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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  Terrible - Upset - 2012 Kia Optima
  By Brandon - February 28 - 4:03 pm

  I bought my 2012 Kia Optima SX in October of 2014 with 42,000 miles. Now...November of 2015, I hit 63,000 miles and the engine just blew on the expressway. No Kia warranty as it expired, relying on a 3rd party warranty group. I provided the warranty company with all my service, oil change and maint records. Its taking a while to get updates. Future Kia buyers, ensure you do ample research and read owner reviews. I will never buy Kia again due to the fact that my model was very well maintained with Kia service dept and general car owner maintenance duties. I have friends who own Kia model between 2012-2014 and they to have had engine blew... One model Being Kia Soul. Very disappointed.

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  It stinks - 2004 Kia Optima
  By sjspiva - February 28 - 4:26 am

  I have had trouble out of it ever since the belt broke, left me strand on the side of road with out warning. I had no power on the car, shut down everything. Broke the motor support now the power steering is messed up. The mess up rack and pinon ad to clean out hold system and do for wheel alignment and this leaves me without a vehicle and 661.00 in debt on disability I think it stinks oh yeah buy a Kia

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  lemon car - 2008 Kia Rio
  By charlie1 - February 28 - 2:23 am

  I bought a kia rio sedan in 2008 have had a new transmission put in to date still having problems with transmission automatic shift from park reverse or drive to revervse is very slow I am left seating in the road waiting for it transmission to shift I feel this is a safety issue and kia should correct it after many many time taking it to shop they tell me I dont know have to drive and there is nothing wrong with my car, it is the worst car I have ever had will not buy another one nor would I recommend anyone else to buy one.

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  Kia Sorento - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Fun Cars - February 28 - 1:36 am

  This is a fun SUV - so comfortable to drive. Went from a small Neon to the Sorento - absolutely love it.

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  Worse car ever - 2004 Kia Rio
  By littlebluetoad - February 27 - 7:50 pm

  I bought this car in january of 06, it ran fine until june the following year where just randomly the engine died so i spent 3k to get it fixed then on top of that i had the cooling motor die the brakes have been replaced a few times already, and now even after the newer engine its still giving me problems. I am scared to get into my car and drive it every day in fear of it breaking down on me. Also, as others have mentioned, the AC sucks all the power out of the car so in the hot summer you cant always have it on. I feel bad for those i see who just bought a kia rio and are driving it around. Plus the resale value goes down a couple grand right off the lot. its not worth it at all!!

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  all around value - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By Mr wilber - February 27 - 6:26 am

  Powerful , able to tow rated loads, but watch out, tranny spits metal powder after any steady towing,be sure to change the fluid evry 10,000 miles like they say!! I have 50,000 miles on mine and it works well.

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  This didnt cost $35k!? - 2011 Kia Optima
  By rjp3900 - February 27 - 2:00 am

  Any other make and model would have... Leather seats, french stitching, heated AND cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, memory drivers seats that moves back to let you out and "tucks" you in when the car starts (my dad commented only his Cadillac CTS had done that for him), panoramic sunroof, styling that rivals a Lexus IS 250...for $23,500!? But Ill go on. It takes speed bumps like running fingers over velvet, yet is sporty and fun to drive. It has a 4-banger that drives that a zippy V6, and with the shiftronic, I easily pass those cars I need to. At 35 MPG highway, 24 city? No premium gas? Seriously!? This car has it all at the best value Ive seen.

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  Kia Sorento - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Mike - February 26 - 11:10 pm

  Not as smooth as I would like on bumps. But very roomy, very comfortable.

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  Honest opinion - 2007 Kia Optima
  By pamela - February 26 - 4:40 pm

  I have had this car for a month already. I really like it but I have had to replace the trunk seal because it leaked when you ran it through the car wash and I had to have a fuel pump and sender replaced. The sender doesnt come separately so you have to get the whole pump. The car had around 28,000 miles on it when I bought it. I was a little disappointed that a major part had to be replaced already. free under warranty but I am a little worried about down the road repairs. I hope it is better than the ford contour I had before that thing was always being repaired. I did do some research and found the type of engine inside the car is suppose to be good for 250,000 miles. I hope it lasts.

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  Reliable, comfortable SUV with a lot of extras!!! - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Kent Larson - February 26 - 6:21 am

  When compared with other SUVs out there, you cant beat Kia for the value for the money. So many extras that come standard that you pay more for with other brands. They just keep making them better and seem to know exactly what the discerning car-buying public is looking for! This car drives as good as when we bought it almost 100,000 miles ago, with more miles to go!