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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  Love It! - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By dirksm - March 12 - 10:00 am

  The Sedona is a joy to drive. The first weekend I drove it, I got a speeding ticket -- my first one in ten years. Drove from St.Louis to Florida last summer and the cruise control had no problem maintaining speed over the mountains. The windshield cracked due to the heat and it took awhile to get a new windshield installed (it was back ordered). However, the service department was great when the parts actually came in. The Sedona does have many many blind spots. We had to remove the headrests in the back to be able to see out of the back window.

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  Got this for Christmas and Love It!!!! - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Princess - March 11 - 12:13 am

  My husband gave this to me as a Christmas gift and it is the best gift ever! I had a 2004 Kia Optima and loved it and I wanted to stay with the Kia family. I love my Sorento even though I intially thought an SUV would be too big and awkward to drive but I needed something bigger - more room. The warranty is one of the best out there. It handles just like a car so I dont feel like I am driving this big piece of machinery. It looks far more $$$$ than it really is. Several people thought it was a Lexus or Acura! Looks way better than those to me!

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Belinda Davis - March 10 - 2:46 pm

  I bought a white pearl in 2005 and my husband did not care for the color so we were out riding one day and we stopped by the car lot and decided to trade it in for a black one. These cars are so sharp looking, no matter what color they are. I feel like Im riding in a Cadillac but I did not have to pay the price for one! I love my car and my next car will be an Amanti and it will be my third Amanti that I have owned. Just ask me and Ill tell you like I tell everyone else "best car Ive ever owned".

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  OUTSTANDING Vehicle` - 2012 Kia Soul
  By wyowes - March 8 - 8:01 am

  I just purchased a 2012 Kia Soul from Weseloh Kia in Carlsbad, CA. First of all the dealership was outstanding as well as the folks--Elise and Oscar--to took care of me. They were all just amazing. I love my car. This is the 3rd Kia our family has purchased. Together with the quality of the car, the look, and the warranty, and of course all the air bags, I wouldnt get any other model. Also the price is right, too! Thank you to all who are connected with this Car Dealer.

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  First Time Kia Owner - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Ralph - March 8 - 6:40 am

  Find the L-4 engine very competent in this vehicle coupled with Kias 6 speed auto. Just completed first 800 miles (mostly hwy)averaging 25.8 mpg while pushing/testing vehicle during highway driving through mountains and expressway driving in TN and KY. Delighted with lack of engine noise and strain during shift down while going through mountains on cruise control at 70 mph. Pleased with my purchase price and overall quality and performance. This is the 7th SUV vehicle I have owned during the past 25 years and may be the best.

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  Good vehicle for a family - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By DeWayne - March 8 - 4:26 am

  My wife wasnt impressed when the dealership gave us two different coded keys. She couldnt start the van because the key she had was coded wrong for the ignition. It took the dealership 6 hours to get back to her to explain why the van wouldnt start. Weve also had to return to the dealership to have the cigarette lighter replaced with a cell phone plug-in. The vehicle only had one power plug. Neither my wife or I smoke, so we preferred to have two power plugs. There are a lot of bells and whistles, almost too many to get to know in a short period of time. Ive found that some of the accessories, like the pull up tray between the driver and passenger can make it difficult to engage the seatbelt.

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  BOSE eat your heart out! - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By gameboymama - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Only driven my new minivan a few weeks, but it handles much better than my Caravan ever did. All the features inside are easily accessible and the kids love the rear air features and the 12v plugs throughout the van that they can plug their games and stereos into. Was pleasantly surprised by the luxury car mats that came with it- even for both back seat areas, and the first aid kit was also a great find! It is a great van for the money and since I saved more than $8,000, I can use that money for a vacation!

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  2009 Kia Sorento - 2009 Kia Sorento
  By Teri Padgett - March 6 - 3:26 pm

  This is an easy handling SUV. It performs very well in snow and on ice. It helped pull bigger cars out of ditches during a blizzard. It has great power, accelerates easily. I love this car inside and out.

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  Love my Kia - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By Nicole - March 6 - 12:50 am

  I purchased my Kia in 02/09. I was 9 months pregnant and was having a VERY hard time getting the infant car seat in and out of the back seat of my 04 honda ex coupe, so I was just looking around for a 4door vehicle at least. Well, there was an ad for brand new kias for 12,900. I had looked at the crvs but even used were way out of my budget. I test drove the KIA and told them what I could afford. I love my Kia. It is SO roomy. With having a new baby I have lots of stuff. My only complaints were not having a keyless entry being standard and sometimes large hills give my 4cyl a run for its money. LOL. I really love it, its a alot of car for a low price and an awesome warranty!

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  Love my Sportage! - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By kcarson - March 5 - 5:50 am

  I have always been a Toyota guy but when looking to trade out of my aging Toyota 4Runner I thought I owed it to myself to do a little research. At every turn I ended up right back on KiaÂ’s door step. With a lot of reluctance I decided to give the Sportage a test drive. ThatÂ’s all it took. The ride and handling of this vehicle coupled with the overall price and warranty (standard mind you) and a resale value that now stood up to the big dogs it was a no brainer. I would have to say to Kia , keep up the great work! Your hard work and attention to quality and detail is now starting to get the recognition it deserves