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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  Excellent for the money - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By excellentforthemoney - December 29 - 10:00 am

  Being a proud tightwad I couldnt get over all that the Kia sedona offered. First the dealer was exceptional. Secondly, the warranty, smooth ride and hidden little extras were a pleasant surprise. ( I got an LX with many EX features, free) The driver seat is not as roomy as my previous minivan. (dodge caravan) On long trips it can cramp legs and backs, however the seats do slide out indivually and the punch when you hit the pedal is there. All in all I would buy another sedona. For those prices ( 19,200) you cannot afford not too.

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  Love my Sorento!!! - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By sorentoluver - December 29 - 10:00 am

  This car gives you the best bang for your bucks!! We have been looking for a SUV for awhile now.. We test drove a Highlander, CRV, Forrester and Jeep Liberty. But they dont impress us enough. We have never heard of KIA Sorento until we walked into the dealership one day, just to look at the lots and see what they have. We met this excellent sales guy and he convinced us that Sorento is truely an amazing mid-SUV in the market right now. We check it out, test drove it... went home and did more research on the internet... we went back the next day and bought it. :D

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  My Spec 5 - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By therepokid - December 29 - 4:03 am

  I love my Spectra. I have done a couple of performance modifications to it and it will run with just about any other import on the road. I had a bad outlook on Kia in general when I bought it but it has changed my mind. It has been the best far I have ever owned. It has almost 50,000 miles on it an has never had to go to the dealer for service. Kia is coming up in the world.

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  Kia Sedona - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By Carol S. - December 28 - 5:46 am

  Rides great, wonderful for road trips. Room enough to sleep with rear seats removed. Entire electrical system went out, burning smell, was in shop for over a week. Did have minor reoccurring electrical troubles that were repaired under warranty. At 60,400 miles the alternator went out, only financial assistance offered was from a kind service manager. Kia Customer Service refused any assistance. Dont know if I would purchase another.

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  Great Economical Car for Tall People - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Kirsten - December 27 - 4:40 am

  I love this car so much, I would recommend it to anyone with long legs and a long torso! I have plenty of head room, elbow room, and leg room, and Im a 59" woman. My passengers always ride comfortably in the back seat. The stereo is very impressive as well. It has a very good turning radius and handles curbs well.

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  This car gives you more for your money! - 2006 Kia Rio
  By Eddie G. - December 27 - 4:23 am

  When I first test drove the Rio I enjoyed the smooth ride and the great acceleration it delivers. Then I realized Im still only driving a 4 cylinder.... who knew! It can really get up and go. With all the safety features and all the extras that the 2006 carries you cant beat it for the price.! My wife and I are very pleased with the gas mileage and not to mention the warranty. It takes the guilt and conviction out of purchasing a new car; we dont look at it as a purchase but an investment. Besides this car we own an SUV and a 3500 Chevy truck so while those big vehicles sit and only get driven when we "have to", the Rio will no doubt have its turn to show us how great it is!

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  Look out Toyota and Honda - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Tango6 - December 26 - 9:40 am

  My wife bought this car just before we got married. I have owned a few Hondas and Toyotas in my lifetime. After researching Kia, I felt it would be an OK car. Now 77,000 miles later, we have had no mechanical problems and the car still gets better than 30 MPG. It easily made 4 trips from Columbus, GA to El Paso, TX. The wife uses to go to work every day(12 miles one way) and for all of her shopping needs. We occasionally make weekend trips of about 400 mile. Overall this car has impressed me. Its not the fun driving car my Audi is, but it doesnt have that price tag either. Only normal maintenance and a set of brakes and tires at this point.

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  In Love - 2009 Kia Optima
  By karen - December 25 - 6:26 am

  I recently purchased a 2009 Kia Optima and Im totally having a ball driving it. I looked at Toyota, Chevrolet, Mercury and Nissan. I could not have afford all the extras I have with my Kia. Its metal bronze color which looks different in various lights sun cloudy etc. I have a moon roof and really nice leather. Awesome sound Infinity 6 speakers and 6 cd changer plus satellite radio. Heated front seats plus all the equipment that comes standard for about 10k less then the other cars. Also have 5 year road side assist and warranty. Thank you Kia

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  Best BANG for my BUCK! - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By kialover - December 23 - 10:00 am

  My Kia TOP of the LINE still beat the price compare with other Mini-Van Basic Price and with the Excellent safty Record it was a EASY decision for my wife and me. Beside, for next 10 years/100,000 worry free miles would be fun!

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  Finland - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By adrian567 - December 23 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I decided to change our small but elegant 147 Alfa Romeo into a big SUV. There were 3 reasons for that: 1.We have a young white shepard dog for whome we try to prevent a double hernia. 2.We go quite often to Finland and specially Lapland, where a B-road is really still a B road, most good rally drivers are from Finland. 3. From the 1st of may im on pension so I got this "huge toy car". Its a fantastic mixture of goodwilling and controllable power, topped of with a great luxury for the passengers, including "Lumi" our white emperor.