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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  All around Great - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Broonsbane - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Ive test driven a lot of Mini--vans and the Sedona is, by far, the best vehicle for the money you spend. I like to buy the best stuff without spending the highest price. I work too hard for my money to not be wise in my purchasing decisions. This was the best decision Ive made in a long time!!

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  Great car, but some minor bugs - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Kevin Gill - April 27 - 5:40 am

  I have had my Serento now since the end of March. I put in all the bells and whistles and had it fully loaded. I love all the extras I was able to get for the price. I like the ride qaulity, it is a little bumpy bet besides this the V6 has good power for the fuel economy. The interior is much better than many of the same cars in its class. I loved the two-tone leather seats that were available. Bugs- Shuttering sunroof, finish on the door handle is peeling off, and have a bad tire (not sure if that is because of me or the tire was bad quality). I will update more, it has only been 4 months.

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  OVER RATED - 2013 Kia Optima
  By josejose - April 25 - 6:45 pm

  Be prepared to buy a car a car and not like it once you have driven it for a while. Most new car owners look forward to taken it for a spin , not here. The ride is noisy and stiff and the electric steering is rough and stiff. Not worth it , the reviews saying it was a good car are bogus. You should rent one for the weekend before buying it , I wish I would have.

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  SOLID AS A ROCK! - 2002 Kia Rio
  By steeveo - April 24 - 10:00 am

  This car rocks! My parents bought it for me for graduation, and I love this car. Solid as a Honda, although some of you may disagree. Better than American (terrible thing I should have to say, especially at a time I should be supporting my country), but I have news for you--that Probe you own is made in Japan, that Accord you own is made in America, and God knows who the h--- made the...

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  Great car! - 2002 Kia Rio
  By SFox - April 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is great. I have had it for three months now and NO problems. Okay, so some of you are probably reading this and saying, oh, COME on! PUHLEEESE! Seriously, this car IS GRWAT and have had no problems. Excellent college car. Floor accelerator, let up off clutch, and SEE YAH (tires squeeling!)

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  Solid performer w/minor illnesses... - 2006 Kia Sorento
  By Gramotey - April 24 - 4:36 am

  Our Kia purchase was quite impulsive: weve liked the ride quality right away,and weve been specifically looking for 4x4 capabilities, some economy...bought this as no 4x4 Tuscons were available in Texas :) Body is incredibly rigid,some serious off-road performance.Comfortable and predictive road manners,good breaking backed-up by standard ABS.Reasonable controls,very good visibility,very good stock sound(although we both are missing mp3/USB/AUX jacks).Outlet in the trunk was quite a nice find!Minor problems weve seen so far is 2 blown turn signal lamps(they are doubled,however) which I had replaced and that was the end of it as of now, and main dome light is incommunicado. Thats minor...

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  So Fun to Drive - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Carol - April 23 - 5:56 pm

  Ive owned this vehicle for a little over 2 months. I love driving it! Its got everything I could want in a car (all the included options with the SX), the steering is tight and the feel is very sporty. Makes me feel years younger. Mileage is still at 28 mpg - hoping that goes up with time - but I dont baby it either, since my drive to work is all freeway at 70 mph. My only comment (and I know I read this when I was first researching the vehicle) is that it almost feels like it could have had a 6th gear - Im not even close to maxing out the rpms though - just how it feels to me. But I really love driving it - problem is, so does my husband. We might have to get one for him!

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  2005 Sage Sedona - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By bcsparks4 - April 23 - 5:36 am

  A lot of minivan for the buck. Kia is motivated to compete and it shows. Common sense features + extras. Nice to drive. Well designed. Happy with it.

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  Junk - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Junk - April 22 - 11:50 pm

  Bought the vehicle because I was told they are a great buy for the price. Nothing but problems with the piece of junk since. Had to change the power steering pump, always needs an alignment, unknown overheating problem. This overheats when it wants to with no explanation for it. Changed thermostat, radiator lines, water pump and fluid. Still over heats when it wants. Now it needs new struts and what they call a transmission but really is a trans axle. Was told it was like putting a snow blower tranny into a van. Lots of rust around the rear hatch handle. Motor is very loud. Overall, just a huge piece of junk. Do not buy in my opinion. Will never recommend a Kia to anyone.

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  Automatic Transmission Failure at 3600 Miles - 2011 Kia Optima
  By ghostrider1017 - April 22 - 4:41 pm

  On 4/11/11, we were driving to work and had gone four miles from our house, when we thought we had hit a deer. The car made a very loud sound and lurched violently, at highway speed, frightening us both. The lurching was so violent that it may well have caused other damage. We were extremely fortunate not to have crashed. We then found that the car would not shift gears. The automatic transmission had gone out of our 2011 Kia Optima EX. We bought the Kia new on 1/8/11. The car had 3600 miles on it at the time of the catastrophic failure. This was our first Kia purchase (and last, I might add), and we are very disappointed. Needless to say, we were shocked by this dangerous occurrenc