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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  Seats are horrible & not comfortable - 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid
  By Luz Mendoza - July 27 - 4:40 pm

  The back seats are so laid back you cannot straighten yourself up. The passenger front seat is so low that you feel like you are sitting in a pod. If someone is seated behind this seat you cannot move it back either. So most time your knees are touching the glove compartment. It is exceptionally good with gas. All other things are ok in this car.

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  Ki-eh! - 2002 Kia Optima
  By drdavid - July 22 - 2:00 am

  On first blush, the Optima is a nice car. But after driving it for almost a year, the honeymoon is over. Window problems, cold starting hesitation, rough idling, only fair milage (even with the 5 speed), gives me pause to purchase another Kia. Reponse by the dealer (after 2 visits)about the rough idling, cold hesitation and fair milage was, "thats what the factory said it should be set at." I will say that the car is reliable and can pack in the people (2 adults/2 kids) and luggage. They say you get what you pay for. I was hoping for more.

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  I wish I didnt buy one - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By mad at kia - July 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 2003 kia and I hate it .. I have so many problems with it .. First with a bad motor now the 4x4 drive dont work at all .. its a 100% lemon car and kia will not fix it ... Its been in the shop 4 times in less then 6 months ...I will never buy another kia as long as I live

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  Regret? - 2012 Kia Optima
  By sdbolts - July 12 - 10:34 pm

  I bought this car in March of 2012 with high expectations. In the beginning, I didnt notice how bad the gas mileage actually was, because I thought it was just getting acclimated with my driving. However, after a couple months, I could only muster between 23-25mpg city, and 27-29mpg highway. Also, the steering is rather lacking, it doesnt feel tight or grip the road as well as thought it would. The acceleration is weak, period. Also, the "eco" mode plays a large role in fuel economy, larger than I expected. Without the eco mode, the car handles well, more power, and a much better feel; just how I expected with about 20% worse fuel economy.

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  NOT for long haul commuters! - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By sorefoot - July 9 - 8:40 am

  purchased this vehicle used in 8/2007 for a 3-day a week commute 40 miles each way (80 per day). after a month my foot started bothering me. after two months i was diagnosed with a stress fracture. laid up with no driving for a few months in a cast and get 80% better. back to work and within weeks am having same pain! have determined foot pain coincides with the purchase date of car. the gas pedal is in such an awkward position that my foot has to be at an unnatural angle. 2 hours a day at the angle and well, you have an injury!

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  Nothing but problems - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By ndskimr - July 4 - 3:29 pm

  I have had to car for one year now and everything started out great. I loved the car but as the months went on problems started to arise. First, the car would not shut off. Even when you took the key out and walked away it still ran. Kia fixed the problem, said it was a faulty break relay switch. Now the car at times will reset everything electronic and other times will not start. Kia cannot figure out the problem. The cars transmission will slip at highway speeds causing a bit of a scare. I would not really recommend this car until Kia can get these problems resolved. The car is not the most reliable at times.

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  Lots of Fun - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By llpacal - July 4 - 2:00 am

  Had a couple of problems at the beginning that were fixed not enthusiastically yet the car is rock solid and super fun to drive. The seating position is fantastic and very cofortable.The engine is very peppy and the ride is firm but verry grippy.I now know that most people use this format to complain which I think is legitamate,but your normal satisfied consumer will never take the time to write a review.

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  Worse Van Ever Had!! VERY COSTLY!! - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By ftwcowgirl76 - June 23 - 6:56 am

  Wrote previous review praising van. Now want to shoot it! 89,000 miles and 4 sets of brakes in two years. Solenoid replaced, check engine light due to recall for exterior lighting/brake lights/switch. That was fixed. Check engine light comes on again along with oil light. Before could stop and check oil, van starts dying. Got oil in it & it starts making loud noise. Now finding out that timing belt went out & probably destroyed motor. If motor destroyed, then will be letting it just go back. Not interested in continuing to pay on something not reliable and that costly to maintain. Have to pay $100 deductible every time I take it in for anything covered under the warranty or recalled.

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  Dont Do It - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By Unhappy buyer - June 18 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle because of the price & now know I would have been WAY better off to pay more for a better brand. A/C has been fixed 2 times & it took 3 trips to dealer to diagnose bad evaporator. It made horrible noises & needed a crank shaft pulley replaced. Also, the windshield cracked with no sign of impact...another complaint Ive seen in other reviews. Worst of all, it has begun to rust. It was repaired once & now is rusting again in another spot. When I called Kia to request help getting rid of my lemon, they told me to use the state lemon law...in other words, they wouldnt do anything on their own, it had to be legally.

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  Satifsied so far - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By joecal - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Ive only owned my Sorento a couple of months, but so far I like it.The ride is very good, and it handles decent. The interior is very nice and the quality seems comparable to General Motors, if not better in some aspects. I guess time will tell how this vehicle holds up.