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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  Save about ten grand - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By gunnar02 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Its a Minivan and at about ten thousand less than a comparably equipped anything else its agreat deal. The build quality is great the warranty is great, its got a five speed auto and a pretty lively v6. Its not a porsche its a minivan,sorta like buying a toothbrush, something you just gotta have. And to my surprise I like driving it as much as my other no kids get to go to work in it German thing. Maybe Ill replace my car with a Kia Optima, so well have matching Kias!!

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  great quality and great mpg for money - 2009 Kia Spectra
  By glen - July 20 - 1:50 pm

  I was skeptical at first and concerned that i might not get 30 mpg. Have only had short time but first fill up 29.5 mpg and second fill up 32.2 mpg in mixed driving. Drives very smooth and handles well and looking forward to great mpg once it breaks in.

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  KIA Sephia-Pretty good - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By cody92 - July 20 - 12:24 pm

  I had one of these for driving to school and work. It wasnt real fancy, but thats fine because if I wanted luxury I wouldve bought a cadillac or something of that nature. The KIA Sephia is a simple commuter car, nothing more or less. Its got a basic 4cyl and doesnt have a whole lot of horse power but itll get you where youre going. My Sephia was undyingly reliable and never put me in a pinch after all the abuse it took from me learning how to drive manual on it and generally just driving the thing like I stole it. I reccomend the KIA as a first car or for anyone who needs a commuter thats reliable and gets good MPG.

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  Kia does not stand by their warranty! - 2007 Kia Rio
  By Lindsey S. - July 20 - 3:30 am

  My Kia Rio5 has been in the shop this past month 5 times for the same issue! Kia will only approve the minimal amount of repairs and has yet to fix my vehicle. For the last month, I have been without my car and after the engine and oxygen sensor has been replaced, the vehicle is still broken. What does Kia say??? Nothing. They will not return my phone calls. Whats the use of a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty, if Kia will not make good on it! Dont buy Kia! The cars are cute and fuel efficient, but not dependable and Kia does not stand behind their product!

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  My Little Kia - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Amaranta - July 20 - 3:00 am

  Its been a year and so far I havent had any problem with my little Kia. I recommend this car if you are looking for a fun and not too expensive car.

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  Our New Kia Amanti - 2004 Kia Amanti
  By Al. K. - July 19 - 10:00 am

  We only have about 1100 miles on our new Kia Amanti but we love our car. Everyone we know and strangers all say What kind of car is that it looks like a jaguar or the front headlights is that a Mercedes what is it. WE sure do get a lot of stares and long looks. We have to say so far everything is really great about this new Kia Amanti,but of course we havent had it very long but if it holds up well and runs as great as it does we will be even more happier about our purchase of this Kia. We had a Honda Accord before this Kia and to tell the truth we werent even thinking about a Kia let alone even knew what they looked like.At Taylor Cadillac we bought this New Kia and it is a great car.

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  ONE GREAT SUV - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Garrick Costa - July 19 - 10:00 am

  The Sorento is a great vehicle. We just love everything about it. This is our second Kia, our first one was a Spectra and we loved it also. I just cant belive how much you get for so little money. It is very capable off road and on road it is quiet and very refined. I work for a Jeep dealer and i think that the Sorento is every a lot better vehicle then a Liberty for a lot less money. As long as KIA continues to make top notch vehicles like the Sorento i will be a customer for life.

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  over all good - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By AEROBURTON - July 19 - 10:00 am

  like the ride and comfort interior well laid out. Like the van overall but needs more rear storage room. one problem I have and they have not been able to fix is runs rough at idle ?? waranty has been great they fix ed every thing we have asked except rough idle.

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  Sorento is a home run - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By Shaniqua - July 19 - 10:00 am

  The Sorentos handling ease gives a confidence on the road not found with my previous 14 years of SUV driving. Stability, exact performance and security really please me. QUALITY of vehicle build is really treasured, no rattles just a quiet engine PURR and power with all the amenities of the finest EURO vehicles.

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  The Little Rio That Could - 2002 Kia Rio
  By RoNiN - July 19 - 12:46 am

  This is a follow-up on this car. In short, I bought it early summer 2008 USED with 69K on the odometer. Its coming up on 100000. By the end of this year itll be beyond that. Things Ive replaced so far are four sets of tires about 5 oil changes and a right rear wheel bearing that was going. Other than that, this car is still going. I live in Florida and without AC youd die out here. I have not had to refill the AC unit yet. Its still going strong. One of the best AC units out there. Im going to put tint on the windows this winter and see if thatll make a difference. Im still on the original brake pads when I bought the car.