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:

• 

  2012 Kia Sorento EX - 2012 Kia Sorento
  By fernatt - January 15 - 1:03 pm

  Just picked up my first Kia product this past weekend. I was looking for a two wheel drive base EX, but no one seemed to have those, so I "settled" for the AWD. It takes a bit of a hit in MPGs, but for an AWD SUV, its still getting great mileage. No complaints so far, but well see how it holds up over time compared with my usual Nissans.

• 

  Pretty nice, but flawed - 2007 Kia Optima
  By Allan J Birmantas - January 15 - 7:40 am

  I probably would have rated this car much higher if the passenger seat air bags worked properly. My only complaints besides that are the following. 1. No MPG on trip computer 2. Very hard ride. Pretty hard to seriously rate reliability after only one month, but I will be making my third trip to the dealer next week. Judge accordingly.

• 

  Love my 2004 Spectra! - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By MLom - January 15 - 2:00 am

  I am shocked to see what a lame review was left on the Spectra. That is what prompted me to give you my HONEST opinion of the 2004 Spectra. Its fun to drive, handles really well, has a great sound system, no rattles, very reliable, quiet, and cute to top it off. Not to mention the warranty is the best you can get. I LOVE MY KIA!

• 

  my kia optima - 2004 Kia Optima
  By judychitt - January 15 - 2:00 am

  the 2004 Kia Optima is an affordable luxury mid size car. Great visibility and handling. Sleek lines and comfortable seating. The manual transmission is smooth and easy to shift and fun to drive! the extra defrost vents on the front doors are just one example of creative and useful engineering. and you cant beat the Kia warranty and customer service that Kia provides.

• 

  love both of my sedona - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By Timguyy - January 15 - 2:00 am

  We have two Sedonas and I love them both. I bought a third for our church. They are the best value of any vehicle on the market. You get more than you pay for.

• 

  Love the Car, Hate the Mileage - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By sresnick - January 15 - 2:00 am

  This is an outstanding vehicle. However, I didnt realize when I bought it that the mileage would be so ridiculously low. It seems like they should have had a freeway driving gear, as most of my miles are done on the highway and my mileage is still averaging 15.5 mpg. How can a V6 Vehicle get the same mileage as a full size V8 suv? Regardless of this, the car is superb and is a great value at purchase time. With gas at $2.25 per gallon, it is difficult to stomach the mileage. I also think the car is a little bumpy when you drive about 60mph on the freeway. Other than that, the car looks great and has nice features.

• 

  The best SUV hands down for the money - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Sandy M. - January 15 - 2:00 am

  I love my Kia Sorento. I have owned a Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Toyota 4-Runner and the Kia is by far the best in its class.

• 

  kia sorento 4x4 ex - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By yucca47 - January 15 - 2:00 am

  wake up people great suv great price. put it up there with a lexes 330.drive it then you decide. the koreans have built a great suv loaded for 25000.

• 

  NEW AND HOT - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By SUE ST GEREMAIN - January 15 - 2:00 am

  WENT FROM A $64,OOO BMW LUXTURY CAR TO A 2004 SORENTO AND DONT EVEN MISS THE BEMMER. LOOKS ... STILL GET... PERFORMANCE AS GOOD AND I,M PICKY.. WOULD DOO IT AGAIN TOMMOROW

• 

  Fun, Fun, Fun... - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By DaMan - January 14 - 10:00 am

  Car is fun, sporty, and affordable. With 17" aftermarket wheels, no one knows I spent as little as I did for a sharp looking and very reliable vehicle. Does the warranty get any better?