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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  Nice car to own and ride - 2017 Kia Forte
  By Morteza - May 11 - 5:35 pm

  I leased 2017 KIA forte LX for only 79$ per month for 3 yrs. I am very happy about the car. Fuel economy is great, interior is good and when it comes to exterior it does not look like a cheap car at all. Brake system exceeded my expectation. However,My comment on performance is different. Acceleration for this 2.0 L engine is weak. When it comes to merging into traffic make sure you have enough room with incoming cars because you are not able to speed up quickly! But overal it is such a good car to ride and worths every penny you spent.

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  four months in - 2014 Kia Cadenza
  By cmadden - May 11 - 2:17 am

  I traded in a 3 series BMW for my 2014 Kia Cadenza Premium model. This has a much better ride, but is slower off the starting line. The front wheel drive 3.3 liter V6 produces 298 horsepower and 255 ft-lbs of torque. Doesnt belong on a race track, but fine for city driving. The ride in comfortable with above average seating front and rear. Exterior styling bold and is almost identical to their $54,500 K900 model.

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  ***REALLY AWFUL**** - 2013 Kia Optima
  By NOTHAPPYCAMPER - May 10 - 2:58 pm

  Prior to buying this vehicle I owned a Chevy Silverado, So obviously downgrading to a fuel efficient economical car was very appealing. The car we bought had all the bells and whistles. leather, Navigation, double sunroof, Hybrid, everything. Fully loaded. Not knowing a lot about cars I thought this would be great for my 10 year old daughter and I. I am a busy military mom and I was planning on starting school full time. Within 2 years of ownership. Ive had one tire blow out, wheel bearing and cross bar replacement, dead battery, replaced 4 tires, electrical shortage, and the last thing 2 days ago the hybrid system shut down in the middle of a Highway 80 mile an hour traffic. afraid my life was over I was able to maneuver to the side of the rode. the dealership service department had the nerve to say it was the battery, turned out to be the hybrid system. currently trying to get out of this vehicle asap. please for the safety of yourself and your family do not get a hybrid.

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  Best Choice Ive made - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By Dennis - May 10 - 9:40 am

  Just got my Sorento Ex a few weeks ago and couldnt be happier. Had Remote start installed and is awesome getting in the car in the morning and the seat already warm. Had looked at a CR-V and am really glad I didnt get it. Got MUCH more for my money at lower price. Rides GREAT. Had 5in of snow and had to get out before streets were plowed to check the 4WD. Hugged the road as if on dry pavement My ONLY complaint is gas mileage, but have not done any highway driving as yet, so sure it will improve when I do. LOVE sitting up higher, Just have to remember to step down..lol!!! A real pleasure to drive.

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  Tows 5000# Towing-Buyer Be Ware - 2009 Kia Borrego
  By LesC - May 9 - 11:50 pm

  The 5000# towing capacity is only good if the trailer has brakes. 1650# max without trailer brakes. If you buy one to tow a 3500# trailer without brakes, you will wind up putting out $400 or more adding brakes to you trailer. Dont beleive me? Look at the manual. Thats the only place I found it.

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  DRIVER DOOR STOPPED WORKING IN A DARK PARKING LOT - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By TOM-JENNB - May 9 - 7:43 pm

  The SUV is awesome the driver door will work with the fab i have to crawl across the seats & console 8000 miles KIA Corp made would not give a rental and it is $45700.00 SXL V6 Napa Leather and Kia corp said how do we know until we look at it! they would not even send a roll back to pick up the vehicle i have spinal issues thats why my husband wanted me to have this SUV heated seats & cooled seats so i dont over heat because i have other health issues, then they offered $35.00 a day for 2 days rental we front the money. Kia does not care they showed that! We bought 3 new high end Kias in 2 1/2 weeks and they kick us in the face.

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  Promises they dont keep - 2001 Kia Rio
  By pattytrisha - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I got this on a trade and the gas millage is ok (not what the window sticker says), my transmission started leaking at 54K, this should have been made as a two seater car because there is only six inches between the back of the front seat and the back seat. Here is the killer though that wonderful 100,000 mile warrenty is only good if you are the origional owner. If you arent it is only good to 60,000 miles and it may even go down if you are the third who knows. One thing that is really good is the comfort if you are the driver I love the versitility of the seat. Lots of trunk space probably bigger than the back seat. Service dept. was really nice.

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  Kia Rio - 2004 Kia Rio
  By FM Hammad - May 9 - 2:00 am

  The Rio is very poor on gas it could be a little more fuel efficient.

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  Asian styled interior/ European exterior - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By zhdf - May 9 - 2:00 am

  A beautiful car from an up and coming brand. definatly worth taking a closer look at for someone that likes a quiet, comfortable, and safe automobile. Its basically a nice riding box with the look of mercedes, Bentley, and jaguar slaped with the name KIA!

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  price is right - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By d-byers - May 9 - 2:00 am

  what can i say this car is by far more than i ever expected, i get stopped every day with someone wanting to look inside or commenting on the looks of it,