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:

• 

  A Great Car - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By GK - September 16 - 8:13 pm

  The vehicle is quiet, roomy and comfortable. People cannot believe that it is a Kia. It drives like a much more expensive vehicle and is economical on fuel. Highly recommended!

• 

  2nd Sedona owned, love it - 2016 Kia Sedona
  By James Hancock - September 16 - 7:10 pm

  On board GPS would be nice. Have to move up to top price model to get it.

• 

  Kia Rondo - 2007 Kia Rondo
  By Anne - September 16 - 8:23 am

  I purchased a black Kia Rondo with beige fabric interior. From the first week of ownership had problems with water stains on the seat. The dealership detailed the interior several times to clean the stains which led to additional stains, each time trying new protectants which they stated should take care of the problem. According to the service manager Kia could replace the seats with the same fabric, at the time we decided to try the new fabric protector. One year later my interior looks like we have poured liquid all over, every stain shows, many from water. I am very frustrated, would not recommend fabric interior. I know if I try to sell my car this will lower the value.

• 

  Waste of Time - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By Natalie - September 15 - 6:29 pm

  This car is not worth the money. Kias are not mad to last.

• 

  Dont get hit! - 2005 Kia Optima
  By Brad Zimmerman - September 14 - 1:30 pm

  Overall, car was good looking and fun to drive. Lots of pick up for a 4 cylinder. Comfortable on long trips with ok mileage (29 hwy). 2 days after I got it, battery was dead - faulty alternator was replaced. Then, battery failed. After that, the car was trouble free. Then, I was rear ended by an SUV at about 20 miles an hour. My car was pushed into the car ahead of me. This low speed collision caused $17,000+ damage to the Optima, totaling it. My 8 month old car with 6500 miles on it was totaled with this small wreck! The body shop said repair parts for Kias are overpriced and hard to get, sometimes requiring a long wait for the parts. The car did protect me as I wasnt hurt.

• 

  Perfect Soul Mate - 2010 Kia Soul
  By vinylengraver - September 14 - 10:20 am

  I test drove the Soul twice, couple of days apart. I wanted to make sure that my initial impressions were not due to an impulse, a sudden urge to have it ... as it was love on first sight. Because love is blind, the second time I drove it back-to-back with the new with Mazda3 and I tried to pay close attention. Both times the car felt exactly the same. Friendly, inviting, somehow familiar. Safe, willing, cooperative and cheerful. Cool and cute and very good looking. I say those are the qualities of a perfect companion. A soul mate, if you will. No other car I ever owned felt quite the same way. Thats how I knew IT IS THE ONE!

• 

  First Day - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By mdfoster1 - September 12 - 4:16 am

  I purchased a Used 2004 Kia Amanti in Oct 2012. I will write reviews at inspection, six months, and after one year of driving. I test drove 3 2004 Amanti cars. One with 146000 miles; One with 118000 miles; and One with 155000 miles. The base model drove like it needed an alignment-had it inspected for $100 by a kia dealership. Yes, it needed alignment, valve cover gaskets, and timing belt changed. No I didnt buy it. The 118000 miles car drove like it was on its last leg-so I didnt get it. The 155000 mile Amanti drove like it was just coming off the showroom floor. I drove it home today - 120 miles. So far it is wonderful! I love the design and comfort of this car.

• 

  Youve got to be kidding me!!! - 2006 Kia Optima
  By dezjet - September 12 - 1:00 am

  I bought this car, 2006.5 Optima two years ago based on the semi-glowing reviews of this and other sites. What a mistake. Im wondering if there are any real drivers out there. This car is an engineering piece of junk, nice looking with accessorie wheels, but not much else. MPG is puzzling also. Only car Ive ever had that got poorer mileage on the freeway than around town-dealer cant explain this phenomena. Oh, great ad campaign, Kia, all image and no substance. End note: if you drive like grandma or the snowbirds we entertain in Az, by all means, buy the Kia. If youre any other kind of driver, push it far, far, down your list. Disappointment is waiting.

• 

  A Great Alternative to Civics - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By SuperSephia - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my KIA Sephia in April of 2002, with 9,000 Miles on the odometer. Since then I have added over 1500 more, and never had as much fun doing so. Very fast, for a 4-cylinder (I outrun my friends souped up Cavalier) and thats bone stock. Look out Civic boys...here I come! Very dependable. Great warranty.

• 

  Love my Amanti - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Mike - September 10 - 10:13 pm

  Ive owned Cadillacs, Hondas, Toyotas, and Nissans. I absolutely love this car. It rides as smooth and quiet as a Cadillac, but came with more great options than a Caddy at twice the price. Ive had to have the computer tweaked once. Comfort is an absolute plus. I can drive for 5 hours and not be remotely tired (and Im 60). The Infinity sound system is very good, but, yes, a Bose is better. The warranty program is excellent and Kia certainly stands behind their product. Handling could be a tad better, but you quickly get the feel of it. I have to admit, I took KIA off the trunk and changed the wheel covers, which has generated many questions as to what kind of car is it. I love it.