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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  cheap on gas ,reliable,easy to dent. - 2004 Kia Rio
  By daniel wood - November 4 - 2:00 am

  i bought this car for my wife to drive back and forth to school. it is very reliable and fuel efficent and who can beat that warranty. down side rides like a buck board needs power steering,and dont ever pull out in front of traffic and think you have enough power to sneek by.

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  2015 Kia Sorento LX FWD - 2015 Kia Sorento
  By gram_prince - November 2 - 2:50 am

  the 2015 Sorento LX FWD is a attractive suv for woman. Its not really a mans suv unless its a top of the line Limited model. Its very much so a plastic suv. For a $30,000 suv everything thats not a seat cushion shouldnt look and be hard plastics. The back up camera & sensors works great. The instrument cluster looks amazing with the red and white. The plastic wood look, looks great on the doors but not on the dashboard or on the center console. The gas needle and the range to empty doesnt really add up correctly the range to empty says 325 to E for a full tank but according to the internet I suppose to get 348 to E for a full tank.

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  Spark Plugs hard to change - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By tlrussell0829 - October 17 - 2:50 pm

  My husband and I bought this 05 sedona used and he went to change spark plugs and the back 3 is going to be very expensive to change, you have to take the intake manifold off and I find that very ridiculous that they would build it that way. I love the van except trying to squeeze in the very back and not a lot of trunk space. Very disappointed that it is going to be hard just to try to do basic repairs ourselves like changing spark plugs.

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  nothing but problems - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By tyler37 - October 16 - 1:03 pm

  good performance. poor build quality

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  My Car - 2005 Kia Rio
  By Gail Belling - October 14 - 6:23 am

  I inherited this car from my Son when he could not make his payments any longer. This Kia doesnt have air- conditioning which is a horrible problem since I am an older woman. It can be so hot in the car even with the windows rolled down. Its like it cant circulate the air correctly. Its not a car I would have purchased, however, Im relatively happy to have it due to the Gas Prices. It is nice looking and needs a new radio. I have heard that the transmissions in these cars are questionable and would like some reassurance. I need to know that I will get from Point A to point B without fear of the car falling apart. I dont know much about these cars. These Kia Rios.

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  Bad Car to purchase - 2004 Kia Optima
  By fireman33 - October 7 - 6:39 am

  I have read alot of reviews on this car and some are good and some are bad. The ones that are good i hope it keeps going good for you. Well i have an 04 kia optima and I thought it was going to be a good car. I thought wrong , I have had nothing but problems with it since i got it. I have had it for a year and a half and bought it with 78k on it and now it has 99k on it. I have had the timing belt replaced along with the crank sensor, the cluthch has been replaced in it , 4 new tires put on it and thats because the control are was bent and it had to be replaced, it had had the fuel pump replace twice and the fuel pump assembly replace twice and its in the shop right now getting that done.

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  Transmission Breakdown - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Michael McDonald - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Purchased in February 2010 (in Texas), KIA Sorento broke down out of state (Ft. Bragg, NC) Thanksgiving week 2010. KIA had vehicle towed to nearest dealer - A+. KIA provided rental immediately - A+. KIA Dealership reported transmission and drive shaft would need to be replaced. (Vehicle started but would not move and made grinding noise). KIA now states "We do not have a follow back policy" meaning Im supposed to pay for vehicle to be returned from near Ft. Bragg NC to where I reside in Texas - F. Anyone know the law? I have owned 7 KIAs including this one, you would think KIA would reward such loyalty?

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  Problems, problems, problems - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By billg - September 18 - 3:20 am

  Let me start by saying this vehicle looks and drives nice and comes with a great warranty. The bad news is that every oil change around 3k miles it needs major repair and stays at the dealer for about a week. Leaks, 2 blown rear ends, exhaust head gasket, drive shaft, oil filter housing have all been replaced with less than 28k. It doesnt cost anything but you lose the vehicle until they can get the parts, and find time to repair it will all the others broken down.

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  Cheap, Fun 4x4 - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By aleksg - August 28 - 10:02 am

  I bought my Sportage for 350 dollars, so I wasnt expecting perfection. It has 228k km on the clock, and the manual transmission is noisy, the synchros are worn, so it shifts hard when cold, but still works. All of the door handles were loose or broken when I got mine, but these problems are easy to fix for a weekend warrior because the door panels are a cinch to remove. The window switches are a common problem, but also very easy to fix. Basically this is a car you can buy for REAL cheap from someone who doesnt know how to fix small problems. Then you fix them yourself and boom, perfectly good car.

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  too soon to say, but love it - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By Viki - July 31 - 6:43 pm

  Love the car. Luxury, luxury, great for the $$$. Had 1000 miles on it, but so far love it. Drive mainly in city about 18 miles per gal around town. Only put about 200 miles on it but trip coming soon. Gave it all 5 as starting point on ratings.