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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  Never Again - 2007 Kia Rondo
  By Al Gator - December 3 - 1:43 pm

  Bought this car because I was told gas mileage was great. Not true. After the first week, return to dealer to have brakes fixed. Next, back to the dealer to fix banging noise. Front pass. strut was falling off. Next, back to the dealer to have BOTH front wheel bearings replaced. Car still howls like a demon because of bad bearing or u-joint, dealer cant/wont find and fix. Window deicers quit and the lights flicker at night when braking. Low profile tires make turnpike driving miserable. At 13k need to replace brake pads AND rotors. Seats stain when you look at them. Door locks have mind of their own. Car is a loser in the winter. Antiskid computer fights you.

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  Not what it is cracked up to be. - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By DH - December 3 - 12:16 pm

  The car has good gas mileage and average reliability for a car of this class. The quality is average to mid-low, except in the safety department where the car is excellent.

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  twitchey & in the dark - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By david nixon - December 2 - 10:36 pm

  The steering on the Sorento is just plain bad! This vehicle has electronic assist steering and has zero play in the steering wheel. A vehicle with has no play in the steering wheel is difficult to drive as very little movement in the steering wheel will cause the vehicle to move in that direction. I do remember when I took driver Ed. the teacher spent a session explaining why the steering wheel needs some play in it. As we drive we move the steering wheel a bit at a time to keep the vehicle on the path we want it to go. If there is no play just the smallest movement will cause the vehicle to move back and forth and make it very uncomfortable to drive. I would think on an icy road this would be very dangerous. Also the back up camera is so dark it is all but useless. In the daytime the reflection on the screen makes it very difficult to see and at night it does not show up well. I think the back up camera is more dangerous than not having one as the driver has to lean over towards it to try and see it better to no avail. I went to a Kia dealership and they looked at both problems and they explained to me that is the way they are built and there was no fix for the problem. The service manager agreed that these were problems but he apologized as there is no fix! I called Kia and the rep at Kia consumer contact said I test drive the vehicle and signed the contract so I would just have to put up with it!

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  Not Worth it - 2005 Kia Optima
  By john miller - December 2 - 7:06 pm

  Told it was bought brand new 07, one previous owner for 1-2 yrs. & sat at Used dealership since. My mother bought 13 immediately w/o test driving for $1400; Fuses & electrical problems! RPMs didnt work, many lvls not shown (i.e. battery). lights point to ground, adjs dont help. not even 1-2 days, cuts out w/ oil leaks. had to change freeze plugs. 1-2 month later, overheats; payed $1500 to change thermostat, hoses, sensors, there was actually cracks in radiator & exploded coolant everywhere, cost another $1500. everything requires proprietary tools; cant take off door panel to put windows back on track. spark plugs only thing easy to change! Pass. door doesnt lock/unlock and open.

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  2011 Kia Sorento EX AWD 3.5 L (6CYL) - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Steve - November 27 - 10:16 am

  I bought the Sorento because I liked the style and features including AWD for the cost. Also that Kia built a state of the art facility in Georgia which provides American jobs. Like any new vehicle, the first test drive seems pretty good. Soon after I bought it it didnt take long for the buyers remorse to set in. Within days the transmission seems to twist or knock harshly half the time you start the engine. The brake pedal is hard and wont let you start without pumping it to release? When parked on a hill the vehicle the transmission seems to not engage like the brake is still on. It also surges forward a bit while driving on the freeway and the gas mileage is not near what advertised.

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  Never again! - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By tamos - November 20 - 12:56 am

  I bought my Kia less than a year ago. I cannot even remember all of the times I have had to take it to be fixed. I have replaced the timing belt, fan motor, front tires etc. etc. I also had problems with the doors not opening and sometimes not closing in the winter. I was told it could be fixed for about $314. I would never buy a Kia again. I remember the old Kia adds that boasted that Kias would last for 200,000 miles. I cannot believe that mine will last for 150,000. Next time I will buy American!

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  Kia Sportages are TERRIBLE!! - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By DAYTON - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Check engine light on over and over... dealer can not tell us why. Vibrations at upon decleration at 40mph and acceleration at 60 mph. Trying to get a Kia rep to look at car for 6 months. Dealer NOT helpful!

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  500 miles and DEAD NEW CAR - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Duke - November 7 - 6:26 pm

  I bought a KIA Soul on 7/27/09. I had it about a week. At 11:00pm on 8/02/09 with less than 500 miles on it it had to be towed to the dealership with an engine light and oil warning light. The motor knocked and it was apparent it was holding low oil pressure. A total internal failure and yes - the dipstick said it was full of oil. Ive asked for a new vehicle and not a repair. Im getting grief and expect this thing to be a series of problems now the vehicle engine is screwed as no dealership Ive seen has the ability to put a motor back in and get it to factory specifications. Its junk that does not live up to the mileage claims as well. Look for something else.

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  2006 Kia Spectra 4dr Sedan - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By PPower05 - November 3 - 3:43 am

  I am not very happy with this car. I only have 21,000 miles, and it has already been in the shop for faulty fuel valves and transmission problems!! Whats worse, the dealership charged me over $300 to replace the transmission fluid that KIA recommends to replace every 30,000 miles (10,000 prior to when it SHOULD have been replaced) The explanation that I was given was "Kia uses poor fluids from the factory". The 100,000 mile warranty is great, if you have another car! My first KIA (same model) broke down as my family was driving to my high school graduation. My family missed my graduation being at the KIA service center. Get something else, these are not worth your hard earned money!

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  3 Strikes and the Kia is out!!!!! - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By mdacosta - October 31 - 2:18 pm

  Cant believe it my kia has to go back for the third time for crank polly bolt that keeps breaking off!!!! With bad service and bad attitude from there service department!!! With all the light bulbs going out at different times of the week and A/C stop working after the first year and no body knows why.... Heater never gets hot enough in cold winter weather here in Canada, I have to wear extra clothes to keep warm. Battery always needs a boost. Paint chips off. Do yourself a favor and DONT BUY A KIA!!!!! Youre better off walking, mine leaves me stranded.....