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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  Short term review - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By artgpo - August 16 - 12:16 am

  My wife purchased a Sportage after considering the PT Cruiser, CR-V, RAV- 4 and Tucson. The Sportage has excellent fit and finish and seem high quality. It resembles its previous version in name only. I know of no other vehicle offer as much for so little. Well see over the long run. Kia is now squarely middle class.

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  Good car - 2004 Kia Rio
  By isaac - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Funny the guy that posted the review about the engine seizing up at 81,000 miles. thats normal-you failed to change the timing belt. the timing belt MUST be changed by 65,000 miles on Rios, or the engine blow. Period. its a 100% fail rate. Anyway, I live in Phoenix and the air conditioner only works when youre driving. soon as you pause at a light or brake, your air is gone. that said, its otherwise a perfect car. i love it for its size, so much easier to maneuver i watch macho suv-drivers struggling with their Boats and laugh LOL LMAO

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  Under-estimated Jewel - 2005 Kia Optima
  By AstroBike - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Ive bought 2005 Kia Optima EX V6 from a private person as a used car in August 28, 2010. Its in excellent condition with low mileage (only 53k miles). Frankly, I didnt expect any excellencies from it before driving, but Ive been changed totally about Kia and Optima. Its a fantastic sedan Ive ever driven. Its Powerful, comfort, quiet, fast, luxurious, roomy, sporty exterior design (better than latest model), etc. Im really enjoying the driving of this jewel.

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  Not Happy - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Not happy - August 15 - 10:00 am

  When I first got the car I was very excited. It was my first luxury car and every thing was great until after the first week. The radio stopped working and I tried to get it fixed but the dealership I got it from was not very helpful. I had to go to someone else to get anything done. The radio has been fine until the past month when the speakers started to go again and I never listen to my music loud. Other electronics are malfunctioning too, like my side mirrors and my seat. Every time I get in my car I have to readjust them because the just move on them own. The power steering also goes when it rains and the mechanic couldnt tel me why. Cant believe a 2005 has so many issues!

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  Finally Got Rid of It - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By No Kia No More - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Purchased this car for a family of 5 in July 2006 from Central Kia in Dallas, TX. Over the course of the next 4 years it spent over 90 days in the shop on 56 appointments. We had a vast assortment of issues ranging from wheel replacements to ECU replacements. In between we had both O2 sensors replaced, 3 fuse blocks, Throttle body, several power packs, W/S washer pump, radio, sway bar and several cosmetic items replaced. Unreliability is the key for this vehicle. Even when it ran it felt like it was going to die at any minute. Ate tires like no tomorrow and was in general a very poor vehicle. We took it to 3 different dealers service departments for the work. DO NOT BUY A KIA, EVER!

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  Love my Kia Sorento - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Ann - August 15 - 10:00 am

  I have owned SUVs for nearly 20 years; my last was a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which had nice amenities. Though my Sorento lacks some of those things, it makes up for it with the back-up camera and the remote start. Two very nice features. My Sorento is awesome; the interior is nice, it rides well and is beautiful. It gets far better gas mileage than my Jeep. The dealership, Carolina Kia, was absolutely the best to deal with in the triad. I would buy another Kia, but only from them. Whenever I am asked about my Sorento; I say I love it!

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  PLEASANT! - 2007 Kia Sorento
  By RON - August 15 - 1:16 am

  My overall driving experience with this car has been wonderful! My only disappointment has been my break wear. I think my breaks gave out on me earlier than they should have. I actually went thru a set of pads and rotors and wheel bearings I feel way to early for a brand new vehicle. Wheel bearings were under warranty but rotors and pads were not and I was not a happy camper! I bought this car as a result of renting one on vaction and really enjoyed how it handled.It rides smooth handles superbly and accelerates well. I have been on several trips with my KIA and luv how it handles on the open road. I also luv the complements I get of it being a SEXY SUV!

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  2016 Sedona SX - Cruiser - 2016 Kia Sedona
  By Michael - August 14 - 11:06 pm

  We just purchased the 2016 Sedona SX with the entertainment package and some other options. Wow, first off this minivan has the most quiet ride of all minivans we drove, period!! And it doesnt look like a minivan, it has a bolder stance and just down right cooler looking! Tons of features! Love the cooled seats.. Navigation system is one of the best we have had in any of our cars! Easy to get in and out of with three Children. Memory driver seat is great because my wife is 5 and Im 5 10".... This minivan has too many awesome features to list. We purchased this mainly for an extra vehicle and it will used mostly for vacation road trips. The only downside and its really not a negative is that you may need some time to figure out all the technology that it has. I can predict this will be the number 1 minivan on the market once people give Kia the opportunity. We also have a Kia Optima SXL and its been perfect in all ways. Will follow up in a few months. Update: after 6 months and only 2995 miles it has been amazing! Two road trips and the highway mpg is great at 25-26. Our three kids watch the built DVD with wireless headsets and then play on xbox 360 while my wife and I can listen to music and talk! Kia did an awesome job with designing this minivan for families!!! Very pleased with this purchase, my wife needed a very safe minivan with technology and this was by far the best on the market! She doesnt drive much, just the kids to school and around our area for shopping. At first she thought it was a little too big, but with the cameras she just loves it. I like it so much that I may sell my Optima SXL and buy another for me. Update after 1 year: This has been an incredible minivan from day one. It is super quiet while driving with very little road noise if any. We have taken it on several road trips and Im amazed that it gets 26 mpg on the highway! Still enjoy all of the technology and most of all the safety features. We feel very safe while driving this minivan. I really dont have anything negative to report. Go buy one and its nice to stand out from all on the Honday Odysseys in the car pool lane!!!

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  Transmission Failure - 2010 Kia Soul
  By twolf - August 14 - 9:53 am

  Vehicle would be fine if it wasnt always in the shop being fixed. I had a transmission failure at 9,000 miles. The wont warranty wont cover it because the vehicle leaked its transmission fluid. Which is also the fault of the dealership. The vehicles are being sent with low fluids, and dealerships arent checking them. The vehicle has minimal power even with larger engine. Best part of the vehicle is the looks.

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  Cant beat it - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By ramer1 - August 14 - 8:40 am

  Purchased the car used in a pinch. The car had 40,000 miles on it and now has 180,000 miles on it. Only paid $3000 for it when it was 2 years old and said that I would drive it till it dropped. Still going!! Right after it was purchased, the car was driven for 40,000 miles without an oil change... still no problems. You cant beat the price, the gas mileage or the insurance, although parts are sometimes hard to find. Nothing but general maintenance since purchased. I now have a new truck, but will probably buy another Sephia after this one dies to have another 35 mpg road car.