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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  Really good, roomy and nice looking car and great value! - 2012 Kia Forte
  By mazda5forme - February 26 - 6:39 pm

  Everytime we buy a new car, we look at all the brands and compare. Mazda, Toyotas, Honda, Fords, etc. We currently have 2 Fords and we also have a Mazda5 that we bought new a few years ago, that my college age daughter is now using.We bought a brand new 2011 KIA Sorento SX suv in March. Very impressed with the quality and value, also the styling. Then we needed a car for my wife, and looked at everything in the way of small sedans. To make a long story short, we bought a 2012 KIA Forte 5 door EX.

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  A meaningful and honest review. - 2007 Kia Optima
  By Allan Birmantas - February 26 - 4:03 pm

  My beautiful, dependable and comfortable kia optima ex is the best and most dependable car I have ever owned. It has all the conveniences I can think of, it gets good gas mileage and it never breaks down. I have had complete strangers compliment its styling, I have gotten as much as 40.7 mpg on one trip, and after 31,000 miles it still runs like a Swiss watch. Perfect and quiet. It also handles very nicely. In other words... For the price, in its field, it is simply perfect. A ten in every way.

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  Kia Forte Koup - Do not buy - 2010 Kia Forte
  By Lynn - February 25 - 10:50 pm

  Carpet on below the mats are ripping and I have had them replaced and they are ripping again. Below my glove box the carpet is hanging down and I can see the bolts. My gears are slipping already. Horrible. I have only had it for 4 months.

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  7000 Mile Reflections - 2014 Kia Cadenza
  By tunabear1 - February 25 - 4:40 am

  Great responsiveness. Quiet engine. Loaded with extras.

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  Nice...But - 2011 Kia Optima
  By shortstop6 - February 25 - 3:27 am

  We purchased this vehicle new...loaded. Looks great but right off not excited about gas mileage. 25 mixed driving and its on eco. Hopefully you dont wear nice clothes to work because if you do and its raining youre gonna ruin your slacks or nylons on the frame as you try and step out. Its so far out to the left that you need to look like a carricature to exit without getting a wet and mud stripe on your pants. Also, road noise is deafening and makes my Acura sound like a church at 2am. The brake pedal has an annoying thump every time you take your foot off the pedal which if you let it, will drive you crazy. The road trip we leave on this wed. could send me back to Lexus.

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  PLEASED ............UNTIL! - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Douglas - February 24 - 8:30 am

  I bought my car used from a reliable car dealership. The car was emaculant contion. The interior and exterior looked new. I was more than pleased with the car until I was told car needed new pistons, $1,800 plus tax. Although I was the second owner, the cars records have kept and the car has been maitained faithfully. (The car has been literally pampered). WATCH OUT WHEN YOU GET TO 80,000 MILES. I asked the KIA technician what causes it or how did it happen and the answer was " maybe the previous owner" and before he could get his answer out, I informed him of the upkeep AND records of the car before I purchased it. I even brought it to their dealership had it checked out before buying it.

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  Stuck key in ignition - 2009 Kia Borrego
  By Phillip - February 24 - 1:25 am

  Key got stuck in ignition and I called a lock smith, lock smith looked at it and referred me to dealership. I called dealership and was informed that a recall specialist would call me back( almost a month later I get a call back and was informed that my 2009 Kia borreggo doesnt have a stuck key recall("up the road without a key")My kia has 106,000 miles. When car is working, its great, but comes to service, Im not very pleased with the SERVICE!!!

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  Lots of car for the bucks - 2005 Kia Optima
  By lEMAC - February 23 - 9:53 pm

  Great looks, quality workmanship, price a deciding factor, average gas mileage, most options included in price.

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  Ed and Marions get away car. - 2016 Kia Rio
  By ed and marion s. - February 23 - 6:04 pm

  We are very pleased with our new car. We really had a nice experience at cowboy kia in conroe. Our sales person was very helpful in selecting the right car.

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  sweet, silent, smooth - 2006 Kia Rio
  By kia jerry - February 23 - 3:40 am

  What a car for $15,000 dollars with performance package and floor mats. I think I died and went to heaven! Even quiet and stable on highway with cross winds. Havent found anything I would change yet, except it could use ten more ponies. Such a joy to look at and drive. On-line reviews led me to this car. When I drove by my dealer and saw this beautiful sunset orange SX facing me, I knew I had to have it. Of course the fantastic warranty was another selling point. Lack of cruise was not an issue for me.