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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  2006 Kia Sedona EX - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By Chad - January 25 - 4:43 am

  Great standard features and option packages. Great basic warranty. Hyundai and Kia have it right! Much better than Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey. Fuel economy could be a little better. A little bit too much road noise and ride could be a little smoother. Cup holders rattle a little. A few things could be a little better but overall a great value.

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  love my Kia - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By becki - January 24 - 11:46 am

  I love my little SUV . I couldnt imagine living without it. I test drove a lot of SUVs and this one was my favorite. For the price and the way it handles on the road, its great. I plan on trading it in in two years for a new one. I have never done that before. Excellent Kia!

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  Loved 2010 Soul/Amazed by 2011 Sporento - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Diana - January 24 - 4:20 am

  I bought 2 Kias last year, a used 2009 Spectra for my son, and new Soul for me. Both are great cars. No problems. When the 2011 Sorento came out, it was a no brainer - I traded my sweet little Soul in and upgraded to the top of the line Sorento V6, and I am in heaven! The Sorento is AWESOME! I am sold on KIA. My Toyota/Honda friends are still shocked and dumbfounded at the incredible cars KIA is making! PS - I traded a Toyota Solara for the SOUL last year, and once I got a taste of KIA quality, all that space, bluetooth, satelite radio, etc, I was sold! PS - the Sorento V6 is definitely worth the loss of a couple of miles per gallon of gasoline over any V4!

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  What a Wonderful Vehicle, K, K, KIA!! - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Davidm - January 24 - 2:00 am

  All I can say is KIA! This is a WONDERFUL vehicle & I cant say enough about it. This minivan is loaded & when U add features, nothing else even comes CLOSE to KIA on price, affordability and quality. Other comparably equipped vehicles are $3000 to $7000 more. I previously owned a 2002 KIA Rio Cinco which I simply adored & traded in for the Sedona. Just to show Kias quality, I had 40,000 miles on my Cinco & all I ever did was change the oil. THATS IT! The new 2003 Rio Cincos have all the features that the 2002 model lacked. What a GREAT vehicle. I used to be Mitsu proud but now I am ALL KIA! For price, quality and overall value you cant beat KIA!

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  What a Wonderful Vehicle, K, K, KIA!! - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By DavidM - January 24 - 2:00 am

  All I can say is KIA! This is a WONDERFUL vehicle & I cant say enough about it. This minivan is loaded & when U add features, nothing else even comes CLOSE to KIA on price, affordability and quality. Other comparably equipped vehicles are $3000 to $7000 more. I previously owned a 2002 KIA Rio Cinco which I simply adored & traded in for the Sedona. Just to show Kias quality, I had 40,000 miles on my Cinco & all I ever did was change the oil. THATS IT! The new 2003 Rio Cincos have all the features that the 2002 model lacked. What a GREAT vehicle. I used to be Mitsu proud but now I am ALL KIA! For price, quality and overall value you cant beat KIA!

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  Great SUV - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Bob Jones - January 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had my Sorento for about 3 weeks and I already have over 3000 miles on it. I was skeptical about buying a Kia but so far I am pleasatly surprised. It is a great SUV for the money. Fun to drive and looks good too.

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  Great SUV - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Bob JOnes - January 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had my Sorento for about 3 weeks and I already have over 3000 miles on it. I was skeptical about buying a Kia but so far I am pleasatly surprised. It is a great SUV for the money. Fun to drive and looks good too.

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  2017 Kia Sportage EX With premium an Tech package - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By BRIAN FINOCCHIO - January 23 - 6:10 am

  I absolutely love this car from the mean exterior to the plush interior, you get in and cannot believe its a Kia! The drive is smooth- could use a bit more power but not complaining. I bought from the Kia Depot in santa ana , ca and they were accommodating unfortunately they changed ownership and now the service is terrible and they dont honor deals that were made at time of purchase..love the car..just not who I bought it from.

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  Shocked!! - 2009 Kia Optima
  By LovingmyKia! - January 22 - 10:20 am

  I never would have bought anything but a Honda or a Toyota. I was so biased against Kia that I wouldnt even look at their features. Then I was driving past the Kia dealership, and a car caught my eye - the redesigned 2009 Optima EX V6 in Metal Bronze! I stopped, took a test drive, and was completely AMAZED! Kia made the redesigned Optima look like a real competitor, and my car turns heads! I am shocked at the power from the small V6, better gas mileage than my Honda, better warranty, and it was surprisingly inexpensive for the features. I cant wait till the dealership installs my OEM navigation system! For being a Kia hater, I now wouldnt drive anything else. Kias slogan definitely true!

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  Bad purchase! - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By Zooball - January 22 - 1:26 am

  My story is not as bad as others, but here are the problems: unstable in winds, spark plugs a pain to replace, -cannot drive on any amount of snow -drink holders break easily -one passenger window stuck for a year -fuel pump squeals -check engine light constantly on -exhaust rattles -underpowered -extended warranty was a Ponzi scheme fraud -replaced battery only to cause more electrical problems -air conditioning weakens in a year -KIA dealership service is a joke at best -paid off car only to have it become un-driveable soon after -cannot fit three childrens car seats comfortably -would not sell on used market -mileage drops off rapidly -alarm so difficult to turn off it goes unused