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 Sorento
  By eo64 - January 31 - 10:02 am

  105K miles and it threw a rod, now its as worthless as that 10 year /100K mile warranty. Never missed an overpriced, scheduled maintenance or 30K mile service. A lot of good it did me.

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  Hyundai Owner makes the Switch - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By Gene - January 29 - 6:04 pm

  I have had a 2010 Hyundai Veracruz replaced with a 2013 Santa Fe Sport Turbo. Price drove me to Kia for the value. I loved the Turbo in the Santa Fe and was worried about a non turbo 4 cyl Kia Sorento. However price of a lease was the major factor. I was ready to accept less as the Santa Fe Turbo had some very nice features. To my surprise the 2016 Sorento has impressed me more than I could imagine. First is it solid, totally. Closing the doors it has the feeling of a tank. The ride is the best of all the Hyundais by far. The loose suspension of the Veracruz is gone and the somewhat hobby horse feeling of the Santa Fe Sport is gone. I assume the longer wheel base is the reason. It rides solid and smooth, the steering is tight and responsive. Yes the 2.4 litre engine is not the Hyundai Turbo but it has what it needs to do the job. The car is the LX model with the convenience package. A great car at a very reasonable price and we get more cargo space and leg room then the Hyundai. I could not be more happy. 5000 miles later all is well. No Problems at all. Went to the dealer for a Oil Change and Tire Rotation and they performed 2 computer programming upgrades and a tail gate latch fix what was a problem on some but not mine.

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  Pretty Good SUV - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Walkers - January 29 - 10:00 am

  Like the veh except the ride. First off the suspension is too stiff. Second there is a high frequency viabration over 60 that drives me nuts. you can feel it in the seats, steering wheel and see it in the mirror. Also there is a roaring sound along with the vibration. I have had the tires balanced and checked for round. No luck. I took it to Kia. They changed the drive shaft. No luck. The factory rep, Great guy, had a engineer come from the factory. The drive shaft was changed again. No luck. The alignment was checked and was ok. They are now going to replace the gear box. If that dont work I get a new vehicle.

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  Would still buy it again - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By Like it, But! - January 28 - 10:26 pm

  Purchased March 1, 04. Since then I have had to return to the dealer to have the right front strut tightened, new carrier bearing, new transmission, new radio, to have the computer reset, and to pick up a new trunk light bulb. I currently have strut collers and bushings on order. But, with all this, the car handles as good as any Ive had, and this is #79. This car will get you looks, nice smiles and not once has anyone said anything bad after seeing everything it offers. Got $25,000? Offer the dealer $23,000 and drive it home. Power everything, great radio, leather, dual heat/air-power outside mirrors that tilt down in reverse. What else could you want?

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  New purchase and am loving it. - 2017 Kia Sorento
  By Evelyn Osorio - January 28 - 8:54 am

  I purchased it from Fette Kia and everything was great. The dealer and sales rep both were very accommodating. Im very impressed with the Kia brand. they have definitely come a long way. Ive always been a Honda fan but decided to give Kia a try because I was getting all the things i wanted the 6cyl - AWD the convenience package for a very good lease. they worked with my budget.

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  Update- 5 months and 6,000 miles, still loving it - 2013 Kia Sorento
  By richardar6 - January 28 - 7:24 am

  First, let me tell you that Im picky. Ive owned a lot of vehicles, from cars, to Suvs, to pickup trucks. I love to drive, and the Auto Shows are my Disney World. I wanted a lot for my money and I wanted a well made vehicle that will last. I got what I wanted so far. 6,000 miles so far and not 1 issue. Do I get advertised MPG? No, but I never have on any vehicle Ive owed. I didnt get the V6 because I wanted great MPGs. (even the Honda fit I use as company car doesnt get advertised MPG) Anyway, I researched, I test drove, and I got exactly what I expected. Very happy with my decision!

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  Mountain man - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Matt - January 27 - 11:51 pm

  I had a 2003 Kia spectra and I drove up Tennessees tallest mountain with it. There were no other cars on the road and I think it took me an hour to get up the mountain. I almost thought I was going to to have to turn back. I had my foot full th royal on the gas and she was doing 30 but she made it up the mountain. I was scared. And one time I lost the front bumper and she ran like a kitten. The Japanese make a really good car and they dont screw me by trying to put sythetic oil in my car. I hate my 2003 Volkswagen all Ive done since I had it is repair it.

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  2002 Rio Wagon - 2002 Kia Rio
  By mako787 - January 27 - 8:58 pm

  I just purchased a Cinco wagon in January with 106,000 miles on it. It was in excellent condition and I hoped to get a reliable car that was cheap to drive and maintain. I had an older Buick that had cost me a fortune and the engine was knocking so bad I was afraid it was going to throw a rod in my driveway. So far this Kia has been reliable except for the check engine light coming on abut five times now. First it was the O2 sensors that had already been changed out but I had to get another one anyway and then it was the gas cap. Now it came on again and I have no idea what it is this time. The car is noisy and has little power with the AC running.

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  Kia doesnt honor warranty - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By mikes - January 24 - 5:50 pm

  Had a 2003 Kia Sorento for 5 years. Initially had an issue with a leaking gasket that was fixed under warranty. 5 years later, the catalytic converter has failed and Kia wont cover even though it is within the warranty window. Kia immediately looks for fine print excuses to not honor the warranty. We are stuck with about $5000 in repairs to transfer case, catalytic converter, spark plugs, belts etc. Basically, left with a cheap throw away car.

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  KIA SORENTO - GREAT BUT NOT FILLING - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By DRJOHN - January 24 - 10:00 am

  JUST CAME OFF A 5000 MILE vacation trip THRU THE ROCKIES. NO OFF ROAD TRAvel. The KIA SUV handles like a dream, rides like a dream, and it is very quiet. I road in a Mercedes c320 wagon recently and it was noisy and it road very hard like a pick-up truck. I wouldnt trade even up. At $ 20,000, 10 year/100,000 mile warranty (best in the business) its a steal. We used to have a Suzuki SUV V6. Cute car, but it would have had to struggle up those mountains on this trip and it road much harder. The KIA SUV is truely a Luxury machine. Its quick too! BEST VALUE ON THE MARKET. BELONGS IN THE TOP 10 OF SUVs. I got 20 mpg, but IT weighs 4000#s.