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:

• 

  Best kept seceret in luxury car division - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By sliclron42 - July 2 - 10:00 am

  I rented an Amanti from Enterprise and could not believe the quality and ride of this vehicle. I even offered to purchase the one I was renting on the spot. Tuesday October 26, I bought a used siver on with all the options but the rear heated seats and traction control. The car rides like a $50K plus automobile. I agree with the other reviewers that the styling does turn heads. The car just floats down the highway. Excellent car for the money.

• 

  excellent suv - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By numnum - July 2 - 10:00 am

  i have owned this vehicle for only about 6 weeks and i love it. i am anxious to see how it handles in the winter weather. i compared the sorento to other suvs, mainly the hyundai sonata. the kia offered more options and quality for the price and it is easier to drive.

• 

  I love this little car! - 2007 Kia Rio
  By Mom of two - July 1 - 7:33 pm

  This little car has continued to impress. My SX Rio5 had the power and sport packages which turned heads. It has been SO FUN TO DRIVE, so sporty/adorable and the gas mileage is the envy of all my friends and complete strangers who ask and gasp about the excellent MPG! I have enjoyed this car for three years now and have been spoiled by my exceptional dealership. Whenever taking my car in for warranty service or an oil change, Id get a complimentary ride to work and back; theyd even give me a free car wash and replace lightbulbs in a jiffy. I now find myself needing a roomier car (minivan w/ a growing family of 4). Im sad to let go of my trusty friend; he was so reliable and kept me safe!

• 

  Great Crossover - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By johann sylvestre - July 1 - 6:04 am

  The only issue is being that my wife is vertically challenged (short), she does not find the headrests comfortable.

• 

  great little green car LOVE 2 drive soul - 2010 Kia Soul
  By martha flowes - June 29 - 4:50 am

  i waited almost 6 months o make sure i wanted it and then got the green soul.love it. one of the coolest cars ive ever owned in my life. everyone wants to check it out too.

• 

  Did My Homework - 2017 Kia Sportage
  By Annette - June 28 - 10:04 am

  2017 Kia Sportage SX AWD is amazing, after doing my homework, new Sportage offers best new car for price. Plenty of power when needed and gas mileage which was my main concern has not been much of an issue. One 600 mile drive on mostly cruise I got 27 MPG. Very luxurious interior with good placement of controls. Love the ventilated seats, heated steering. Everything I need with one exception, adaptive cruise control. Other than that all the safety features are included. We own a Kia Optima as well which we have loved but had roof noise which took 2 trips to the service dept. to repair. Sportage is much quieter and the moon roof is very large, very nice. Easy to get in and out of, plenty of back storage with seats forward or about the same size as my last Subaru Outback.

• 

  New Soul ! - 2013 Kia Soul
  By smillermom - June 26 - 2:17 am

  I absolutely love, love my Kia! I went with the Exclaim as I wanted all upgrades possible and am glad I did. There is not a feature I could imagine that is not in this vehicle. They thought of everything. I love the way it handles and the roll back feature also. The car is very solid and lots and lots of room. Nice and peppy and handles well in the rainy conditions we have been having. So very glad I traded and feel a joy just driving my car!! Now, if I can get it from being dinged in parking lots life would be perfect!!!!

• 

  Awsome Car! - 2012 Kia Optima
  By Derik - June 24 - 3:37 am

  I am 66 and I still have plenty of room. I admit I have to tilt the seat back a bit. But in this car it feels right to tilt it back anyway. The get up and go is great! I have never had an issue with this car. I bought it new. It now has.99,000 miles. I do take good care of it and service every 5k. The only minor problem I had was when the floor was getting wet and found out it was a plugged hose from the a/c system. Was a 10 minute fix. I cant say Ive ever had better luck with any other vehicle. Great gas mileage!

• 

  Great Sedan - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By JC03 - June 24 - 12:13 am

  This is a great compact sedan and gives you more than expected for the money! The fuel ecomony is awesome. I am currently getting 34 mpg. For a 4 cylinder, it really zips around.

• 

  The Sephia is Absolutely wonderful - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By Ernie W - June 23 - 10:00 am

  My 2000 Kia Sephia has never been anything but wonderful to me. Putting up with my cheapness atitude. The low grade unleaded AMPM gas, going 1000s of miles beyond my oil change needed, forgetting to put water in it, going over big pot holes, going on long car trips constantly. The sephia treats this poor college student like every car should. Absolutely superb performance everytime I turn that key.