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:

• 

  Lemon, and Kia blames me? - 2012 Kia Sportage
  By metrogtiguy - March 16 - 7:05 am

  I bought this as an upgrade to my 2011 Sportage LX. The LXs 2.4L engine wasnt quite up to the task of pulling my 1,155lb camper. It would struggle up hills while the A/C was running. I figured I would get the 260hp turbo one, and alleviate that issue. Well, I was VERY wrong. @3,00 miles - detonation sounds in engine. Dealer told me it was normal @5,500 miles - Total spark plug destruction while towing 1,700lb trailer @6,500 miles - Again, spark plug failure, and hole in cylinder #3 while towing 1,155lb trailer. Kia blames overloading, yet the car has a 2,000lb towing capacity. Had to file lawsuit, which is currently pending Kias response.

• 

  Fun & reliable ride; not a sports car - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By fhopp - March 6 - 8:03 am

  A list of fact/impressions with my 2001 Sportage: + Reliable + OEM tires sucked--go with yokahomas + Love the suspension--take road humps at 40 mph + Love the manueverability--turns on a dime + Styling inspired by 1950s cold war military--good or bad + Well designed seating--Im 64" and I have plenty of room; also, elevating the rear seats makes riding in back not- so-bad BUT... + Could Kia have found cheaper materials for the interior trim?! + Like the power windows and the base accessory set BUT... + need to redesign front cup holder and rear tailgate + affordable maintenance and easy to repair--both at body shop and at home

• 

  2 Engines and Counting - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By TallWill - February 17 - 10:00 am

  I have had more troubles with this vehicle than with all other vehicles combined. I had the rear seals and the head gasket on the first engine replaced at 17K, the engine replaced at 22K. (it leaked oil again) The gaskets replaced on the second engine at 28K and guess what it leaks again at 37K. This is not to mention the starter, alternator, fuel sending unit, the door handle that broke, and the fog light that was half full of water. (All replaced or repaired under warranty) The tires were very poor and were replaced at 20K and the breaks are almost shot. If you include the poor gas mileage, it was one heck of a value.

• 

  RUN AWAY FROM KIA! - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By acraite - February 16 - 5:05 pm

  I am so mad with myself to buying this car. It was so cute and nice. It was nice to drive. It look great! Then, my satalite radio subscibion ran out. So I was listening to fm. Its all staticy and crackley. I called kia service multple times that is how it is suppose to be. okay. Great a 30,000 $ car and the radio is crap. A few weeks later the backup camera comes on, in DRIVE! Okay, call the Kia service, they tell me that there is nothing wrong. I am so mad, that I cant be helped. I have a video of my camera coming on and the stupid people in the service tell me there is nothing to be fixed. Dont be stupid and buy a kia. Damn I should have bought a Toyata or a freaking honda

• 

  Warranty is just a Word - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By UnhappyOwner - February 15 - 10:03 am

  Beware of the warranty, Kia really does not cover much at all. 10-Year 100,000 mile warranty really means that anytime you have a problem the dealer will attempt to explain why it is not covered. The warranty is garbage. Do not let the warranty enter into your decision to purchase this vehicle because the warranty is a big joke.

• 

  Dont Waste Your Money - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Gary Kelemen - February 14 - 11:10 am

  At 80000 miles, the ICV valve broke and damaged the engine. After 2 months of warranty work, there is a persistent oil leak that the only dealership within 30 miles cannot fix. I spent $600 on auto rental during warranty repair. It just isnt worth owning. Run away from KIA!!

• 

  What a Mistake - 2007 Kia Rio
  By Bruce - February 13 - 6:36 am

  I like that way this car handles and that is what sold me. The repair problems have made me decide to get rid of this car after having had it only 10 months. It seems like its hard to keep ahead of it falling apart. I have never had the misfortune to have ever gotten a car like this before.

• 

  Unreliable KIA Sorento - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By subalulf - January 30 - 7:02 am

  Our Kia Sorento (EX V6) had to have the transmission replaced at 15,000 miles (not the recalled version). The electrical panels replaced at 25k miles. Mysterious popping noise in axel went un-repaired because they couldnt figure out the issue. Interior component broke prior to 36k. It was supposed to be covered under warranty but local dealer network refused to repair. Claiming it was "broken" and not a factory defect. We did not "break" the part but customers have little recourse if the dealer network performs the evaluation (and damaged the part further during evaluation). In general, Kia corporate and the Kia dealers appear unreliable and unresponsive to multiple mechanical flaws.

• 

  3rd Transmission and other stuff - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By R&B - January 29 - 10:00 am

  1st Tranny was retired at 250~ miles. second lasted untill 3 weeks ago. A Tranny control module was replaced under warranty in the carolinas and Kia has yet to send reimbursment for roadside warranty. Bad thing is I like the car but this thing has had more problems overall in two years than all my cars Ive owned in 18 years driving! I do not like Kia service, sales, or their customer NO SERVICE.

• 

  Its good for the price - 2007 Kia Rio
  By Jim - January 27 - 1:10 pm

  My Kia was purchased in July of 2007 brand new, I Have put over 85,000 miles on the car and only had it in the shop once for a timing belt going out at 72,000 miles (didnt realize they were only designed to last 60,000) pricey repair, but other wise the car has been fantastic as I have a rather long commute to work at 55 miles each way. I average 39 mpg between city and highway with the 5 speed manual transmission. The only real Issue I have with the car is that it was purchased with no AC in the Arizona desert, and it is uncomfortable for long trips, after about 2 hours behind the wheel it starts getting a uncomfortable and I need to stop and get out of the car.