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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  Solid Purchase - 2008 Kia Sorento
  By dj13 - January 14 - 1:20 am

  Excellent value, alot of vehicle for price. The ride is awesome, quite, handles like a dream, great all weather vehicle. We have 23,000 miles now and the vehicle is performing above expectation. It is difficult to look the other way when this vehicle offers so much for such a fair price. We have been pleasantly surprised and this is our second Sorento. The 08 has great power, fun shifting features for sport type driving, and as usual, comfortable seating. Drove from Florida to Arizona and my back felt just fine. Only negative is the passenger air bag sensors are confused. Company has a recall for the settings so I must get that done...besides that...a great buy.

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  Great value people mover. - 2013 Kia Soul
  By dean_h - January 13 - 3:50 pm

  Purchased this one to replace unsure footed 2002 Rav4. The interior room and MPG are key reasons. Great a little car has a lot of room. I am well seasoned light footed driver. It does 37.3MPG at NJ Turnpike, and does 33 MPG in town. I have feather weight family, would go with 2.0 engine.

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  Good Value - 2004 Kia Optima
  By Ant - January 11 - 3:56 pm

  I didnt think that Kia would have a good car, but the Optima proved me wrong on the test drive. My 04 V6 has a good amount of power and the style of it makes it look like it might have cost a lot.

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  Good so far... - 2007 Kia Optima
  By nancy-s - January 11 - 11:20 am

  Impressed so far. Enjoyable to drive. Love having leather in a 16 thousand dollar car. No better value that we could see. Thousands cheaper than a Fusion.

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  Love my Sorento - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Victor - January 11 - 8:16 am

  I was looking for a new SUV and found the Kia Sorento. When my wife and I drove the car we loved it immediately. The feel of the car was tight and responsive. The leg room was excellent, important on long trips that we take. There is plenty of space to store all the luggage. So we bought one. On several occasions at parking lots we got a lot of comments on "what is that car its beautiful, is it a Lexus?" I told them no its Kia Sorento; they couldnt believe it. So its time to get a new car and as you guessed, its going to be another Kia Sorento -- one problem, cant decide on the color. Anyone who buys this car will enjoy it as much as we did.

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  so far so good - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By steve - January 10 - 10:13 pm

  We bought our 05 Sorento used with 37k on it (for just over $16K). Exterior styling and safe, sturdy ride along with the warranty sold us on it (we were considering a GMC Envoy too). My wifes sister owns an 03 Sorento, and its been the most reliable car they have. Im a gas miser, but this truck has been slightly better than advertised (20-22mpg in mixed driving). Love the cargo room, comfort, and quiet ride. Plastic fender cladding not very sturdy (ripped an edge on a grocery cart return carriage), and Im taking the truck in for service at 42K next week. Well see how that goes. Overall, a LOT of bang for the buck. My wife loves it, and thats whats important.

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  Perfect for work and leisure - 2003 Kia Rio
  By ericksenmad9 - January 10 - 10:00 am

  Bought the car brand new. Only had one problem with it(rear wiper hose kinked). But that is what the warranty is for. Is used for work. Plenty of space for work equipment. Good gas mileage. Fun to drive. I actually have more fun driving my Kia than my Chevy or Ford. Perfect for those who do not have alot of money to invest. Definitely love the turning radius. The Cinco, with its hatchback design, gives plenty of room.

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  My Chick Maggnet - 2000 Kia Sportage
  By Cowboy65 - January 10 - 10:00 am

  The car has been very economical, In that, I have saved a bunddle of money in fuel costs. Also the car is very good when out in the hills four wheeling. I enjoy driving hte car.

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  spectra - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By matt haynes - January 10 - 10:00 am

  The car is nice for an economy car. The thing it needs the most is a bigger motor for trying to pass somebody.

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  KIA SORENTO EX 2003 - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By robdi - January 10 - 10:00 am

  This is our first KIA vehicle, which I bought for my wife, and we have had a WONDERFUL experience. We will NEVER buy an American Made(JUNK!!!) vehicle again. Our hats go off to KIA!!!!!