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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  kia sedona - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By svsaunders - July 12 - 10:00 am

  The driver compartment is not built for someone with any size to them. My husband is 62", 195 lbs. He cant get comfortable when he drives. He states the pedals are too close. More space on the passenger side.

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  Never Again! - 2011 Kia Sportage
  By slumberbum65 - July 4 - 1:57 am

  I bought the 2011 Kia Sportage EX after looking for the right model and getting what I thought was a good price, I had the car for 10 months. This car left me stranded 3 times in 10 months. The first time I was out of town and a "fuse" blew and the car wouldnt start, towed to dealer for repair on a Sunday, took $50 cab ride home 2 weeks later it dropped dead at an intersection, fuse blew again due to bad fuel pump, replace pump after tow to dealer, 3rd time it left me stranded on a dirt road high in the mountains, Kia roadside was no help at all and ignored me, had to use my buddies AAA to get a flatbed, some expensive computer module broke, fixed, promptly traded for 2010 Ford Taurus.

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  No LEDS? or DRL? - 2016 Kia Sorento
  By joewat - July 2 - 1:46 am

  We just purchased a 2016 Kia Sorento SX V6 model and for the most part are really impressed with the vehicle. I could go on a write about great everything is but there are small details that I am really upset about. One of them being the lack of interior lights on the sunroof/reading lights. They do not light up and can be very hard to see at night. I know it’s small but when spend this kind of money that’s something you would expect. My 2010 VW has it. The biggest complaint has to do with the Lack of Daytime Running lights. There are none. Your options are “auto” which turns on everything when it gets dark, or you have to manually turn on your lights for daytime. Really Kia? No LEDs on a 20

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  Good cars dont need big warantees - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By R - June 29 - 2:53 pm

  1 year of ownership + 12 times to the dealership to fix engine problems + gutless kia staff not owning up to design flaws = BIG TIME LEMON CAR. Before purchase you better read up on your states lemon laws.

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  Disappointing bells & whistles; nice ride though - 2012 Kia Sportage
  By freshlife51 - June 26 - 12:02 pm

  1 year & over 18k miles into ownership of EX w/ AWD: paid the premium for navigation & phone handsfree; 6 wks after purchase it stopped uploading phone contacts (so now its NOT "handsfree"); 9 months later it wiped out navigation address book for no apparent reason. Kia service claims compatibility issue w/worlds most popular phone (iPhone)--but my hubbys 10 yr old Audi can link up to it! & they cant explain/fix the nav address book problem. Initial mpg was ABYSMAL, improved steadily after break-in period. Great on highway: smooth, firm ride, 26 mpg on a long trip @ consistent speeds; 17-19 mpg city. Feels unstable on curves at moderate speeds, like cars not heavy enough to grip road.

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  Average car - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Chris L - June 21 - 6:06 pm

  If youre looking for an average vehicle, this is it. It has 4 wheels, an engine, and it gets you from point A to point B. Weve only owned it for a few years, gone from about 65k to 95k miles, and weve had a few issues. The serpentine belt began squeaking during our first winter and eventually snapped, killing the power steering. Weve had the belt replaced 3 or 4 times now, and Im sure well have to do so again in the future. The AC also died in relation to fixing the belt somehow, and the muffler pipe needed replacing about a year or so after buying the car, which we finally replaced. A loud muffler is something I wish upon no one.

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  Watch the Warranty - 2002 Kia Optima
  By zodda - June 11 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I bought 2 new Kias after hearing about the great warranty. Our 2002 Optima now in the shop while we gather up the $1800 needed to repair clutch and flywheel for a warranted car! I know flywheels are covered. As for the clutch, its a wearable item, but who ever heard of a clutch burning out after 30K miles? With the worst driver, 30K miles for a clutch is totally unacceptable. Said burned clutch caused the failure of other parts (pressure plate, flywheel) No way I could have foreseen the clutch going in 2 years. Other things: door moulding fell off. Check engine light on and off, driver side window fixed twice. Tires are already wearing.

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  kia van - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By rocwilliam - June 11 - 10:00 am

  gas mileage is a bit low, hope this improves after vehicle is broken in, rides well family loves it, overall seems to be a good vehicle

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  none - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By deekle - June 10 - 2:00 am

  I am very dissatisfied with 4 wheel drive ability of vehicle. I seem to slide more with it engaged than remaining in 2 wheel drive. It has been very reliable mechanically. It just seems that minor annoyances occur such as rattles and noises which I do not know where they are coming from. The ride is very hard and stiff. As far as appearance goes, I do not like the fact that the wheel rims get brake dust ground in to them and no matter what I spray on them to clean them, it wont come clean

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  crankcase and mnemonic balancer - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Ontario - June 8 - 3:10 pm

  I purchased new in 2005. Overall, Im satisfied with this vehicle. Two things of disappointment: Fuel milage and the Crankcase Mnemonic Balancer bolt broke at 104000 Km. Imagine! It was fabricated out of a cheap aluminum by-product. It cost us $1200.00 to replace! Not happy, at all, about that. Would I buy another one? Yes, because of the dealerships unmatched customer service and the price point.