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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  Impressed - 2009 Kia Sportage
  By Me - January 24 - 4:43 am

  I was very hesitant about buying a Kia, for I have not heard very good things about them in the past. I searched several SUVs and for the price w/ 60K warranty the Sportage is a real bargain! The car is great on gas as long as your foot is not permanently heavy and the seats are very comfortable. There is plenty of space - just as much as the Sorrento and its better on gas. The stereo is very good for factory. My main complaint is there is not arm rest !! So far I love the car.

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  Do Not Buy A Kia - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By Roadturtle - January 23 - 10:56 pm

  Gas mileage horrible; 12 - 14 mpg, Transmission a piece of junk. They cant even fix it. Its been in the shop over 33 days in the first four months I owned it. Stay away from Kia. Their warranty is great advertising, all fluff no substance. They make you bring it back over, and over again. They will not authorize your car to be fixed. They seldom authorize you a loaner. Do not buy a Kia!

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  Safety feature needed - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Edubb - January 23 - 7:43 pm

  My wife and I love our new car and love the features as well. The one thing that caught our attention sre the door locks. Being previous Honda owners, we are used to the door NOT unlocking while in the car. In the KIA you can pull the lever and the door opens. I have not seen any of the editors or others comment on this.

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  Oh my Amanti! - 2005 Kia Amanti
  By Arnie - January 23 - 5:40 pm

  Terrific value! Contemporary looks, plush interior, and all of the right options. I call it my Asian Limousine. Performance and ride are like a limo. You have to drive it like one.

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  Its Okay - 2004 Kia Sorento
  By carlos - January 23 - 5:23 am

  Great price, very reliable, good warranty.

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  KIA Sportage EX, V6 - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Mike - January 23 - 3:13 am

  The re-designed look of the Sportage is beautiful. KIA went all out to make it look better and suceeded. It has the appearance of the Sorento but still maintains the lines and concept of the original Sportage. The handling is excellent and very responsive. The location of all the functional buttions is very convenient for use. The upgraded sound system that comes standard is excellent. It sounds like a very expensive stereo without the big speakers taking up space. I like the fact that the spare tire has been moved and is no longer on the back door. You can also enter the Sportage via the rear window instead of the entire hatchback. Way to go KIA!

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  Worse vehicle ever purchased so I traded it in - 2013 Kia Sportage
  By applegator - January 22 - 7:50 pm

  The vehicle did not get stated MPG. 1 week after I bought my Kia I learned Kia/Hyundai had overstated the MPG on several models and the Sportage was 1 of them. I also learned in 2002 Kia/Hyundai had a class action lawsuit against them 4 overstating horsepower on several of their vehicles which eroded my confidence in Kia. I read numerous reviews of buyers complaining their warranty was not honored so I decided all things considered Kia was not a manufacturer I felt I could trust. What good is a great warranty if a buyer cannot be sure it will be honored? Seats uncomfortable, ride bumpy, poor visibility out rear, poor mileage so I traded it in 4 a Toyota.

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  Why I buying another Sportage - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By BOB PECK - January 21 - 11:23 pm

  The KIA Sportage pleases everyone in our family. The gas mileage is excellent @ 20 in city and 27 hwy with a V6! The ride is absolutely excellent. We enjoy the flexibility of the interior for hauling golf clubs and whatever. The KIA gets many compliments from everyone who rides in it. I am so pleased that after 41,000 miles it has had no issues whatsoever. Just change the oil and put gas in it. I recommend the Sportage to anyone who wants a fun, reliable small SUV.

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  Spectra is here to stay - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Spectra is the BEST - January 21 - 10:00 am

  If you are in the market for a used car? THINK AGAIN! Why buy used, when you can buy NEW? Mine came with A/C, CD player, Auto all for around $13,000. Overall happy with the car, Good gas milage, Brakes work good, Performance is good, Kia has came a long way. & It doesnt cost a fortune to maintain! I highly recommend it to anyone.

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  Great Improvements - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Skinnyspike - January 21 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 1999 Sephia and it was an okay car for the price so I checked out the 2003 Spectra. Wow, what a car for the price! Kia took care of the minor design problems with this model and added some nice touches.