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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  Awesome Ride!! - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By bws09231956 - June 19 - 10:00 am

  awesome ride fellas, the best fit I have ever found for a tall man, and, leg room behind me too!!!

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  Awesome Ride - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By TigCam - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Nice space. Good safety for kids and adults. Ample comfort room to stretch ones legs. Love sitting up so high and really handles the turns well.

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  Pleasantly suprised - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By emsteachr1 - June 19 - 10:00 am

  I searched many manufactures for a quality built and reasonable SUV. When I was about to give up someone mentioned try a KIA. I drove the vehicle and was immediately taken by the quality as well as all the options for the low price. It is smooth riding, quiet and powerful. Considering the 10/100,000 warranty they offer I figured they have to be positive their vehicle will withstand time. The dealer was awesome and I was pleasantly suprised at the lack of pressure and great trade in for my 1998 Explorer. Mileage is decent to, so far I am averaging 20-21 mpg combined city/hwy. At this point I would highly recommend this vehicle.

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  So many standard options for a compact - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Mark - June 18 - 4:20 pm

  2010 Kia Forte SX - We were lucky enough to get the SX with all the options including the leather. This car is amazing. With times a little tougher my wife sold her 2003 Bmw M3 Convertible. We both love the car and the heated leather seats made the transition to this new car great. We drove 500+ miles to pick it up and it was fun to drive home after the purchase. It is almost unbelievable how this car has so many standard options on the base model. With the sirus radio and bluetooth radio it makes it even easier and very fun to drive. The car handles very well at 80 and seems to stop very good. The ride is smooth until you hit small pot holes, then the car feels a little ridged.

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  Nice minivan! - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By RoboScar - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Kia Sedona in November 2001. I did have one problem about two weeks later when the moon roof decided to open on its own. I took it back to a Kia dealership and it was repaired quickly and Ive had no other problems. Oh, the dealer who sold me the Sedona said it had anti-lock brakes and when I got mine home, it was brand new, including the wrapping paper, I found out this EX version did not have anti- lock brakes. Grrr. But, I am still happy with my Kia Sedona.

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  What I did before I purchased the KIA - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By abbottisretired - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I spent many hours on the internet checking out all the SUVs in this segment. What I found was that you would have to spend 10 to 20 thousand more to get the same features. I have had mine for two weeks and in snow. The Sorento performed as expected and with KIAs drive it and forget it 10 year 100000 mile warrenty there is nothing to loose. The buying experience with HART MOTORS in Salem VA was so good and fast that it took longer to get the Sorento out of the showroom than it did to the paper work. I am very happy with my purchase.

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  the car is OK - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By felix15 - June 17 - 2:00 am

  i have a 2500 ccm CRDI diesel with 140 hp only in Germany .. its OK :-))

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  Update to original review - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Cathy - June 15 - 2:43 am

  I believe I reviewed this car back when I bought it 3 years ago. We still like it. When all of the seats are in there isnt much space, but I typically only need one of the back seats in, so we have plenty of space. Its very comfortable, even on a trip. I have heard lots of complaints about road noise and vibrations which I never notice because I am too busy listening to the radio . We have been back to the dealer a few times for for some annoying little things like broken cup holders and a seatbelt sensor that stopped working (the seat belt worked fine). We drive the van pretty hard I have replaced two tires, but brakes, spark plugs, etc. are still going strong.

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  Many Problems - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Shirley - June 14 - 12:06 pm

  The car is pretty but there are problems such as vibration when putting on brakes and wheel veer to left, too much noise with windows down to hear radio, bluetooth dont work with all cell phones, when you complain about the problem they have a answer, as though youre crazy. The prices are higher than advertised. I give it a thumbs up for looks and a thumbs down for smooth ride it hits every bump in the rode.No trunk space I love the Sirius radio but it goes in and out.

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  2004 Spectra - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Clay Stephenson - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Steering is very stiff and too tight. Interior could be up graded. Mileage is only fair for the size of the car. I get appx 24 city and 28 highway. Road noise on a scale of 1-10 would be rated at 6 for me. Problems within first five months of purchase. Frequently the speed will indicate as much as a 24 mph various higher than actual travel. Ok for a work car but not of the quality I expected. Previous Kia I owned was a 2000 Sophia and handling and mileage was much better. I will likely purchase a different make on my next purchase