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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  Misleading Sticker - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Asian Driver - April 30 - 10:00 am

  Car drives OK. Well handling. Sticker shows will drive up to 34MPG. But I am only getting 27MPG on most of freeway drive after 4000 miles. Is this only me or others getting the same?

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  Do not recommend - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Dana - April 21 - 4:00 pm

  Spent $30,000 for brand new Kia Sorento. Since purchasing it in March 2010, it has been back to the dealership on five different occassions for two different mechanical issues. Biggest issue is it feels like the car is "downshifting" constantly at speeds around 25 mph. Was just told yesterday that car already needs a new drive shaft. Second, the car has a constant rattle that sounds like its coming from under the car on the passenger side. Was told that would most likely be dealt with in an upcoming recall due to bad struts!! I find it totally unexceptable that this 2011 car has already had all these issues. Worst purchase of my entire life!

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  Electrical problems galore! - 2006 Kia Sorento
  By d. jones - April 13 - 3:03 am

  This vehicle has been back to the Kia dealership multiple times because overnight it dies in the garage or the driveway. They have replaced sensors and told me the problem was fixed. Its not. Going to a lawyer to see if I can use the "lemon law" to return this vehicle.

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  Glad they are out of Production - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By Kaylalee - March 23 - 8:30 am

  Honestly, I thought we were getting a good deal. Really cheap...SO NOT WORTH IT! Since we got the car we have put about $6000 in repairs. Not only have we replaced the ENTIRE brake line once, we have also replaced the roters twice, the battery twice the spark plugs about 12 times, the alternator, a cylinder, the fan belt (4 times in less than 4 years). The driver side door no longer works (leaving the driver to climb over the seat and try their luck at the passenger door which only opens from the outside. When its cold the doors dont close so you have to wait for the car to heat up enough to close them or hold them while going down the road. The car is quite literally a death trap.

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  I hate this car... - 2002 Kia Rio
  By alvaniceia - March 22 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Kia in October of 00 and was pushed into it I felt like, by the dealership and sales guy. I bought the car basic. No A/C no radio, no power steering etc. Manual...First of all the air bag light has been on since about 25thousand miles have been on my car, Im up to about 80,000 miles and the air bag light is still on for no apparent reason, Ive taken it to the dealership in Highland IN several times in the past the service is HORRIBLE, they treat U like CRAP! Every visit to try to get the light right I waited 4 and 5 hours at a time only to leave and before Id make it to my door step the light would be on again. I love the model but hate the car

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  Very disappointed - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By kendallc_4 - March 2 - 2:23 pm

  I bought this vehicle with 45000 miles. Just 3 weeks after I got it, it went back in the shop for new rotors and struts. Had it 6 months and the catalytic converters went totally out. Had to get those replaced. The air conditioner had to be replaced within 2 mo. The gas mileage is very poor. Might as well be driving a big SUV. Total lemon! I am very dissatisfied with this vehicle and would never step foot into another KIA again.

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  Save yourself and stay away from Sedona! - 2009 Kia Sedona
  By Lemonade - February 5 - 12:33 pm

  This has been the worst car I have ever owned! It didnt start 2-3 times a month for the year I owned it and after 38 days in the shop and 5 visits we applied for the New York state lemon law and won. The bottom feeding Billy Fuccillos service department used my car for the weekend and left it a mess Problems (power sliding doors not opening and car randomly not starting of course not fixed. This left me in many parking lots with my 3 kids under 4 counting on strangers to let me get a jump off of their car (The kia 24 hour help line would take 2-4hours to come when they picked up the phone). The radio also went the second week, Fuccillo had been painting their building and painted the car

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  Bust with Kia - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By terri - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Was in shop 3 times before 3000 miles. Nothing but trouble at 14,000 now. Will never buy another, will not recommend anyone buy a Kia.

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  KIA Spectra - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Robin Skipper - February 1 - 9:56 pm

  This car has been a nuisance since I bought it. I liked the look of it but I wish the people who sold it to me were a bit more honest. I think it had been in an accident and they didnt tell me. It was not detailed very well. The car itself has been nothing but trouble. I have put quite a bit of money into it. I will have it paid for in Oct. However, it now needs a catalytic converter. Its time to get rid of it. I hope I can get a decent price as I do not want a car payment. Thank you

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  First and last import - 2009 Kia Optima
  By tielbor - January 25 - 4:17 pm

  We were looking for a decent, mid-sized car and settled on the Optima. We purchased the car used(two years old), with 40,000 miles on it. The car served us well for the first year and a half with only a few small issues. As soon as the warranty expired at 60,000 miles, the transmission failed. Two weeks after replacing the transmission($2700), the air bag sensor in the passenger seat failed ($1500). After the sensor, a host of electrical problems surfaced. Since the car cost us more in repairs in than it was worth over a year, we sold it and wont touch another KIA.