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:

• 

  Amanti - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Pipe Major - August 23 - 9:26 pm

  Ive been driving Kia cars since 1994 when I bought a Ford Aspire, built by Kia. Then a 97 Sephia which has given and still gives excellent service, but now requires a muffler and timing belt replacement. Also have a 2002 Rio which is 3 years old and has given perfect service with NO problems. Have also used extensively a 2002 Optima which is a wonderful car. The Amanti should be just as good with a lot more luxury.

• 

  Very pleased; great value - 2007 Kia Amanti
  By mharr - August 22 - 9:36 am

  Great car for the price. Comparable in interior room and size, luxury, sound, and performance to the more expensive Chrysler 300M or Buick Lucerne. Taken on 2 trips and was perfect touring car, even through West Virginia highways. Wife loves memory seats and power pedal adjustment.

• 

  Great milage - 2012 Kia Rio
  By georgeannv - August 22 - 1:31 am

  I drive a total of 60 miles a day to work and back home. I travel both on highway and city. I use the ECO feature when dealing with traffic and have on the average (depending on where I buy my gas) get 34mpg. I have noticed with lower grade stations, the perfomance is less. The pickup while using ECO is a bit regulated but with a quick click, you can turn it off and get the punch you need to pull quickly ahead. I replaced this car with a 2007 PT Cruiser which had horrible gas milage. I find the instrument panel great with the RIO SX model and love the rear screen view due to the limited viewing of the rear window. I would definitely recommend the Rio to other buyers. It is fun to drive!

• 

  Gary - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By littlerok - August 20 - 4:43 pm

  This car is the best car i drove. when u are accelerating u can hear the gears changing automatically. so it seems like you are in a racing car. Love this Car.

• 

  Dont know yet - 2016 Kia Soul
  By jack chaffee - August 19 - 12:36 am

  too early to give a good evaluation, but quite happy so far.

• 

  Best Bang For Your Buck!! - 2010 Kia Rio
  By mtloveskg - August 18 - 11:13 am

  This little car is amazing. First of all I am 63" 245 pounds and have plenty of room! MPG are 30.4 after 2k miles of mixed driving with AC on. Not too shabby at all! Amenities are bar none for this class (read below for more on that).

• 

  My first Car (i.e. non 4x4 gas guzzler) - 2011 Kia Optima
  By rbish - August 17 - 11:25 am

  I went to look at the Sorrento SUV and saw this unique looking beauty sitting next to it on the showroom floor with a $10K less price tag. I walked around the car and sat in every seat multiple times ... I couldnt talk myself out of liking this car! I get asked by neighbors, people at the gas station and people in parking lots, "What is that? "It looks like a BMW, Audi, etc... no way its a KIA" "Its a KIA?" "Looks nice!" Needless to say I enjoy my 30min each way commute a lot better now. Sometimes I cant even tell I am driving a 4-cyl! Oh and lets just say my business partner asked for us to take it to our lunch meeting (he drives a 7-series BMW)...

• 

  Wonder Kia - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By stevetye418 - August 16 - 11:00 am

  I was skeptical when I test drove this vehicle. Hopeful when I bought it. After owning it for two years I am extremely happy with it. I have had no problems and it goes everywhere I ask it to. Keyless entry would be nice, and a little more horsepower would improve it. However, I feel happy with vehicle and I WILL definitely buy another one. I was able to make the 25 mile commute to work with 6-8 inches of snow covering the roadway, no problems, it just powered right through.

• 

  Sleeper of the subcompacts - 2006 Kia Rio
  By mwrobe1 - August 15 - 3:00 pm

  Simply put, Im 65" and 235lbs...the Kia Rio was the most comfortable and best "fitting" of all the subcompacts I test drove. Price, warranty, and mileage were big factors to my purchase. The car doesnt sound, look, drive, or leave you with any impressions of your typical "econo- box". After driving beaters as my commuter car for 13 years, the Rio was my first new car purchase. I actually look forward to the drive to and from work now.

• 

  what a car for 12,500 - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By yankee1957 - August 15 - 12:51 pm

  bought the car with 12,000 miles on it in 2006. We have really run this car. 140,000 and just oil changes ,tires, batt, and t belt regular required up keep. sits great in front needs more padding in back. 34-36 mpg to florida. window swithes could you some work also but for a cheap car cant complain about it. If I buy another it would be sorento; just like them and the dealership at tullahoma tn was great havent seen them much but always helpful. Just drive it you will like it