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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  Amazing ! - 2014 Kia Soul
  By doug142 - May 31 - 7:03 pm

  I was looking for a second car,to save miles on my 14 Scion Tc, I already had 11,000 miles in 6 mos. I saw a commercial for 2014 Souls for $10,900. from a local dealer. I ended up paying $11,300, because I did not qualify for the military discount. I did not even drive it ! The color is amazing, Latte Brown. I had owned one of the first 10 Soul sport models in 09, so I had an idea of what to expect. Boy was I in for a shock ! When I left the dealership I was speechless. The car was so quiet and it drove so nicely. The interior was so upscale, and the features shocked me. Nice stereo, Satellite radio, power heated mirrors, p.windows, p.locks,bluetooth streaming, adj. p.steering ,nice ride.

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  horrible - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By e4evergone4everu - May 30 - 9:00 am

  i have owned my 2001 kia sportage for about a year. and its my 1st car. i have had the worst experience with it. it has now been in the shop for 3 months. first it was the alternator and battery. then a fuse and still isnt fixed. I have taken it to more then one shop and no one can find the problem! not to mention the visor broke off and the cup holder broke. which is really sad because i love this car its fun to drive good on gas. but overall has been a horrible car to have.

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  Gas Milage - 2013 Kia Optima
  By larry134 - May 29 - 3:02 pm

  Kia should state true gas milage. They say 24 - 35. In reality it is more like 20-22 to 31-32.Stop lying KIA, you have a great car here except for your bloated MPG milage.

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  Luxury and Value Combined! - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By Vikki Smith - May 29 - 4:26 am

  Luxury at a value price! Not a Lexus, not a Mercedes, but for 30k less than these, you cant go wrong! Due to the safety features, insurance rates are extremely fair and reasonable for a vehicle this size.

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  Kias in Trouble - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By Greg Gunderson - May 29 - 2:00 am

  I looked at the first one to arrive in Omaha. Looks like very limited numbers will be getting to the dealers this year, expect to pay window or above. Major mistake in my opinion, as I would have purchased if they were pricing like their sister car, the XL350. As it is, more expensive than a similiar Buick or the Hundia XL 350, close to an Avalon in actual exit the door price. A nice car, very roomy, but price and quanity are going to make this a hard one to buy.

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  Wonderfully, Disappointing - 2011 Kia Forte
  By juego - May 28 - 4:48 pm

  I would look at Mazda 5 again, but the Kia value as a 2.0 liter hatchback with the long warranties, roadside assistance, and all the standard features, likes Bluetooth, satellite radio, and safety equipment is hard to beat. Speaking about safety, I keep getting cruiser and volume controls mix up on the steering wheel. Hopefully, I will differentiate them before it’s too late.

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  Sedone Saved Our Lives! - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By chosen4worship - May 28 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I were traveling to New Hampshire from Pennsylvania and were bumped off the road by a tractor trailer hauling a flatbed full of lumber! Our Sedona was up to the challenge, and took the blow from the steel of the flatbed extremely well. We also took out 60 feet of guardrail, and though the exterior was obviously smashed, the engine actually kept running for a short while--long enough for us to move the car to safety. It was totaled, and were going out to buy another Sedona!

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  Never Again - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By AmKorean - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I actually bought a 1999 model but I am sure that it still applies. I wished I had read the reviews on this SUV before I bought it. I think I would have thought it out a little more had I read the other reviews. In the first six months of my having this SUV the battery died. The cars transmission was recalled in the first year. One of the rear seat belts broke in the second year. This year there is a missing washer on the rear drivers side door which sounds like the window isnt closed, that sound of rushing air all the time is annoying! My mother told me to never buy another Korean made car, and we are Korean!

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  Well designed car. - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By tk6 - May 28 - 12:27 am

  Im very happy with my Sportage SX. It is a lot of car for the money. It serves my need for something big enough to carry me, my wife and toddler on weekend daytrips. It does it while managing to be fun to drive, fairly frugal on gas, stylish and comfortable. Lots of tech features like USB, Bluetooth, backup camera, navigation, heated/cooled seat, dual-pane panoramic sunroof and premium stereo w/ sub.

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  Love it - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Randy T. - May 26 - 9:46 pm

  I bought this vehicle approx. 2 weeks ago. I like it a lot! It doesnt have all the bells and whistles, but its a great car to drive. The day after I bought it, we took it on a trip. We put about 350 miles on the car in 3 days. When I checked the mileage, I couldnt believe it. I was getting 38 mpg! I have since filled the gas tank a 2nd time and still get 38 mpg. This is more than what I anticipated and Im very happy. The car is comfortable and handles great. I was a little nervous as a first time buyer of a Kia, but so far Im happy with my purchase. The only item I need to have checked is the outside passenger mirror. There is a whistling coming from it going over 35 mph.