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:

• 

  Switched from a SUV - 2006 Kia Optima
  By Ron Wright - December 14 - 8:33 pm

  Just bought a used 2006.5 Optima LX w/V6 (19K miles) and appearance package. It has been a blast so far. The ride, although firm, is good, especially on the highway, and the ride is acceptable in town. Fuel economy is good and a bit better than expected. All aspects of vehicle meet my expectations. I had a Nissan Pathfinder for 7+ years, so the size change is significant. Operating costs should go down with this. Vehicle fits my lower back well (have had back surgeries) and was a factor in my decision to buy. Also, the fact that I bought one and someone else had already took the depreciation hit sure helped. Vehicle is just a bit noisy on rough pavement, but acceptable.

• 

  Awesome Kia Sedona - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By Rasta1 - December 14 - 5:30 pm

  I traded in a sexy Maxima for a minivan and I love it. It is perfect for a family, has loads of room, is very comfortable, has great pick-up.

• 

  Never had a problem - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By christinea - December 13 - 11:51 pm

  I loved this car. I had it for 5 years, and I never had ANY issues. I did have to take off the front spoiler because it scraped on the driveway. I never had any work done on it in 5 years (other than oil/brakes/tires). I averaged 25 mpg till the last day. I was in an accident on the highway at lower speed, and the airbag deployed right away, BUT my head never hit ANYTHING. I came out 99% okay, just some minor whiplash. I 100% recommend this car. Turns great, isnt very noisy, accelerates nicely, quality interior, efficient.

• 

  Imports really did it this time - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Bill - December 13 - 12:36 pm

  The luxury of the best of both domestics and import high end at a price all can appreciate. Best value available today. Looks like a Bentley and Lincoln combined. Handles like a Rolls. The best of all luxury cars at a domestic economy price.

• 

  My sassy AWD SX Limited 2016 Kia Sorento - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By Dick - December 13 - 9:26 am

  I have never purchase a new vehicle so quickly. I have been driving a 2010 SRX Cadillac Premium Collection for five years. Who would have ever thought I would buy a KIA SUV?! I went to the dealership to drive the Volvo (which I literally hated) but I had done some internet research on the 2016 Sorento so when the salesman said you really need to drive the Sorento, I said ok. Thats all it took, I fell in love with this automobile. The quality of the interior with its Napa Leather and the ease of the instrument panel and the large viewing screen and the beauty of the drive won me over at once. Now all I had to do was decide just what I wanted and the trim package, the color Titanium was a given. Well I wanted it all ....a SX Limited. The dealership had to locate one in Missouri. It was exactly what I wanted color trim etc., and lo and behold when it arrived it had several other perks, like a tow package, gorgeous side steps, remote start, cross bars and several niceties. People said you are going from a Cadillac to a Kia and my reply is hell yes.....it truly is a much better car, much more comfortable, the seats are the most comfortable I have ever had and the black and white interior is stunning.....people cant get over the look and quality. The visibility out the front windshield is vast with very minimal blind spots. There are so many bells and whistles on this car I couldnt begin to comment on all. Lets just say, its right up there with the Lincoln MKX (much cheaper), BMW, and other luxery vehicles. I read this was Kias goal to put forth an SUV that would possibly attract these luxury car drivers to the new Sorento and yes thats exactly what is happening. I have been driving mine for two weeks and Im still so much in love with its gorgeous body stye and all its safety and wonderful amenities along with the quite, high quality interior. The ease of the voice activated navigation and the very simple bluetooth hands free telephone along with the Xeon lighting, the full panoramic sun roof, the roomy storage, the thrill of having an actual spare tire (Cadillac had a pump), the very peppy takeoff and getaway, the quietness of the ride on highway and the nifty red and blue lights on the interior at night make this very quick purchase of the 2016 Sorento one of the happiest and best decisions Ive ever made.

• 

  great little car for the money - 2008 Kia Spectra
  By wilburn mchone - December 12 - 11:00 pm

  I have put a custom cold air k. N intake system and a greedy exhaust on the car and have e. 3 iridium spark plugs and it is a straight drive and has an adjustable ait controller by surge performance it is fully adjustable and they say up to 50 or more horse power that is what they say 30 to 40 is what you are going to get but with intake exhaust and ait controller that 60 horse power over stock and it still runs in a safe zone where there is no worries about engine damage just break the engine in first before being aggressive with your driving style until broken in and you will have no problem break in is everything, no break in you end up with a broken down car so just be gentle until broken in

• 

  Love it - 2008 Kia Sedona
  By Paul Erickson - December 12 - 3:46 pm

  Replaced our 1997 Grand Caravan with the 08 Sedona. Looked at the newer Chrysler mini-vans, and they are truly dreadful (thats why we kept the 97 for so long.) Thought I would have to spend $$$ for Honda or Toyota, but I am very happy with the Sedona. I have never checked fuel economy. I drive it 1 mile to the train station for commuting, otherwise use it to carry lots of people and big things. So fuel economy does not matter much for this vehicle.

• 

  Iffy But So Far So Good - 2003 Kia Optima
  By treated right - December 12 - 10:00 am

  purchased Optima LX today and have only 100 miles now on it so my opinion is not strongly formed but i like what i see so far. Dealership treated us right after last 2002 Kia Spectra was a lemon got us in car on great deal. So Far Extremley Happy..time will tell and i hope it tells a good tale!!

• 

  The Secret is out.... - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Larry Wygant - December 12 - 10:00 am

  The price for the package you get in a Sedona ,Wow ,wait till the word gets out .This auto has plenty of power , passing ability ,driver comfort ,the visibility is great from the drivers seat and the passengers seat. Will respond when it is called to pass ,it will sprint to 100 MPH with little or no effort..Very stable on the road ,handles cross winds . Has all the features needed ,to satisfy Honda owners..

• 

  Awesome value, cant go wrong. - 2008 Kia Spectra
  By scott - December 12 - 4:50 am

  I love driving this car. I laugh at matrix owners knowing they paid thousands more and I have a safer ride. I was worried if Kias quality was where it should be but after owning it I can say its better than most. Far better than the american car I own.