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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  Disappointed - 2007 Kia Rio
  By liv2fsh - June 14 - 5:16 pm

  Have had this car for 1 year and what a mistake. Should have stayed w/Hyundai Accent but they didnt offer a 4dr hatch. Have had a constant speed sensor problem on the auto trans. The car is slow, handles poorly in the snow and less than good gas mileage. Avg 28 combined city/hywy. Should get better mileage w/such a small engine.

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  Perfect Car - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By miket02130 - June 14 - 3:53 am

  My car now has 87,000 miles and I cannot say enough about how WELL this works. The only things with KIA is do not let the tank go below 1/4 in the cold of winter. The line will freeze.

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  NICE CAR - 2003 Kia Optima
  By KEITH C. - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd KIA. First was a 2000 Sephia. The dependabily was the reason why I went back for another. I had 138,000 on my 2 1/2 year old Sephia. I liked the style of the Optima 2003. So far I enjoy driving it. I have had a simple problem which the dealer will correct. I am hopeing to get the same reliable transportation with this car. If so, I will buy another KIA in 3 years.

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  Satisfied With My Sedona - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Huffman - June 13 - 10:00 am

  My Sedona is a 2002,purchased new.It currently has 9456 miles on it.I did have a problem within the first month of purchase.The alternator failed and the dealer had no replacement in stock.My vehicle was in the shop about a week waiting for parts.They finally took an alternator from one on the lot and replaced it.I have had no more problems with this vehicle.Im satisfied.

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  Miss my wagon - 2002 Kia Rio
  By kialover15 - June 10 - 7:06 pm

  We bought a Kia Rio Cinco back in June of 2007, we bought it for one reason, gas mileage. It replaced a 94 Cadillac Deville, (15 mpg). This Rio would get 32 mpg city every time, and only one trip on the highway we got 37 mpg! Going 70-75 mpg (no cruise). Loved this car. We had only trouble with it, and that was when I was driving, the rear right wheel locked up, as if the emergency brake had been applied to just the wheel. But what actually happened was that the rod that makes the wheel turn, was so rusted it collapsed. We would still have this car today if some idiot didnt run through a red light and total it. Tough car, I wasnt killed.

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  As good as anything in its class. - 2010 Kia Optima
  By Swede - June 9 - 9:46 am

  This car is as good or better than anything in its class. I am sure the price will rise on this car very soon. It is truly the bargain out there.

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  My 2nd One - still have first - 2008 Kia Amanti
  By R M Farver - June 8 - 3:06 pm

  I have a 2007 with 42,000 miles and my wife loves my car. Bought her a 2008 in black with ALL the options. The cars are identical except color - defrosting outside mirrors and a back seat pass thru. Hers has zero wind noise with the sun roof interior slider pulled back and mine has just a little. My car has not rattled -squeeked or anything else since I bought it. I drove this car from S.C. to Mobile and it was perfect. I like the exterior of the Hyundai model better but the interior of this car is much nicer. Buy it - you will like it

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  Best buy out there in this class - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By Rene - June 8 - 4:30 am

  Love this car! Great head and leg room tons of versatility in the folding seats and cargo space. Very good visuals while driving, it sits higher up than my Taurus. Handles and rides well. Gas mileage could be better. The car isnt completely watertight in a constant downpour. Found moisture on all the inside framing. Fantastic warranty. I bought the added extended 10 year bumper to bumper. I went prepared with safety info and price quotes from larger dealers. got a great deal on a great car.

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  Liked it so much I bought another - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By onephatgrl - June 7 - 8:26 pm

  Very well designed and laid out. Build quality is very nice and not cheap looking. Have an Ex and LX both 4WD wich perform well in the snow. Ride is smooth but sometimes choppy at low speds otherwise a good alternative to honda crv and the ever so ugly rav 4

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  Love it - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By rodshep436 - June 7 - 10:00 am

  We have had our Sorento for almost 1yr and love it. We have appx 20000 miles so far and have not encountered any problems. Still no rattles..... Only thing I dont like is the gas mileage. We get about 18mpg in town and 20 out on the road. Whats amazing is after a year of owning this car Im still getting stopped in parking lots by people who just want a closer look to make sure it really is a Kia.