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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  Long Distance Machine - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By K Kelly - June 23 - 10:00 am

  We love driving long distances in our van. We have made several trips from NY to FL and have been sastisfied with its performance in all road conditions. It carries a large load while mainting an excellent ride. Gas mileage doesnt vary much traveling with a load at high speeds. One of its greatest features is that it burns regular gas. Service has been excellent at Atlantic Auto Mall. Prior to this car, we drove Ford Taurus wagons for more than 15 years.

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  Nice Van - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Thomas - June 23 - 10:00 am

  This van has been a great vehicle.

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  My first mini-SUV - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By R. Bell - June 23 - 10:00 am

  I found the Sorento more affordable in comparison to others in its class with the same amenities. It is both stylish and very comfortable for my needs. My mileage has been running l6.5 combined city/hwy. I did expect closer to 16 to 17 hwy. I am impressed with the way it handles bumps and dips, which in my other car hit both front and rear bumpers. What a relief. The selling point for me was the price and the warranty. It performs beautifully. To boot it looks so much like the Lexus I inadvertently mistook a Lexus SUV in the parking lot for mine and only realized it after my alarm would not work on it.

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  excellent quality for the price - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Rick Rosenberger - June 23 - 10:00 am

  I don"t think you can find a better SUV For the price with a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty. I have a black one and it looks very classy. Im stopped in parking lots by curious people wanting to know how I like it and that it looks like a Lexus or some other suv.The exceleration is great and its fun to drive.Ive had it on very muddy norther Michigan back roads and the 4x4 is great.So Iguess Ill give it high marks so far.

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  Sorento Rocks! - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By PeggySue - June 23 - 10:00 am

  I owned a Sportage before buying my Sorento. I enjoyed my Sportage very much but couldnt wait until Kia came out with a 6 cylinder SUV. People stop me all the time and comment on my Sorento and ask millions of question. I bought the LX and would be it again in a heartbeat. My son the Ford guy absolutely adores my Sorento and thinks the power rocks for a 6 cylinder and he owns a big 8 cylinder SUV.

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  great - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By k - June 23 - 10:00 am

  this is an outstanding car

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  Is an all excellent SUV - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Suzin Zimble - June 23 - 10:00 am

  Ive always had a sedan and decided I needed an auto that I could use to transport. Was looking at the Lexus RX300, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot when our long-time Toyota dealer suggested the Kia Sorento. I took it out for a test drive and knew then it was the SUV for me. Its all I expected and then some. Im very please with performance and styling.

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  Great SUV for the money - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By hr76 - June 23 - 10:00 am

  I wanted a GMC Envoy but when I compared the Envoy to the Sorrento, the Sorrento easly won. Almost the same features for 10000 less.And the look of a Lexus/BMW to boot. No major complaints at the two month mark.

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  Worse Van Ever Had!! VERY COSTLY!! - 2007 Kia Sedona
  By ftwcowgirl76 - June 23 - 6:56 am

  Wrote previous review praising van. Now want to shoot it! 89,000 miles and 4 sets of brakes in two years. Solenoid replaced, check engine light due to recall for exterior lighting/brake lights/switch. That was fixed. Check engine light comes on again along with oil light. Before could stop and check oil, van starts dying. Got oil in it & it starts making loud noise. Now finding out that timing belt went out & probably destroyed motor. If motor destroyed, then will be letting it just go back. Not interested in continuing to pay on something not reliable and that costly to maintain. Have to pay $100 deductible every time I take it in for anything covered under the warranty or recalled.

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  Great car for the money. - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By ColdClimate - June 22 - 5:00 pm

  We drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a Toyota 4Runner. After 6 years and 100,000 miles on the Toyota I convinced my wife to trade it in. She was very reluctant. Never had a problem with it. We test drove several suvs and narrowed it down to the Nissan and the Kia. We really couldnt justify a $9,000 dollar difference. The cars rode exact. The only drawback was the resale value. We figured that with the great warranty the car should be built well enough to last. We didnt know what any one would think about us buying a Kia since we already own a $35,000 Jeep and a $45,000 BMW. Let me tell you that nobody can tell the difference between it and any other expensive suvs. Great buy for the money.