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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  Hoped for More - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By Army Guy - March 7 - 9:43 am

  This has been an average van. I knew going in that gas mileage would be bad, and it is ... about 16-17 mpg in mixed driving. Highway we get about 19. Interior is okay; my wife bought it because of leather seats and cheap price. Flexibility, however, is compromised because of very heavy third-row seats that do not fold flat. Reliability has been okay. Check engine light has come on a few times and the alternator went out at 42,000 miles. I think the transmission is starting to go. When colder than about 25, it hesitates before going into gear ... revs like it was in neutral. A/C fixed twice. All except the transmission have been fixed under warranty. Well keep it to 100k as long as repairs are free.

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  Poor review on my 03 Spectra - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Myers712924 - February 21 - 7:56 pm

  My Spectra is on the verge of being a lemon. I have had the transmission replaced twice. The rotors have been chewed up by the brake pads and they werent even 60% used up and the dealership didnt want to cover that one. They say more than 50% and its not covered. After haggling with them, they FINALLY agreed to replace the rotors, which Im not sure they did, because 10 months later, I am needing new ones again. They put that they wouldnt cover rotors any longer in the computer last time there was a problem, so now Im hung out to dry. The pads are AGAIN about 60% used. The driver seat replaced due to springs popping out of it, the seat belts replaced for not working properly, and much more.

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  Scared To Drive ! - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By babygirl - February 21 - 4:40 am

  This van is a piece of junk. Alternator went out. A/C compressor blew up. Back brakes leaking fluids. Small things inside van breaking: visor mirror cover, ashtray cover, back seat compartment cover. It has terrible terrible gas mileage. My mystery check engine light goes off and on as it pleases. The exhaust fumes are terrible. We are military and live 12 hours from our home state and I am scared to drive it. I am upside down if I trade it in , but I am willing to sacrifice a few dollars for the safety of me and my children. I actually felt safer in my 1995 Hyundai Accent. This is a no-buy.

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  Two Warnings - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By D McClure - February 18 - 12:00 am

  I bought my 2011 Sorento with 18k on it in 2013. It has been a great car for the past three years. This year it was at just over 90k. I have always done everything I am supposed to. Plus I am a slow accelerator, typically I cruise at 2000 RPM in the city and 2500 on the highway not passing 3000 during acceleration. Then last month I heard a god awful metal sheering sound and the car skidded to a halt. Had it towed to the mechanic and was told the cylinder tubes had corroded and the cylinder heads were shifting and scraping the sides and that the engine could no longer be started. Cost for a used engine with the same amount of miles is right around $4500. If I want a re-manufactured one it is even more. Warranty is not an option because it cancels at 5/60 on used purchases. What is worse to me is a I still owe $14k. I did some research and it looks like this is a common problem in 2011 and 2012 Sorentos. I had planned on buying a Kia again in the future but I think I will stick to brands I have had good experiences with. I dont know if I will repair it at some point or turn it into a $14k paper weight. I would steer clear!

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  could be a cool car - 2005 Kia Rio
  By Robert - February 12 - 12:06 am

  Since purchasing my Kia Rio Cinco in 2003, I havent had any major problems with the vehicle. I have had to take it back to have about seven items repaired or replaced. My biggest complaint is the lack of horsepower and poor gas mileage.

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  Please dont buy a KIA - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Rhonda - February 10 - 8:00 am

  Bought a Kia Sedona new 3 years ago, have taken it in for repairs 15 times, dealer and Kia dont listen to their customers and the minute you hit 60,000 miles you pay for repairs and most parts can only be found at dealer! I want others to beware of the continuous problems they face when buying a KIA. They sell for a low cost, but you need to be prepared to have your vehicle out of commission several times per year without warning.

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  KIA= Killed in Action - 2013 Kia Soul
  By fedupwithkia2 - February 5 - 4:02 am

  Nothing but problems. Kia difficult to deal with. Gas mileage is not as promised. Gas gauge has too much float Head unit quit working, been replaced Wheel speed sensor almost killed me and a friend throwing my car into limp mode. Ignition switch shorted out and had to be replaced. Radio cutting out. Again. Lights and wipers cut out. Oh did I mention the horrible shake, hard shift, failure to downshift?

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  I Didnt Like It - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By friendstiltheend - January 17 - 10:00 am

  this car had little seats and was not the car i thought it was when i bought it. I thought it was a pretty color and thats about all. It was, in all, reliable, but it did not give me the feeling of safty when i drove it on the high way.

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  biggest waste of four years of payments - 2001 Kia Rio
  By john kari - January 3 - 10:00 am

  within 6 months the tranny went four times the last time kia refused to repair the car would constantly bottom out and had trouble starting even after the oil was being replaced with sythetic oil the suspension would go so low it would cause the car to bottom out worst money ever spent do not buy this POS

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  Disgusted - 2008 Kia Spectra
  By Tony - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Do not believe any favorable since they must be written by all of the useless salesmen who cannot sell the Kia Brand. Tires horrible, front end struts and steering arm, water sloshing, bad paint job, rear end noise. Never again. Buying Chevrolet.