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:

• 

  SUV of the next 10 years - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By kia man - May 21 - 10:00 am

  The best suv I ever owned.

• 

  Sporty lil wagon - 2007 Kia Rondo
  By gotta love it - May 18 - 1:36 pm

  I never could imagine Kia coming up with a car like this. i had a 98 kia sephia. "junk". now in 2008 i have a 2007 kia rondo. i bought it with 16K miles on it. other than a few small issues with the dealer the car is super. after we got the tires rotated and an alignment. i get in the area of 25 mph in town and nearly 35 on the highway. i can tell that Hyundai makes kia because the quality is leaps and bounds better than my first kia. i wouldnt hesitate in a second. go get this car.

• 

  I love my Sedona - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Kelley - May 18 - 6:36 am

  Absolutely no problems. Plenty of power and very comfy to drive. Lots of room for family and lots of stuff. We take it and all our stuff to the beach whenever possible.

• 

  awwsome - 2006 Kia Optima
  By John - May 18 - 5:30 am

  Great car, never thought that I would be this happy with a Kia.

• 

  KIA Sedona LX - spirited driver - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By Robinson Family - May 17 - 12:36 pm

  I traded in a 05 Impala for this vehicle and I dont feel as if I sacrificed anything by purchasing it. I have the same amount of power with my KIA as I had with the Impala. Its GREAT! Who would have thought a minivan with 250 horses? I can roast the tires if Im not careful! Comfortable and very stable ride. When I first purchased it, I found myself driving it like a sports sedan. And the best thing is that the vehicle will allow you to do that. The suspension and traction control will keep you stable when dodging the occasional idiot driver. The fold flat rear seats are awesome and the sliding doors have power windows! Great Van! Cant wait to see the next set of improvements!

• 

  no fuel econemy - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By larry - May 17 - 5:50 am

  The van is reliable and easy to drive. The comfort level is very good. In the first 25,000 miles I had to replace both brakes and tires. My biggest complaint is that gas mileage doesnt exist. Highway is fine at about 19/20 to the gallon but city is around 10 and they can do nothing about it.

• 

  This is the CAR to Have! - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By acolon - May 15 - 10:00 am

  I just bought the SUV in June and I LOVE it. The styling is great and the performance is awesome for a company that has a nam e that people fear. and now you can find so many items to hook up your sorentos like grills, emblems, body kits and a whole lot of cool gadgets. All I can say is that bad rep of theirs is in the past and Kia has out done themselves with the Sorento!!!!!

• 

  You cant beat a Kia!! - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By Adele & Elison Baker - May 15 - 9:53 am

  This is our third Kia and couldnt be happier. The Sorento handles great and has a very solid and quiet ride. All of the controls are in easy reach of the driver. I feel better knowing that I have a full size spare tire instead of a "donut". I commute 90 miles a day and feel safer in a Kia than any other vehicle I have ever owned. We have found all of our Kia vehicles to be of the highest quality. Their vehicles are luxury quality at an economical price. Kia offers one of the best warranties around which we have never had to take advantage of. Kia has higher specifications for their vehicles, dealerships, sales and service of any other make of vehicle we have ever owned.

• 

  No more minivan! - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By drcahrl - May 15 - 1:49 am

  I loved my PAID FOR 03 Chrysler T&C, but after the 2nd accident (not my fault), husband insisted on new vehicle for us (2 young kids). I needed 3rd row - we carry extra kids at times, but didnt need cargo space for strollers and giant kid carseats any longer. Hubby fanatical about safety features. We tested EVERYTHING - even new Odyssey and Swagger wagon (Sienna), Acadia, Traverse (all too big). Sorento just the right size! City MPG 22-23, hwy about 25-26 so far. Kids LOVE IT! Will be taking 1500 mile road trip next week. Looking forward to it.

• 

  dissapointed - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By egalea - May 14 - 6:17 am

  bought my new sportage in 2007. started complaining about a weird noise after 1 year. after2 years complaining and being told i was obsessive they had to change the whole transmission. Above 80kms/hr you have to crank the radio up due to the motor noise. you can feel even the smallest pebble on the road. sluggish gear change. revs up to unbearable before gear changes and sometimes you feel you want to go out to push it to move. cannot sell it or exchange it due to pathetic resale value. HANDS OFF. buy a tricycle.......more worthwhile