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 my Sedona - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By tballmom - February 8 - 10:00 am

  This is a very good minivan. I love it and my family loves it too. We love to travel in our new van....Very comfortable for long trips.

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  Bullit proof - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By ajkolaniak - February 8 - 10:00 am

  The Kia Sedona is the best vehicle I have ever owned. I have purchased six new cars in the last eight years, and this is the most reliable. I currently have 45000 miles on the van, with out any mechanical failures. This can not be said about any new vehicle I have ever purchesed.

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  Kia Sedona - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By john goin - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had five. No problems. They keep getting better.P

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  best auto I owned - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By big blue - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Everything about it i love. safe,fun,reliable. I have owned many cars mostly ford and GM but the serento by far is my favorite.highly recomend

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  Very Happy Soul - 2011 Kia Soul
  By wvjefo - February 7 - 11:31 pm

  Bought my Soul + July 16, 2011 and two weeks later took it on 12 day vacation. Drove to Florida and back. NOT one problem. Soul handled the highway very well, handling, acceleration, steering. We got just under 30 mpg most of the time but our average speed was closer to 70 than 55 & the AC was almost always on. The interior space was great, The Soul swallowed our suitcases. Things did start to get tight at the end of the trip. The girlfriend loves to buy souvenirs. I am still trilled by the bells & whistles, the bluetooth, USB port & radio work perfectly together. The girlfriend is much less of a Honda fan now.

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  Wanted one for years - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By Gary L. - February 7 - 11:03 am

  This is not your typical Kia. With 242 horsepower this truck comes with lots of power, I was very impressed with the acceleration ability of this vehicle. Roars like a truck! Not annoying loud, just loud enough to remind you every time you start it that this is not a crossover SUV. Very stylish and fun to drive.

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  I love my Sportage - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Beth - February 6 - 12:33 am

  When I first saw that Kia was reintoducing the Sportage, I had to check it out. My husband had a 2002 and regrets having traded it in. I researched on line and went to my local dealer to see it in person. I was impressed by the amount of room and the safety features. Plus it now had an available 6 cyl. engine. I bought an LX FWD in jade green. This model came with all the features I wanted and has plenty of room for my family of 5 plus baseball equipment etc. I compared the specs to those of the Sorento. The differences were only a matter of inches and the Sportage is very reasonably priced. I love driving it all over town!

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  a disappointing surprise - 2006 Kia Sorento
  By harold - February 5 - 12:13 pm

  Needed a new engine when 11 months old. Clock ran 10 min fast. Headlights needed replacing every year. With 60,000 miles on the new engine it needed new coils for $1800 and was dripping oil in the garage. Lots of noise recently--needed new manifold pipes. Traded it for a Honda CRV last week. Truly a disappointment. A 10-year warranty did not cover anything but the new engine.

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  Love my Kia - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By Low my Kia - February 5 - 11:40 am

  We bought the Sedona because the price compared to other brand names is so much less for what you get. It didnt take me long to find out that not only did I save money, I also got a lot of great things in this van for my money. The seating room isnt the largest but it is just fine for me my wife and three boys + a guest or two. If you are a large person then getting into the third row will be hard, but for the average built person it is no problem. The engine handles great and with over 33K mile on her we have had no problems at all. The cargo space in the rear is ok but could be larger. Other than that I am sold on Kia for life.

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  I like the kia - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By lidy - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I like the Kia Sedona because it drives well and the van is comfortable and I can fit 3 car seats. The only problem I have had with the car is the check engine light would come on due to not putting the gas cap on and turning it 3 clicks. Over the last year this has happend four times.