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:

• 

  Too Bad for poor service - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By M.L. - November 22 - 9:36 pm

  Like the car, but the service stinks. Had to have the front grill replaced three times already for deformed molding and it needs to be replaced again. Front suspension rode like a skateboard until one service tech stuffed more rubber in there. Nothing major has broken, but its those little things that add up. Bumper to Bumper warrenty? NO, the salesman lied. Decent service, not a chance. Doubt I would ever purchase a Kia again because of their poor poor service. With all that said, plus much more that could be, I still like the Amanti. But it is a machine, and proper service is necessary at times.

• 

  Do not buy one - 2002 Kia Rio
  By Dont Buy ONE! - November 13 - 4:23 pm

  I bought my Rio in January with 68K miles and not after 5 months of driving the engine died! I was on the freeway and it seized! After inspection they thought it was a timing belt but in the process of inspection of the engine found that the lower part of the engine died and then broke the timing belt, spark plugs blown into bits and pieces! After call KIA they said that the last 2 years they made better engines and the engine in the 2002 was not "good." They tried to sell me a new kia but after my experance I will never buy a kia and never recommend them to a friend, in fact I told my friend who owns a kia to sell his fast! Dont get one!

• 

  2016 Kia Rio - Too Little, Too Much - 2016 Kia Rio
  By gary knott - November 4 - 1:34 pm

  1. The electronic odemeter/etc. is too cluttered. I prefer one place for one "output", not "multi-use", and clairity. We need a separate "boxed" odemeter display, etc. Also there is a large gear-shift "suggestion" that needs to be tamed and put in a corner of the instrument display area, and Id also like a notification of what gear Im in, with the shift suggestion appearing as a smaller digit with an up or down arrow. 2. Tire pressure sensors are great, but tell me the actual pressures when I ask. Also, tell me real coolant temps, not just H/C. 3. An builtin outside temp and compass above the rear-view mirror would be nice. As would making the rear-view mirror wider. 4. I like having keyed doors and trunk. 5. The radio/clock etc panel similarly needs to be much less "multi-function". Provide a little real-estate for each output (time. radio frequency) and keep it there all the time. (time always, radio state when the radio is on, etc.) You can tell Im an opinionated interface designer. 6. The car is a bit too noisy with respect to both engine and road noise. 7. you can hear the valves tapping when standing outside by the hood. 8. The acceleration is poor. 9. The car is long enough, but too narrow, widen it by 6 inches; each front passenger gets 3 more inches. 10. put rubber fill-in "cord" around the rear window. 11. The manual transmission shifts smoothly. 12. The AC controls have a weird automatic state when temp control is set to max "blue" that overrides all the other controls, recirc, etc. - Maybe give that state a separate notch on the temp control labeled MaxAC. 13. The radio needs a bit more DX (distance tuning ability.) 14. We want cruise-control with the manual trans. car!

• 

  Very poor reliability - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Lori - November 4 - 11:36 am

  I bought the 2003 Kia Sedona in November 2003 and was happy with the interior specs it provided. Other than that, I have been very unhappy with this car. It has been in the dealership service department on an average of every 4-5 months since I bought it. Beware of this car! Below is a list of the problems I have had. Thank goodness they have a good warranty. I will get rid of this car as soon as the warranty runs out. Problems: speedometer broke; back heater did not work; rear defrost strips peeled off; rear power outlets did not work; alternator went; battery was replaced; front defrost broken; power steering went; power driver seat broken; fuse box cover broken; remote entry sloppy.

• 

  Hood released while driving - 2011 Kia Soul
  By UB - November 3 - 6:10 pm

  2011 Soul driving 55 mph hood released flew back hitting roof, denting roof, denting hood, damaging both fenders. Why hasnt this problem been published? Why didnt the safety latch work?

• 

  Very Disappointed! - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Leslie - October 26 - 2:03 pm

  Our 04 Kia Sedona has been reliable for the most part. We have had a few major problems with the air conditioning. The size of this van is very small and is not a 7 passenger van but more of a 6 passenger van. I cant fit all my groceries in the back cargo space. 13 mpg is not acceptable. The third row and second row seats are very hard to remove. The driver and passenger seats and head rests are very uncomfortable.

• 

  Problems after purchase - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By SANDY - October 23 - 7:03 am

  The looks of my Kia attract a lot of comments from people. Its black-two tone & sharp. All in all I will never buy a Kia again, looks are not everything. I have had numerous probs from transmission to the smell of antifreeze in the cab. I had to have the rotors replaced after 27K miles. The transmission was shifting incorrectly 3 months after purchase, I purchased it with 11 miles on the odometer, brand new.The smell of antifreeze was so strong it was making me sick. The serv dept told me there was nothing wrong with the car but the last time I took it in for this smell they finally did something, I have not smelled it since.

• 

  Good product for the money. - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By Not what I expected - October 13 - 3:00 am

  I am an automotive officer for a credit company. Ill tell you, I dont believe I could have purchased a better SUV for the money. Price! Value! Appeal!

• 

  love car not service - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By lovehate - October 10 - 10:00 am

  the kia i have is a 2000 loved 4 wheel in winter great tractin in snow then heat shield started to rattle. dealer said they normally rip them off to stop the noise after 7 months they finally replaced the whole exhaust due to corrosion. front bearings,wiper arm failed and needed replaced.bring it back because the rear differential leaking seal.noticed alot of rust on the frame. cheap rugged suv for people with a budget , just thought the vehicle would be better made. all repairs have been covered by warranty dealer attitude has been terrible.

• 

  Pass on Kia - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By usdiver123 - October 7 - 6:16 pm

  We chose the Sedona due to the warranty. I just didnt know how much we would have to use it. This bucket of junk has been in the shop on average once every 5 months. The Korean made tires have dry-rotted after less than three years of ownership. The gas mileage is horrible. Stay away form KIA.