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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  do not buy - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By kia sedona - August 21 - 4:03 am

  Cheap for the money but costly when repairs are needed. After warranty is out vehicle will fall apart.

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  Gary - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By littlerok - August 20 - 4:43 pm

  This car is the best car i drove. when u are accelerating u can hear the gears changing automatically. so it seems like you are in a racing car. Love this Car.

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  Dont know yet - 2016 Kia Soul
  By jack chaffee - August 19 - 12:36 am

  too early to give a good evaluation, but quite happy so far.

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  Why all the bad reviews? - 2001 Kia Sportage
  By TNelson - August 18 - 9:26 pm

  I love my Sportage and plan on keeping it for another 8 yrs or so. I also had issues with the power windows and chirping fan belt but I also had an excellent Dealer to deal with who actually honored my warranty. When I drive in the snow, I can pass ANY car on the road with flying colors!

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  Best Bang For Your Buck!! - 2010 Kia Rio
  By mtloveskg - August 18 - 11:13 am

  This little car is amazing. First of all I am 63" 245 pounds and have plenty of room! MPG are 30.4 after 2k miles of mixed driving with AC on. Not too shabby at all! Amenities are bar none for this class (read below for more on that).

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  My first Car (i.e. non 4x4 gas guzzler) - 2011 Kia Optima
  By rbish - August 17 - 11:25 am

  I went to look at the Sorrento SUV and saw this unique looking beauty sitting next to it on the showroom floor with a $10K less price tag. I walked around the car and sat in every seat multiple times ... I couldnt talk myself out of liking this car! I get asked by neighbors, people at the gas station and people in parking lots, "What is that? "It looks like a BMW, Audi, etc... no way its a KIA" "Its a KIA?" "Looks nice!" Needless to say I enjoy my 30min each way commute a lot better now. Sometimes I cant even tell I am driving a 4-cyl! Oh and lets just say my business partner asked for us to take it to our lunch meeting (he drives a 7-series BMW)...

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  My Kia - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Lore - August 17 - 7:23 am

  I like my Kia, but I do not love my Kia. I went from an Expedition to a Sorento, so it was quite the shocker. It drives nice, but has an extremely uncomfortable back seat. Hard to get in and out of the back seat. The front seat isnt so roomy either. It drives nicely, and has plenty of power, but next time Id opt for a larger SUV. Gas mileage is mediocre.

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  Wonder Kia - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By stevetye418 - August 16 - 11:00 am

  I was skeptical when I test drove this vehicle. Hopeful when I bought it. After owning it for two years I am extremely happy with it. I have had no problems and it goes everywhere I ask it to. Keyless entry would be nice, and a little more horsepower would improve it. However, I feel happy with vehicle and I WILL definitely buy another one. I was able to make the 25 mile commute to work with 6-8 inches of snow covering the roadway, no problems, it just powered right through.

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  Piece of JUNK - 2008 Kia Sportage
  By KIA Sportage - August 16 - 6:23 am

  Piece of junk. I will not buy another KIA. It is in the shop with more repairs being done than I am able to drive it. Heater blows cold air, Shocks and bearings have had to be replaced, ESC sensor goes out on it, Wiper blades stick to the windshield. This is just to name a few of the problems with it.

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  Sleeper of the subcompacts - 2006 Kia Rio
  By mwrobe1 - August 15 - 3:00 pm

  Simply put, Im 65" and 235lbs...the Kia Rio was the most comfortable and best "fitting" of all the subcompacts I test drove. Price, warranty, and mileage were big factors to my purchase. The car doesnt sound, look, drive, or leave you with any impressions of your typical "econo- box". After driving beaters as my commuter car for 13 years, the Rio was my first new car purchase. I actually look forward to the drive to and from work now.