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:

• 

  Problems getting more frequent. - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By Van driver - March 19 - 12:00 am

  Ive driven this van for our work the last four years. Good stuff first, this van rides really nice, and is really quiet on the freeway. The engine is nice, refined. MPGs are pretty decent for such a huge vehicle- we get 22-23, pretty decent. Design wise, it works fine. I do wish the seat scoots back a little further, Im only 510". At about 12K miles, the front rotors warped. The rear hatch started leaking, we couldnt figure out why the car stunk so bad. We needed a new battery at about 19K miles. Now, at 40K, the rear hatch is leaking again, the a/c needs recharge, the suspension groans. The transmission kind of slips and cant hold gears sometimes, and the starter needed replacement.

• 

  Sorento Surprise - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Erin - March 18 - 9:43 pm

  My husband and I set out to replace our 2004 Mazda MPV with a 7 seater crossover. We drove the Flex, the Journey, and two versions of the Traverse before the Kia. We were looking to test drive the Borego but the dealership didnt have any so we jumped into the 2011 Sorento and were really surprised by what we found. The Sorento has a comfortable, smooth ride. It has great pick up, nice features and enough room for our family of 5. Weve had the car for 2 weeks now and we have no regrets. This car is fun to drive!! It has plenty of zip with its V6 3.5L engine, pretty good gas mileage and the features like the dual vista moon/sun roofs give a new cool to moms "people mover"!!

• 

  Where should I start? - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By Barbara - March 17 - 3:46 am

  There was a vibration when idling from the start. We took it to the dealer and they kept it off and on for about 5 weeks. They couldnt seem to find the source of the vibration. They replaced a couple of computers; then the transmission,then a module,etc. The vibration is better but still not as quiet as a new car should be. We get about 18/19 mpg. No seat belt light issue at all.The dealership has gone above and beyond to please us,but they now say this is not uncommon in the 2008 model. Why didnt they say that when we first complained? We are disappointed that our first new car in years has/had this problem thats not really fixed. We may trade it before something else happens.

• 

  Bought New in January 2005 - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By socaldave - March 11 - 5:13 pm

  Bought the van fully loaded: leather, DVD, ABS, moonroof, etc. Comparatively equipped mini-vans were much more expensive. Currently has about 58k miles after 8 years. The brakes went out by 20k miles and the ABS never seemed to work right. Replaced tires with Hankook (factory) tires the first couple of times. The inner walls on the front tires kept wearing out. Went with Michelins the last time and they seem to be working better. Havent had any major problems but looking at around $900 for timing belt replacement at 60k miles. Also, spark plugs are very difficult to change out. I average about 13 mpg city and 20 freeway. Paint is fading. Mirrors and bumpers are first to go.

• 

  VERY GOOD FOR LESS - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By RONNIED - March 11 - 10:00 am

  VERY SPORTY AND WAS VERY GOOD OFF ROAD ON SIX INCHES OF SNOW IN THE WOODS. I HAD A BLASTS SHOWING THE WIFE WHAT REAL FOUR WHEEL DRIVE COULD DO! HOPEFULLY THE CAR WILL LAST AFTER THE WIFE IS THROUGH WITH AND ITS MINE.

• 

  great SUV for the price - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By West VirginiaSorento - March 6 - 10:00 am

  no problems so far, only complaint is the gas mileage

• 

  Rust / Corrosion Problem on my Sedona EX - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By powerontario - March 5 - 3:20 pm

  Rust appeared on the hood of our 2004 Sedona EX about 2 years ago. It started as small pimples/spots below the grill both on the inside and the outside. The cost for repair is $1102.64 and their offer is that we each pay 1/3! Dealership 1/3, KIA Canada 1/3, customer 1/3. I also only have a limited time to accept this offer? They insist that this is an isolated problem, even after I sent them pictures of 5 other 2004 Sedona vehicles with identical rust marks and a promise to send more. Also please be aware that if you do have a Sedona around this age make sure you insist that they check the REAR COOLANT LINES. These are also starting to rust out.

• 

  Unhappy owner, Warranty too costly - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By unhappy owner - February 28 - 1:33 am

  I am very unhappy now that I find out how much the "warranty" is going to cost ME. As dealer stated..Required to do at 30K; plugs, AC system flush, Coolant system flush, LOF...cost of over $700 at dealer. At 60K it will need a timing belt, etc. that is over $700 too. All need to be done at a KIA dealer, nobody else can do. This stuff never mentioned when they wanted to make the sale! The 100K warranty is a joke, any car will last if you do all that stuff. I have had 3 sets of brakes on it, front struts, tires wearing off, replaced twice. Check engine light comes on all the time, Alarm goes off for no known reason, The resale is worse than terrible. Have just 30K on it, hate it.

• 

  3 years and no problems - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By sixsix65704 - February 27 - 3:26 am

  I traded my 06 Kia sorento for the 2007. I got a great deal I financed 8800. I love the power of the V-6. I used it on the beach in Cape Hatteras ,NC. The 4x4 works great in the sand or snow. Great SUV for the money.

• 

  Very good car for the money - 2006 Kia Sorento
  By EML - February 27 - 1:56 am

  This is my first KIA and feel that it will not be my last. I have been a Ford customer for many years and Ford has been very good too, but I just like the style and how this KIA operates.