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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  4 month update Kia Sorento EX AWD V6 - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Upstate NewYorker - May 26 - 4:20 am

  Have had my Kia Sorento EX AWD V6 since March. Now 4 months later and 5000 miles, am still very impressed! 3 adults traveled 2500 miles with stops all over New England area and the Sorento was FANTASTIC. 23.2 MPG even going through NYC and NJ freeways jammed up traffic. Voice activated Navigation was wonderful and my favorite option was bluetooth phone linked to my nav screen with touch screen button to call hotel look up. AWESOME! This is a GREAT BUY and is now made mostly in U.S.A. Recommend this SUV. We traded in a 2007 Mazda CX-9 Grand touring fully loaded and only thing we are missing in the Kia is HID headlights and rear climate control.

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  Real Pleasure to Drive - 2011 Kia Optima
  By jillyfish - May 23 - 4:02 am

  Former Lincoln owner, this car is fun and comfortable! Fantastic value.

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  Superb vehicle - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Manuel Agurcia - May 22 - 1:53 pm

  The most for your hard earned buck. No match.Period. Value and Safety in one hot outfit. And the best warranty in the market.

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  Good highway car - 2009 Kia Spectra
  By dexter - May 22 - 9:36 am

  Purchased this car to drive to school (260 miles round trip) four days a week. It gets 36-38 mpg and rides surprisingly well. Good build quality especially for the price. Never owned a kia before but if the quality of this car is indicative for the rest of their line I see an Amanti in my very near future.

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  Luv my Sorento - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By pecksorento - May 21 - 10:00 am

  I never thought I would ever buy a kia in my life until I test drove one. I was shocked on how well it performed on the road. Not to mention how sharpe it looks on the outside. Everywhere I go someone compliments me on how good it looks and if I like it or not, and I tell them I love it.

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  My Amanti - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Amanti - May 19 - 6:00 pm

  I had a 740i prior to this Amanti. I enjoy this car much better, the fact it has everything my other car had and the maintenance is 1/10 the cost. Its fun to drive long distance, and gets an average of 25 miles to the gallon on long drives. As a luxury car, I will consider this the best one Ive own. Performance is a little on the weak side, but the driving is a great pleasure to behold the owner. Many strangers have commented to myself and my spouse of how much they like the looks of the car, not to mention mistaking it at first for a Mercedes or Jaguar depending if the reference was from the rear or front. After looking at various cars, we were sold on this one with no second thought.

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  Spunky Ride - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Warren - May 18 - 12:03 am

  Get rid of those preconceived notions and leave them behind. This car surprises the minute you move. The car handles nicely-I like the sports tuned suspension. Handles lane changes in a snap and stops on a dime. Like those disc brakes. Audio system is fine, but got CD stuck in the slot and cant get it out, requiring an untimely service call. Feels roomy and comfy, especially on long rides to work. Commute distance is 38 miles one way, mainly highway. Hugs off ramps quite nicely and accelerates to a decent speed rapidly. Five speed is OK, sometimes tough going from 4th to 5th; almost wants to go into 3rd. Watch out, its happened; thanks for the tachometer.

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  "Time to go" - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Thomas Colegrove - May 17 - 11:34 pm

  This is a peach! My health precludes me to purchase a new car for my wife. She is short and has difficulty seeing over the hood, other wise I would keep the car. She will be most of the future driving. This is a great car!

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  Best Car Ive ever owned - 2003 Kia Optima
  By JPhelan - May 17 - 10:00 am

  The Optima is a luxury car for an economy price. With Leather, Wood Interior, Moon Roof and all the extras, the Kia is a steal for the money I paid. I went to a Toyota dealer with the price I paid for the Optima and they could barely get me into a stripped down Corolla for that price. Ive had the car for nearly one year and put on 28,000 miles and I have not had a single problem. The blue color is very nice looking also. I wanted the Pearl white and settled for the Blue and now I think the blue looks even better!

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  Love My Van - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Ethel Pappas - May 17 - 10:00 am

  We live in Arizona and have traveled the mountains and highways in our van, with no problems. I always know when something needs attention, which isnt very often. Weve had it now for almost 3 years and dont regret our purchase. The only problem we have now is making sure the doors are shut because the light will go on and the beeping starts.I believe the van is so tight that it creates a vacuum. But I love it.