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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  Features & Price are Hard to Ignore - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Landenberg, PA - May 7 - 5:16 pm

  Absolutely fun to drive! Solid handling, quiet, and decent performance. We traded in a 97 Sportage EX for a new 05. We never had any problems with the 97 after 8 years and 60k miles and it wasnt half the car of the 05 Sportage. We looked at a Rav4 to replace the 97 but decided to take a look at the new Sportage just to see what it was like. I would have shelled out the cash for a Rav4 but after driving the 05 Sportage, I was sold. The features and accessories are better than the Rav and for a price thats impossible to beat. The Rav4 is a great car but I felt like I would have been throwing money away to buy one. Look past the Kia logo and do your homework. I think youll be sold too.

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  Kia, tell the world youve got it right! - 2007 Kia Amanti
  By Billh6 - May 6 - 5:13 am

  This is my second Amanti. I enjoyed the first one, but wanted more power, period. I got it now. Love the sound with the dual exhausts. This is my dream car. Ready to take a long trip. Love the compliments.

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  A pleasure to drive - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By Faye lloyd - May 5 - 3:06 pm

  This is the second Kia Sedona that I have owned...I find that it is very reliable with no problems at all. It is a very comfortable van with lots of leg room.

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  most comfortable !! reliable suv !! - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By TIEN (JOE) NGUYEN - May 4 - 6:24 pm

  Now i previously owned a KIA Sorento 2010 i bought this new one BIG IMPROVEMENTS !! ROOMIER !! comfortable !! most of all reliable !!

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  Champaign for beer price - 2011 Kia Optima
  By redswd - May 3 - 4:40 pm

  Just got a new EX with Premium Pkg in Bronze Metal color. My first Kia after 6 Hyundais ranging from Elantra to Sonata to Genesis 3.8. Has nearly every option the Genesis had and some it didnt like heated steering wheel and Panoramic Sunroof all wrapped in gorgeous Euro sheet metal for $12K less than a base Genny. Sure the cache is not Genesis but Im smiling all the way to the bank and the pump and giving nothing up in comfort and styling. When the turbo comes to market there will be nothing left to ask for!

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  Best car I have ever Driven - 2010 Kia Soul
  By purechaos109 - May 3 - 12:56 pm

  I bought my car a month ago and it is the first brand new car I have ever owned! I have driven a lot of newer cars but none of them even compare to how this drives!! I have the Base Model! Which means I dont have any upgraded features! But I didnt want to "upgrade" because I wanted the Manual Transmission!! It really drives like a dream! Any movement in your hands and the car reacts!

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  Switched over - 2008 Kia Optima
  By exfocusowner - May 3 - 11:16 am

  I traded my Focus for this car. Not a single disappointment. Its especially complimented on its deep ocean metallic blue. And when people see the interior there impressed, and when they hear the price and warranty (which I got the fully covered out to 100,000 10 years) not just the power train drive train, they really flip out. I can say Im very pleased and impressed. I know Ive only currently have 1600 miles, but its been a very pleasing trip

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By Jay Thomas - May 2 - 8:33 pm

  I traded my 5 year old Chevy Venture for a new 2007 Kia Sedona EX with all options. I have not been disappointed. This van rides quiet and feels extremely solid on the road. Powerful and smooth. The build quality is excellent. Fit and finish are superb. Fuel economy has been much better than expected. Averaging around 20.5 MPG combined city/hwy and got 23.3 mpg on vacation this summer. Not bad when you consider 75 mph with four people and a weeks worth of luggage. Changed the oil myself. Very easy to do since the oil filter is located on the top of the engine. I highly recommend this van.

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  Excellent Car - 2004 Kia Rio
  By Denise711 - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I love my new 2004 Rio. It is fun to drive and very comfortable. I like it also because with the rising gas prices it still doesnt cost much to fill up the tank. My car gets good gas milelage. I like the way it looks and even though it may look small it is very roomy.It also has a good stereo with a cd player. It is a very smooth driving car at a good price and I woudnt trade it for any other car.

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  awesome truck for the money - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By john botts - May 2 - 10:00 am

  the sales people were great and so is the service department