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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  Kia Forte Koup - Do not buy - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Lynn - February 25 - 10:50 pm

  Carpet on below the mats are ripping and I have had them replaced and they are ripping again. Below my glove box the carpet is hanging down and I can see the bolts. My gears are slipping already. Horrible. I have only had it for 4 months.

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  NEVER AGAIN! - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By nothappy - February 18 - 3:03 pm

  I donÂ’t know how or where to start. This car has been giving me problems from the start. The engine light goes on and off. The transmission has been replaced 3 times, the computer once, the alternator 1 time; the struts have been replaced twice. OMG! It has been my worse nightmare. I have missed so many days of work because of this. I wanted to sell it, but of course Kia does not hold their value. After I paid over 15,000 for this car, I only get $2,000 after 5 years with only 55,000 miles on it. I swear I would rather walk to work everyday before I buy another Kia. PLEASE do some research before you buy a Kia... They might be affordable, but you will pay so much at the end.

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  Big Mistake - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By bjohnson - February 18 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle partly due to the warranty and because of the affordability. Big mistake. I now know why it has such an extensive warranty - youll need it. Poor quality interior. Constant problems with electric windows not working. Replaced master cyclinder. Cup holders breaking. Air conditioner now broken. Shudders while sitting at lights. Transmission doesnt shift gears properly. Depreciates in value so quickly I will be stuck with it for years to come.

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  Dont even think about it... - 2005 Kia Rio
  By aeblanch09 - February 10 - 9:16 am

  I got this car for my first car and i am desperately trying to get rid of this thing! Two weeks after i got it, 2 of my belts needed replacing. Not only did the dealer keep it for 3 weeks to "fix it", the day that i got it back the fan stopped working and my car overheated. Needless to say we sent it back to the dealer. They fixed the fan, but ever since then ive been having radiator problems. Constant overheating, had to replace all sensors, etc.. Not worth a penny, but if you do decide to get one make sure you keep a full jug of coolant in your back seat!

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  Never Again - 2009 Kia Rondo
  By JustADriver - February 9 - 5:30 am

  Bought the KIA looking for a 3rd row. It has lots of room, but too many problems. Headlights have horizon line and are not good on hills. Bad vibration, which according to KIA was caused because the rims bent when car sat to long. The fix was to overinflate the tires. Airbag lights took several tries to fix, stereo was broken from day one, but dealer thought it was fine. KIA eventually replaced it, but the replacement was also broken. Trade in offers after about 7 months ranged from $7,000 to $10,800 for a car with about a $23,000 MSRP when purchased

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  very bad! - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By bakhtalo - February 7 - 12:13 am

  got it 3 years ago and always have had a problem with the engine, transmission, electrical and so so on. If Id not get it as a present from a friend Id never buy it. Now the compressor went and its very hot. Dont make the mistake of getting yourself KIA. I learned this lesson the hard way

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  Never again - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By eo64 - January 31 - 10:02 am

  105K miles and it threw a rod, now its as worthless as that 10 year /100K mile warranty. Never missed an overpriced, scheduled maintenance or 30K mile service. A lot of good it did me.

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  Buyer Beware - 2008 Kia Optima
  By NOTW Girl - January 23 - 1:20 am

  I purchased a new 08 Optima in January and it has been in service twice because the "Check Engine" light came on. The day I bought the Optima and drove it on the freeway, the RPM went to 6000. The car hesitates when trying to accelerate and it drives like a four-cylinder. There could be a problem with the transmission in the 08 model.

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  Van Devere>does not honor rust warranty - 2007 Kia Rio
  By dave - January 15 - 10:00 am

  This Kia Rio rusted out within 3 years! Took it to the dealer. Van Devere in Akron, Ohio West Market St will not honor warranty on rust protection. DO NOT BUY A KIA RIO. Korean junk!!

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  problems, problems - 2006 Kia Optima
  By bo - December 14 - 6:13 pm

  Repairs started at 36,000 miles. Warranty would not cover according to mechanic. It was not a manufacturing defect. $4000.00 in repairs so far & it still is not drivable. Check engine light stays on. It has a new flywheel, clutch, timing belt, new sensors crank etc. EGR valve sensor, dont know what the new problem is. Out of money & patience