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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  Will stay with Kia - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By sargrebe - June 7 - 8:06 am

  We bought our first new car in 04. It is technically an 04 model, with an 05 body style. We loved this car so much that when my husband wanted a new one we bought an 08 manual for him. Great Gas mileage! Great starter car for a young family. The only cons are that the gas tank straps failed after 5 years, and I had to have those replaced, scary! And the interior after 8 years is failing, seat is falling apart.

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  Old Guy Loves This Car - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Mike - June 6 - 7:36 pm

  at 54 and having owned many luxury cars from corvettes to BMWs, I went with the Kia Soul because of style, comfort and fun. I can put up with my 5 adult children poking fun at me but I thoroughly enjoy this car.

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  Love my Kia Sedona - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By jsieghart - June 6 - 4:43 pm

  I purchased my 2005 Kia Sedona a month ago and have just been more than pleased with the vehicle. My first priority was that it was safe and it received 5-star safety ratings. My next concern was affordability. I couldnt even touch a comparable mini-van for what Im paying for my Kia. Overall, I am thrilled!

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  you get what you paid for - 2002 Kia Optima
  By Bentley Kid - June 6 - 10:00 am

  yeah, the car is inexpensive. obviously much cheaper than a comparable camry or accord. but you get what you pay for. the engine is louder than the accord and camry. tranny is slow to respond in sportronic mode but okay in full automatic. seats are good enough for the price. the styling is good though. if you trust the koreans, why not?

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  2002 EX - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By DBP - June 6 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 2002 EX with a $1000 rebate.The rebate made this deal to tempting. The Sedona rides well and has a ton of creature comforts. Everything from auto head-lights to power seats. The LX is nice too but the EX had to many extras for a small difference in price.

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  Niiiiice ride - 2014 Kia Cadenza
  By cadenza owner - June 5 - 9:42 am

  Really surprised at the look and feel of this little known of vehicle.

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  Awsome car - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Rick Martin - June 5 - 7:36 am

  The car rides like a dream. The sound system is incredible and the interior looks like a car costing at least twice as much. Coming almost fully loaded for under $25,000, people want to know where I got the money for such an expensive car. I just laugh an tell them I hit the lottery. Sweet car all the way around.

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  Great Van - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By daniel - June 4 - 5:46 pm

  My wife and I looked at almost every van on the market and for the money the Kia was by far the best performing, best handling, best riding van out of them all. The Sienna had a few options the Kia did not that we liked but it was not worth the extra money. We also have been averaging 18 MPG with the constant stop and go with the A/C system running and I really like the torque the Kia has. Very happy with the purchase, never thought I would go with a Korean made vehicle but they did it right on this one.

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  Fun to drive - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Jimmy - June 3 - 2:30 pm

  I traded my 2004.5 Spectra EX which I had 42000 miles on it, for Spectra5. It is really fun to drive. Perfect handling very nice, Interior design very stylish, CD player improved from earlier versions, lots of room for its size, Ground effects superb, keyless entry fog lights -- I mean you get everything you may get from a $26,000 car but $10K cheaper. And I have seen comparison chart. This car beats Mazda 3 and Chevy Cobalt But slower than Focus ZX4 ST and Corolla XRS but it is cheaper and has a better warranty. I say thumbs up.

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  Love my Spectra - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By mikewilks52 - June 2 - 9:40 pm

  I bought my 2003 Spectra used, it had 120,000 miles on it when i bought it. It now has 171,674 miles on it. Have only had to replace the water pump. Runs great, drives great. Have never had a problem with it. Keep up your maintance and ive heard its nothing to get 500,000+ miles on a KIA.. Love my Spectra.. My next purchase will be a KIA Soul.. Very happy with KIAs.