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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  Great Value - 2018 Kia Optima
  By Happy Driver - March 4 - 2:47 am

  Traded in my 2012 Mercedes C-Class for the 2018 Optima SXL. We purchased the 2017 Sorento SXL last spring after considering many other luxury brand SUVs and have been truly impressed. Decided it was a safe bet to trade the C-Class for the Optima. Weve been very happy with the Optima thus far. Its a very quiet, comfortable vehicle with more than enough space for a family of 4. (Its not as quiet on the freeway as my Mercedes, but I dont expect that at $20K less than the 2018 C-Class comparably equipped.) You get a lot for the money, especially the SXL trim package, made better by the great deal we got on the purchase price... $4000 below MSRP. Kias brand reliability (see Consumers Reports) combined with the value for the money should make other car brands like Honda and Toyota take notice.

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  Sweet Soul Sister - 2012 Kia Soul
  By Michelle Pennington - March 1 - 11:49 pm

  Do your homework dont overpay particularly for the base auto model. Excellent car

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  4 Month Update - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Kansas - February 28 - 12:33 am

  Our Sorento has performed well these first 4 months. Like some others, it developed a jolt when starting. Our temporary resolution is to not use the parking break and make sure there is pressure on tranny after stop. The dealership has been responsive thus far, but because it only jolts after engine is hot and sat for 1-4 hours, difficult to diagnose. The car is improving on gas mileage (23 hwy). Except for the tran, performs great- there have been no other issues. I would be interested in others posting regarding transmission issue.

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  I Love It - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By Tim P - February 27 - 11:13 am

  Wanted a Lincoln LS but after seeing this car (actually my friend T.Y. saw it 1st & pointed it out) and test driving it, I was sold. Bought it used 1-owner who took excellent care of it. I like my 1998 Mercury Sable GS better as far as smooth riding but not complaining about it. I constantly receive compliments on it from young & old.

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  Really good, roomy and nice looking car and great value! - 2012 Kia Forte
  By mazda5forme - February 26 - 6:39 pm

  Everytime we buy a new car, we look at all the brands and compare. Mazda, Toyotas, Honda, Fords, etc. We currently have 2 Fords and we also have a Mazda5 that we bought new a few years ago, that my college age daughter is now using.We bought a brand new 2011 KIA Sorento SX suv in March. Very impressed with the quality and value, also the styling. Then we needed a car for my wife, and looked at everything in the way of small sedans. To make a long story short, we bought a 2012 KIA Forte 5 door EX.

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  A meaningful and honest review. - 2007 Kia Optima
  By Allan Birmantas - February 26 - 4:03 pm

  My beautiful, dependable and comfortable kia optima ex is the best and most dependable car I have ever owned. It has all the conveniences I can think of, it gets good gas mileage and it never breaks down. I have had complete strangers compliment its styling, I have gotten as much as 40.7 mpg on one trip, and after 31,000 miles it still runs like a Swiss watch. Perfect and quiet. It also handles very nicely. In other words... For the price, in its field, it is simply perfect. A ten in every way.

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  Ed and Marions get away car. - 2016 Kia Rio
  By ed and marion s. - February 23 - 6:04 pm

  We are very pleased with our new car. We really had a nice experience at cowboy kia in conroe. Our sales person was very helpful in selecting the right car.

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  sweet, silent, smooth - 2006 Kia Rio
  By kia jerry - February 23 - 3:40 am

  What a car for $15,000 dollars with performance package and floor mats. I think I died and went to heaven! Even quiet and stable on highway with cross winds. Havent found anything I would change yet, except it could use ten more ponies. Such a joy to look at and drive. On-line reviews led me to this car. When I drove by my dealer and saw this beautiful sunset orange SX facing me, I knew I had to have it. Of course the fantastic warranty was another selling point. Lack of cruise was not an issue for me.

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  03 Kia Optima - 2003 Kia Optima
  By Wacko63 - February 23 - 2:00 am

  The Kia Optima is the first car in a long time I have been more than happy to brag about. It has the amenities of cars costing thousands more and the quiet, smooth ride of a larger luxury auto. I have nothing but praise for this car and the dealer who sold it to me. No buyers regrets at all! And dont even get me started on the 10/100 warranty! Where else does anybody have the guts to back up their product with that kind of warranty? You can spend more money on another car than you will at a Kia dealer, but, why would you?

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  I like it - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By Kia owner - February 23 - 2:00 am

  We bought our Kia brand new in May 2002 (EX model with leather, moonroof, rear spoiler, the works). The price was excellent!! The Van runs great and weve had very few problems which only includes the check engine light coming on twice in 2 years. But it was for very minor problems. We also recently bought another one (used 2002 LX). I love that one too! The LX is mine and the EX belongs to my husband. The Sedona is just a great value.