models.