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:

• 

  Recently purchased, Love more each day - 2008 Kia Optima
  By NCShane - October 3 - 5:53 am

  We looked at other cars (Camry, Accord, Sonata) & Kia offered the most for the $ w/roomy interior, good mileage, lots of trunk space & 5 star front, rear & side impact ratings We opted for a fully loaded EX w/appearance pkg, convenience pkg & Electronic Stability Control. This includes leather & heated seats too! We got a great deal especially with the $3K cash back Kia offered So far the car has performed well. It handles very nice on the road. The interior is very quite at cruising speed, though the engine is heard when accelerating but it is not overbearing. Fit & feel are great, acceleration smooth. The interior to us was nicer style than others. Optima gets better more I drive it!

• 

  Great Faux Mercedes - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By ER - October 2 - 4:30 pm

  Bought as rentacar with 12k mi and 1 yr old, we added 100k warranty for about $2k. Drive daily and on road trips with 2 small kids (now at 52k). Very good performance (no warranty repairs, just maintenance) and xlint comfort. Interior construction better than a Benz and just as quiet. Large trunk, durable leather, icy AC. Lots of looks when we take it into Mexico - they dont have these yet - but most people mistake it for a Jag in states.

• 

  My favorite car - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By Lydia - October 2 - 5:00 am

  The Amanti is by far one of the best cars Ive ever driven. If a car could be an extention of you while driving the Amanti would be it. It responds to every command like its a part of me. Everywhere I go people ask what kind of car it is. It is often mistaken for a Jaguar at nowhere near the price.

• 

  Good autos - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By leonard poole - October 1 - 2:46 pm

  Auto handles well like safety features ride good solid body and good on long trips and dont tire you out.

• 

  Hum - 2015 Kia Sportage
  By SAW - October 1 - 5:31 am

  Im leasing the Kia Sportage (2015). Over all I like the car but its an AWD and the gas is horrible. The interior of the car seems cheap to me. My second car is a 2008 BMW and Im use to the interior in that particular car. The drive is ok. Its fun to drive, the handling is like driving a car.

• 

  I love this car! - 2003 Kia Optima
  By MSAGRO - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I own a 2003 Kia Optima LX V6. I have had the car for 2 weeks and just love it! A helpful hint on the 2003 Optima owners: That grill! Ugh, looks like shark teeth in Finding Nemo. What I did was go to a Kia dealership and get a 2004 grill. Its the same fit as the 2003, just 6 screws later and you have a car that is radically changed. The part was only $87 and made it look like a newer car. I highly recommend it.

• 

  My thoughts - 2004 Kia Rio
  By crapmail - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I only have 400 miles on it so far. It is a little slow and the seats are real firm. Not really a complaint because I did not expect a great deal from a car in this price range. I bought it to get to and from work. It gets much better MPG than my other car which is a main reason for the purchase. So far I am quite happy with the car.

• 

  My cool kia - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Chris hanaburgh - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I love my kia. A lot of people dont give enough respect to the kias but Ill tell you this much, when the gas prices rose I wasnt bothered by it. The spectra has to be one of the most comfortable sedans ever made.

• 

  you have to try this car - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By boo-bud - October 1 - 2:00 am

  great handling sound system is the best ive ever heard highway driving is quite and very comfortable

• 

  Best buy in todays market! - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By KiaLover - October 1 - 2:00 am

  fun to drive, affordable as a Camry with the amenities of a mid class Mercedes