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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  KIA SPECTRA5 FIRST 700Mi - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By SPECTRA5 - February 28 - 9:06 pm

  I have a new Spectra5 2005 and I have had so many problems with this car. My first visit to the mechanic was for vibration/shaking in the steering wheel and vibration throughout the vehicle and a blown speaker. Second visit to the shop consisted of the front ground effects falling off due to faulty install and I still have not resolved the bad vibration in the vehicle. My third visit was a result of the vehicles rear ground effects falling off, and another blown speaker and the bad vibration still not resolved; mechanics have no idea. Well I have not been back for the 4th time because now I am going into arbitration with this vehicle due to the rear ground effects falling off again.

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  Great Family Car - 2007 Kia Rondo
  By OneQwikPony - February 28 - 5:30 pm

  Wanted a new truck but the gas mileage was not as good as the Kias. Plus I have a lot more room with all the bells and whistles.

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  Solid Car - 2005 Kia Optima
  By OnlyHonda - February 28 - 4:16 pm

  I am converted to Kia. This car excels all of my expectations for the money. You know that if a company backs up a car with such a warranty, they know they are going to still make a profit. With the new innovations of the sister company Hyundai, I can see even better things coming from Kia and for this specific model.

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  What a fun surprise! - 2008 Kia Spectra
  By Kia Mia - February 28 - 12:03 am

  I wasnt looking for a Kia when I went to this dealership. A salesman talked me into test driving a Spectra 5. I was totally surprised at how quiet and smooth this vehicle was. Road noise was absolutely minimal! The great looking interior is very comfortable. All instruments and accessories are easy to use while driving. I drove this car cross country twice and it was very comfortable the whole way. The car is very stylish. Ive had numerous people inquiring about it with great interest. My wife liked the car so much that I gave it to her and bought another one, identical to it! The one thing I would change would be to have head rests that pivot from front to back. What a treat!

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  Mixed Feeklings - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By KIAKURSE - February 27 - 9:53 pm

  The check engine light has been on from day one. I spent too much time at the dealer attempting to resolve the problem. I have just under 100,000 miles and the transmission is being replaced for the third and last time, since I dont plan to keep it to have the fourth one installed.

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  Corolla VS. Spectra--2 months later - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By vallet1 - February 26 - 10:00 am

  Ok, I have to admit--I was wrong. I have had nothing but problems with this car. It has been in the shop 3 times (the closest dealer is 60 miles away). Luckily it has all been covered under the warranty. But, it is a hassel to be without a car and to beg for rides to pick-up the car from friends. I think that I can claim this car as a lemon soon.

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  I love this car - 2004 Kia Optima
  By Dana Masters - February 26 - 10:00 am

  I love everything about the Optima EX. Ive had a Mercedes 190D in the 70s and a BMW 7series in the 80s and wouldnt trade the Optima for either one. I traded a 2003 Spectra for this Optima and had absolutely NO TROUBLE with it. Kia is a great company and builds EXCELLENT, FAIRLY PRICED cars--- Its a shame America and Japan cant take note of this.

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  Pretty Good Kia Minivan - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Epkid - February 26 - 10:00 am

  I am very happy with my 2003 Sedona EX minivan. We purchased it for an excellent price. It is a comfortable vehicle which has transported us from one end of Texas to the other. It possesses a solid feel as you drive it. As long as you remember its not a sports car (dont gun it!), acceleration from a standing start is acceptable. Fortunately, the seats arent too difficult to remove.

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  Hate/like relationship with this vehicle! - 2014 Kia Sportage
  By KJ - February 26 - 9:26 am

  I purchased a new 2014 KIA Sportage SX. I have owned the vehicle just shy of two years; now at 3,600 miles. I have avoided driving it due to the damage done to the dash by the KIA dealerships (makes me furious when I get in the vehicle). The overall vehicle appearance is nice; not the most comfortable vehicle and somewhat of a sloppy ride. It has decent power; would say fair. The UVO (navigation/stereo) is a major sore spot. The unit gives error messages in Korean (not helpful in U.S.), no one at KIA can provide any interpretation information. The unit locks up repeatedly; has been replaced 4 times (10 trips to dealerships). The only way I have been able to keep the music playing is to remove the SD card and hit the reset button repeatedly after it locks up. It became a source of entertainment having friends laugh about the Korean messages; the incorrect navigation (evidently normal per KIA). KIA needs some serious work on their customer service! It would be a decent vehicle if KIA could get rid of the useless technology that does not function correctly and provide a decent service center.

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  Will stay with KIA!!! - 2011 Kia Forte
  By Ernesto - February 26 - 1:41 am

  Im just a normal working guy! Got my wife a used 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA S - But we love and enjoy my 2011 KIA FORTE! Nice features and very economic! I used to have a 2006 Kia Spectra 5 - Never had an issue!