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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  Updated Post - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By kialover - February 4 - 7:40 pm

  If you really look around on the reviews of www.edmunds.com, you may have noticed that I have written a few on the kias. We love them all, this van is no different. Granted, this Sedona has had its problems. Since the purchase of the Kia van, we have had to; replace the altinator, replace wheel barring, needs a a coil fixed ($500) and its a gas gussler. I will be the first to admit that I am byist for Kias, I love them. This van is smooth riding, great comfort. Just the older Kias had their problems. Not the new ones though.

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  Kia Lemon - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By Sheila Rice - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I purchased one of the first off the assembly line and have hated it every day since. This vehicle has been nothing but problems since the beginning. I would not recommend even my worst enemy to purchase a Kia!

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  Never thought Id own a Kia - 2013 Kia Optima
  By Sly_Jester - February 4 - 9:56 am

  Well, I bought a Kia... Man was that a great move! Keep in mind Im a Honda kind of guy and how dare I walk away from the accord models that have done me right for so many years?! Well, After weeks of comparing and constrating numbers and figures (warranty, mpg, price) I did it, In the summer of 2014 (June to be exact) I purchased a used 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid EX with 17,500 miles for $21,597.88 (ttt). Let me be the first to tell you the step up from an accord to this beauty was a life changer. The ergonomics of this car just makes me feel like Im at home. Oh and the features well shes loaded nothing spared for the best! It may sound like Im joking but the luster I have for this car is still present today. So lets get to the nuts and bolts! How is she today(12 July 2016) (Im referring to the optima)? She has approx. 127k miles on her... Yes 127,000 miles. Any problems?! Yes, the backup camera doesnt work all the time. Well... Anything else?! No, I change my oil every 4K miles (full synthetic mobile 1), I have put two sets of tires on her, one K&N air filter, 6 cabin air filters, regular fluid changes, and she still spits out avg 33mpg. I have 99 problems but a Hybrid component aint one. Now keep in mind I drive 1000 miles a week on avg. she has been in two accidents (cosmetic damages), but has never left me stranded or in distress (knock on wood). I will tell anyone who is looking for a reliable vehicle to consider Kia. I plan on putting another 150k miles on her before I retire her so Ill keep you posted when I hit 200k. Until then drive Kia and stop texting and driving!

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  Decent car for the Money - Wish MPG was better - 2012 Kia Optima
  By soxfan99 - February 4 - 3:10 am

  Leased car in April 2012. Wanted to give the car a few months of driving before writing a review. Rides and handles great. Great tech options. Build quaility is what you would expect in the price range - Its a 21,000 car(25,800 list) - that being said, you can tell where they cut back. Door handles are one example. As far as the stated MPG, have put 11,000 miles of combined driving, never have gotten above 23-24 mpg. Long highway trips (with cruise) 31-32 mpg. Eco or not does not matter. The dealer does know, they said, nothing they can do. Kia corporate only wants to "talk about it". I bet - now that they are giving fuel credits to some owners of other models.

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  Never again - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Wyllies - February 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used with 50k miles. I had issues within the first week and Precision made me take it to Kia (warranty) and they said we were good. Then it has been down hill. Headlights go out constantly, 4wheel drive constantly on (when the switch is off) check engine light and airbag light is constantly on. I have put money in this car that I dont have and the last time I took it in there were 6 new recalls within it. I will never by a Kia again. The worst part is the trade in value is not good either. So instead of paying this off and using it I will have to get another vehicle and continue making payments. I am stressed driving this car especially with my kids in it.

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  Warranty - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By rusty - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Bought this sedona van in 2005 notice right that the fuel use was lot higher than normal over all average @15 to 17 but for the most part not bad had problem with the air condition it would go on an off took it to the dealer said it had a leak this van was out of warranty about 6 days they refused to fix it i would have to pay for it put in a case number with kia they said take it to another ia dealer for a diagnostic cost $112.00 for this said the control head was bad in the dash need to replace it would cost $906.00 to fix this. did not fix went home call a junk yard found the control for the dash 43.00 took 45 min to take out an put back in air works fine now no thanks to kia so will not buy

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  Cool SUV bad gas mileage - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By Daisy - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive bought my 2011 Kia Sportage almost 3 weeks ago and other than the horrible gas mileage Im getting, I am very happy. The sticker on the car said 21-30 MPG but no matter how perfect I drive, the MPG do not go above 20.4 MPG. I traded in a VW Jetta TDI which gave me anywhere from 35-52 MPG, so this car is a big drop. The only reason I traded in my Jetta was because it had been falling apart ever since I bought it but the gas was great. Other than the gas issues of the Kia, the car is wonderful and very comfortable. It is spacious and well designed, everyone tells me "Thats a Kia?" The huge double sunroof is the reason I bought it! If gas isnt a problem, this is a beautiful car.

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  Great Value, Features, & Style - 2012 Kia Sportage
  By cmont120 - January 31 - 11:41 am

  After researching for the past year I finally leased the Sportage. I used to say that I would never own a Kia but now I am proud to say that I do! I turned in a 2008 Honda Accord Coupe and have to say that the Kia blows the Honda out of the water. The style inside and out is very nice and the features are great. Love this car so much I have convinced my family to join the Hyundai/Kia family too!

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  A treat to drive - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Paul - January 30 - 9:53 pm

  Excellent car! I have owned many four-wheel or all-wheel drive cars including an Audi A6. This is by far the best car I have owned. Reasonably priced and so much for the money. This vehicle is built on a medium duty truck chassis that the sell in Korea. Great off-road as well. Solid!

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  Some good, some bad - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By Beth - January 30 - 9:13 am

  Traded sedan in, wanting to sit higher due to blind spots. My mpg averages 21, esp if I keep my husband, teenage son out of it. Not at all pleased with passenger seat sensor explanations . Most recent trip in was told that I do not weigh enough. Hello! At 140? I do not feel comfortable in trusting the air bag system at all because of the sensor issue. Transmission has had to be serviced already. Bulbs already have had to be replaced (both low beams -- 1 year old vehicle -- and bulbs not released to be sold outside of dealership at this time). Major inconvenience. Horrid sound system. Will trade as soon as I can w/out loosing a fortune.