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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  Great Value but not completely satisfied - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By JennBinCA - January 21 - 2:00 am

  In first 6 months, had to have it in for repairs 3 separate times because the "engine" light kept coming on (apparently due to the oxygen sensors in the gas tank?). At 18 months, lost the ability to use reverse and had to have a completely new transmission put in and yet still having transmission problems now (VERY rough shifting). Everything so far has been covered by warranty.

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  major disappointment - 2013 Kia Optima
  By johnlmn - December 13 - 5:22 am

  While it is a very good looking car, with a reasonable ride and handling. The gas mileage is a major disappointment. I would not have even considered the car if I knew its true gas mileage. My previous car had EPA numbers of 19/24/30 and I normally got about 28 mpg. The optima has EPA numbers of 24/28/34 and I get about 25-26 mpg. So with a car with 4mpg better EPA numbers I am getting 2mpg worse gas mileage??? I have had the car into 2 different dealers, both of which say the car is running to spec. The other major disappointment is the UVO sound system. It is fine as long as you use only the radio or CD, but the USB connection is very buggy. When connecting the USB to either a thum

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  No pros only cons 14MPG - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By rchrdbus - December 5 - 12:48 pm

  Bought the car in 2010. Car has 37000 miles on it, so far same issues other people have. Suspension is rough, rattle noise everywhere, tranmission is works whenever its feels like automatic. Had my car at high rev lines cruising in the freeway so i put it in tiptronic just put it in 6gear. Poor in gas. EPA says 21-29 which is reason i bought it, but city i been getting 14-18mpg and 22-26 at most highway. Regret purchasing this car

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  Good cheap car that runs and drives - 2010 Kia Forte
  By manycarowner - December 3 - 3:28 am

  My car has 50,000 miles, 2.0L 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual transmission. I bought it used. This car has been great. It has been my daily driver for 2 years. I needed cheap, reliable transportation and it fit the bill. Comes with great features and a great warranty. That being said, beware of this cars resale value. I have put about 10,000 miles on it in the 2 years i have owned it and it went from being worth almost $13,000 retail/$10,000 trade to about $7500 retail and $5000 trade. For those who want to buy this car to keep and drive till it dies, it is well worth it. However if you plan on trading it in after a year or two, look away. I wish i hadnt bought it just for that reason alone.

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  BUY A HYUNDAI - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By DBMK34 - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WHTH MY AIRBAG SYSTEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM IN THE THREE YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR THE MOLDING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD STARTED COMING OFF. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE THE EXTRIOR DESIGN IS GOOD

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  Mixed Reviews on the Soul + - 2012 Kia Soul
  By kunadave - October 26 - 7:39 pm

  I have a mixed review of the 2012 Kia Soul. The positive points are that the car was inexpensive to buy, very space efficient and produces excellent fuel economy. I have a handicapped girlfriend and the seat is the right height for her to slide out of her scooter and into the seat. I can also fold the scooter and fit it into the back. This is good. The fuel economy guide tells me that the car is rated at 27/35 mpg. I only use this car for commuting 20-miles each way. My fuel economy average has always between 32 and 34 mpg in normal urban driving. This too is good. The negatives are that the car has really annoying characteristics. The key fob is too big to fit into my pants pocket without leaving a bulge. I tried to find a normal key just to open the door but goofy Kia changed the size of the key blank (for 2012). I canÂ’t find a locksmith with the right size anyway. The car also turns off the radio and then yells at me to coordinate my cell phone with its Bluetooth system. My phone is too old to for bluetooth so I get yelled at twice a week forever? The car probably learned to yell from Kia Customer Service people; they yell too. The car has no spare tire but it does have an emergency inflator. I live at the end of civilization in Idaho and there is often no cell phone service when I go fishing/hunting. I canÂ’t be sure that I can get roadside assistance if the car has a flat outside the cell phone service area. And I have to carry a cell phone? I would think that adding a spare tire is cheaper than paying the crabby customer service people. Overall, the car is very good at what it does; efficiently moving people at low cost. It is just so annoying in operation that I will not buy a Kia again. IÂ’ll buy another new full-sized pickup and pay the extra fuel costs with the money I save from the truckÂ’s lower purchase cost and lower insurance cost Kuna Dave

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  gooooood - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By jaymartin - October 25 - 2:00 am

  the car runs well in the one month of purches. im very happy so for THE ONLY THING IS THAT MY WINDOW SEALS LEAK ON THE CAR WHEN WASHING

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  I wouldnt buy this car if I were you! - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By Mel - October 18 - 3:06 pm

  I have had trouble with it from the start. My transmission went 3 weeks after I bought it. Good thing it was under warranty. So far I have had it for 2 and a half years and the alternator, blower, battery, brakes, wiper motor have all gone at least once some twice. I have to get new tires every 9 months front only due to it cant keep an alignment. Brakes sqeak no matter if they are new or old. Door looks freeze in the winter. Also doesnt handle right in the snow. Right now my car is off the road either due to a blown motor or possibly the catalytic converter. It has been nothing but trouble.

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  2001 Kia Sephia - Its been a headache.. - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By Mike - October 16 - 10:10 pm

  I would love to give the reader a thumbs up for this car. But I cant. Had to replace: tranny at 100k mi. $1000, serp belt (always squeaky!), spark plugs; wires, alternator $260, both headlights, all manner of front end work probably amounting to $1200. Sheet metal is easy to dent and scratch. Have to slam trunk to get it to latch. Parking brake needs replaced. Drivers-side strut&spring needs replaced. Wheel bearing going bad quick-like. Doors FREEZE open in winter (Michigan). This is so annoying. You cant even imagine until you experience having to use a bungee. Driver door lock stuck in lock position. Had to take off door panel to fix. Other than all this, it is a fabulous car.

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  Never ending story - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By njones - October 16 - 3:00 pm

  Bought this new. Had problems right from the start. ICV problem caused engine replacement. Now shifter ($500) fell off in my hand. Next I get news from dealer main computer board needs replacement ($900), Kia refuses to accept any responsibility. These problems in now way could be caused by our use. Kia customer service the absolute worse.