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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  look no further - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By joseph mangione - January 13 - 10:00 am

  In the market for a SUV? Look no further!I am so impressed with this product, that Im telling you to run not walk to your KIA dealer to buy one. I love everything about this car. Its sturdy well built feeling gives you the felling of driving a much more "exspensive vehichle", and having the opportunity to drive my wifes BMW 5 series car, I think I can make that comparrison with confidence. Dont hesitate and have fun with your new Sorento.

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  Upgraded my 2011 Hatch to the 2014 Forte5 - 2014 Kia Forte
  By rabear - January 13 - 5:26 am

  Recently I decided to trade in my 2011 Forte EX hatchback on a 2014 Forte5. I got every conceivable option one can get. Wow, is all I can say. I loved our 2011 but this 2014 blows it away. Aside from having a lot more bells and whistles it is quieter, rides better and most significantly gets better gas mileage with same 2.0 engine. I am not talking about a modest increase but a big increase. I have run 7 tankfuls through it and my low was 30.1 and the high was 44.7 which was measured the old fashioned way, not by the computer.

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  I absolutely LOVE this car! - 2011 Kia Forte
  By ch3ri72 - January 13 - 2:14 am

  My husband I just bought this car a week ago and it has been the best decision we have made in a long time. The dealer we use has also helped with making it a great experience, but the car sold itself. Even tho it was used, you would never know. The handling, dependability, and overall car is great.

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  A Great Buy ! - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By Brandon - January 11 - 6:50 pm

  This car is well worth every penny. bought this car at 16k. Still like new.Very great design. great fuel mpg.around 32mpg at 75 per hour. I put 600 miles on my car a week, and love every mile of it. great get up and go for a 2.0 If I keep up with the maintenance this car should get 300k miles on it.

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  Very Reliable, Fun to Drive Car - 2004 Kia Optima
  By sdanie18 - January 11 - 3:00 am

  I was hesitant about buying a Kia, I had originally wanted an Accord but I needed a more affordable car. I have to say this car has changed my opinion of Kia - its been very reliable in the nearly 2 years I have owned it. I purchased the car with 56K and now have nearly 78K on the odometer. I consider this car a lot of fun to drive because my previous car was a 1994 Buick Century! I think if you keep up to date with maintenance (and dont get stuck with a lemon like some people on here must have) then you will have a great car on your hands.

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  80,000 miles no work ever needed - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By yoyony - January 11 - 12:06 am

  Just change the oil and get a k and n air filter and drive it. I still have the same head lights since new after 5 years. I got 80,000 miles and only on the second set of tires, first set lasted 54,000 miles.

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  More Pros than Cons - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By miandyv - January 10 - 5:33 pm

  Owned for 6 years, 88,298 mls. Purchased for $14,750. Pros: negotiated a very good deal with dealer, inexpensive maintenance, excellent in snow, excellent maneuverability on city streets and highway, spacious interior (my husband is 6 ft 5 in and my son is 6 ft 7 in) both can sit comfortably inside the car (we rode trip alot in the Kia). Now, here are the Cons: poor quality on interior and exterior components - paint peeling and chipping at less than 24,000 mls. Dealership does not want to remedy the problem, glove compartment fell off its hinges (barely ever opened), Kia logos have unexpectedly fell off, steering wheel tilt handle fell off, hoods props came apart, trunk hooks fell off

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  rust - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Zidek - January 9 - 12:23 pm

  We discovered that the steel lines that run to the heater rusted out just after the vehicle ran out of warrenty. The customer service team at Kia Corporation was terrible to deal with. We had documentation that the part started to rust while within warranty and the service department at the dealership even confirmed this, but they still would not consider a compromise on repairs.

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  Underrated car - 2010 Kia Optima
  By driver - January 8 - 3:40 pm

  Now let me start with this car isnt quite as sporty on the outside such as like Malibu or Altima. However for someone who works at a rental car company and have compared them the logical choice was optima. IT drives the smoothest out of the camry, altima, avalon, fusion, and Malibu. It has some very cool features like bluetooth, satellite radio and the inside lights at night are cool. Overall this vehicle is cheaper and IMHO features inside the vehicle.

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  FUN! SPORTY! - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Mikeyt1818 - January 8 - 1:03 am

  Awesome features, peppy engine, awesome looks, I am 6"4 and fit very well and seat isnt even all the way back