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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  Nearly the perfect balance of performance/economy/price. - 2013 Kia Optima
  By steve63_10 - July 21 - 4:26 pm

  The key to this car is measuring the overall value in a car of this class. Kia has done a great job with a car that has more than adequate performance, a host of standard features, a very roomy and stylish interior, striking looks and the best fuel economy of any car Ive owned. Ive HAD it with paying for $4/Gal gas and getting 13 mpgs in SUVs and trucks etc. Although Ive never gotten 35 mpg as advertised, I have averaged 28.5 in mixed driving. Quite good for a car of its size and performance level. The LX has all the features we wanted and kept the price very reasonable. Is this the perfect car? No. (see suggested improvements) However, it is quite good at just about everything.

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  2011/100,000K miles and still awesome!! - 2014 Kia Sorento
  By Wolf family - July 21 - 1:53 pm

  still runs like a beast!! Sharp/edgy look, Drives/handles very well in the snow/rain. I have 4 kids so this 7 seater is perfect. The last row is good for small children because it is a tight fit and little room for cargo behind that-but otherwise a great family SUV. we absolutely love our Sorento!

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  Great car for the money - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By scubasteve1039 - July 21 - 2:23 am

  What a great car for the money. Good acceleration, gas mileage, and styling. Needs sound system upgrade option. Looks and drives as good as competition (Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi) at a fraction of the cost. Kia has come from out of the basement to a viable option for great value and dependable car that is safe.

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  Save about ten grand - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By gunnar02 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Its a Minivan and at about ten thousand less than a comparably equipped anything else its agreat deal. The build quality is great the warranty is great, its got a five speed auto and a pretty lively v6. Its not a porsche its a minivan,sorta like buying a toothbrush, something you just gotta have. And to my surprise I like driving it as much as my other no kids get to go to work in it German thing. Maybe Ill replace my car with a Kia Optima, so well have matching Kias!!

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  ONE GREAT SUV - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Garrick Costa - July 19 - 10:00 am

  The Sorento is a great vehicle. We just love everything about it. This is our second Kia, our first one was a Spectra and we loved it also. I just cant belive how much you get for so little money. It is very capable off road and on road it is quiet and very refined. I work for a Jeep dealer and i think that the Sorento is every a lot better vehicle then a Liberty for a lot less money. As long as KIA continues to make top notch vehicles like the Sorento i will be a customer for life.

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  Sorento is a home run - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Shaniqua - July 19 - 10:00 am

  The Sorentos handling ease gives a confidence on the road not found with my previous 14 years of SUV driving. Stability, exact performance and security really please me. QUALITY of vehicle build is really treasured, no rattles just a quiet engine PURR and power with all the amenities of the finest EURO vehicles.

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  no comparison - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By jtocatlian - July 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought my EX model three weeks ago. I had looked at all the luxury SUVs. There is no difference between this vehicle and the Lexus RX300, or Acura MDX. I felt I couldnt afford not to get this car. Between the warranty, the price and the absolute quality and luxury of this car I am thrilled with my purchase. It rides like a dream and I have every luxury imaginable. This time my husband was right!

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  Glad I Bought It - 2007 Kia Sportage
  By ajbugs - July 12 - 8:40 am

  I just bought a used Kia Sportage with 35000 miles .. it sits better and feels better than any of its competition .. i.e. Rav4, CRV, Nissan Rouge, Ford .. I drove all of those and decided the Rav4 was best for me .. then I drove the Kia .. my only complaint .. fuel economy and smaller engine .. but my Kia stays up with the best of them on the highway!

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  Love my Kia - 2003 Kia Optima
  By harris - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Wonderfull Car, would buy again, great dealer, great price, KIAS are great

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  A WHOLE NEW SUV - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By ivngrfs - July 11 - 10:00 am

  Its just such a nice vehicle to have. Having an intimidating V6 engine that even impresses V8 owners its quite fun. Plus having the freedom in mind that it is cover for 100000 or 5 years gives you an edge over other SUVs. All I can ask for in my Sorento is a sunroof. Unfortunetaly I was buried in negative equity with my RIO CINCO that I had to settle for the LX model with the nice rims on the EX, and the roof rack. Its still a very nice vehicle. I really recommended for all new shoppers. It just takes the SUV into another time zone. I have people advising me to put 20s on it or if that if its a LEXUS. WELL DONE KIA.