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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  Flimsy accelerator - 2002 Kia Sedona
  By Eddy Ramos - November 2 - 10:00 am

  Every this about this van is very good except the gas peddal. It is very light and should be replaced.

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  2015 Kia Sorento LX FWD - 2015 Kia Sorento
  By gram_prince - November 2 - 2:50 am

  the 2015 Sorento LX FWD is a attractive suv for woman. Its not really a mans suv unless its a top of the line Limited model. Its very much so a plastic suv. For a $30,000 suv everything thats not a seat cushion shouldnt look and be hard plastics. The back up camera & sensors works great. The instrument cluster looks amazing with the red and white. The plastic wood look, looks great on the doors but not on the dashboard or on the center console. The gas needle and the range to empty doesnt really add up correctly the range to empty says 325 to E for a full tank but according to the internet I suppose to get 348 to E for a full tank.

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  My Kia - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Robert Gayle - November 2 - 12:20 am

  We considered the RAV4,Honda,Hundai SantaFe,HundaiTucson(Same Co.as KIA),Nissan,and others. Our New Sportage is the exact size we were looking for in a small suv at the right price. Excellemt build quality. We opted for the EX leather package,with moon roof,stability control,and ABS brakes,Side curtian air bags as well as many other features all standard.Warranty is good selling feature.For the price its the best bang for the buck in todays market.

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  Practical, good styling, great gas mileage, awesome base features - 2010 Kia Soul
  By deftdrummer - November 1 - 10:11 pm

  Ive had my base model 2010 Kia Soul in White for about a week and a half now. This isnt really the best time to be writing a review so Ill keep it brief. Thus far the car has been a commuter for me with about 20 miles round trip daily driving to work. I just love this car! I have all the features I wanted (most of them) at the base model. I picked mine up in white with a manual for $10,999 at a Fiat dealership. Great warranty on this vehicle. Some down sides are that the engine noise inside the cabin can be a bit loud at low RPM, and also Im not too fond of the back seats not being able to go a fully flat position. Also the interior plastics are a bit on the cheap side.

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  Recent trip - 2006 Kia Sportage
  By Jim Puckett - October 31 - 1:40 pm

  I just returned from a 3600 mile trip in which my Kia performed most excellently. The ride was surprisingly good for such a small SUV, 27 mpg for the trip. I would like it to be a little quieter.

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  The Shadow knows... - 2012 Kia Optima
  By emeraldsky - October 31 - 2:37 am

  Just bought this Blk Cherry 2012 Optima-and Im feelin fine on a dime with purple all mine. An extremely good value. This is a sweet dream. Seriously rides like velvet. Lovin the extras-Bluetooth, etc, ETC. Seats extremely comfortable in soft leather with plenty room for this 510 frame of mine. I feel like Im riding a La-z-boy down the road! But theres nothing lazy about this boy! Even w/o the turbo this car has quick, smooth response. You wont be left pounding the wheel for anything...save gas milage...I give high marks for it, but it has yet to break the 30 mph mark and KIA has to advertise truer data here. Oh well, my car is new and not on the Hwy much-maybe get there.

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  My experience with Corporate KIA - 2008 Kia Amanti
  By Gary - October 30 - 9:23 pm

  Purchased this vehicle in January this year. Had problem with it from the star. Right front tire/wheel bounces/flutter/surges at all speeds but the best part is that the font end shimmies @ 70 mph. Dealer worked on it all they could but corporate said it was operating "as designed" whatever that means. Filed Lemon law complaint with no help there. Will have to drive it until the wheels fall off. Other than that I love the car!

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  I love my Kia - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By tack - October 30 - 9:03 pm

  This is the best vehicle I have had. i get looks and chatter about how great it looks. I am very pleased with the performance. It travels very well with comfort on long trips and it is FUN. Great vehicle;would buy it again in a minute.

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  Hmmm rethink your Kia sorento purchase - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By ITSMECHRISTYMARIE - October 30 - 2:43 pm

  Like most sorento owners, I too have replaced tail lights, headlights, clock doesnt work, cd player has a cd stuck in it. Now I was driving home across the state and it overheated and engine shut off. I dont know what happened or if its covered. I still owe beau coup $$$ on it so if its not covered do I just walk away from the loan? Im not paying for a car that I cant drive or afford to fix. Well see if they are more helpful at my dealership that what others have experienced.

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  Fun little Hampster Car! - 2016 Kia Soul
  By Christine Stuart - October 29 - 8:03 am

  This car for the money is a great little car. I wish it had a little better handling and braking but overall for the price we really like the Soul. We had a MINI COOPER that was taking us to the poor house in repairs, and we wanted something a little bigger. The Navi system is one of the best love the picture that shows the EXIT . The seats are very comfortable and the leather is really nice love that smell when you get in.