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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  Whoa ... - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By adventuresome63 - October 30 - 9:50 am

  What were they doing when they figured this thing with auto-tranny gets 34 mpg, towing it?? 28 mpg on the highway. Disappointed with that. Otherwise it appears to be a solid car. No problem so far. Lots of stuff for $16k.

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  Best bang for your buck EVER! - 2012 Kia Rio
  By miketill18 - October 29 - 11:06 am

  Fun to drive! Peppy engine! 35.8 MPGs mixed driving. Awesome UVO system and stylish. What more could you want?

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  Solis car - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Arianna G. - October 28 - 2:32 pm

  We bough a 7 year old 100K and are truly surprised: great interior space, compared to smallsuv like Ford Edge .

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  Air Condition Problem - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By Sgt Ard - October 28 - 8:00 am

  Dealership let me take it home for a few days to try it on for size, The 2nd day the engine check lite came on while on interstate Hwy. took it to dealership the 3rd day to have someone look at it for me. But service was busy eating lunch was told to come back the next day. Went to GM told him of problem; lunch was over in 30seconds. it took a GM and 5 minutes to cure problem. 4th day A/C had foul odor. 5th day wife took it to work; on the way home A/C went out went back to dealership around 0700hrs/ Kia Rep at dealership could not find problem and it is now 1300hrs. dealership is now freaking out trying to locate me another Sportage EX Lux Pkg very hard to find in the bayou state with hot temps.

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  Just sportageing it - 2016 Kia Sportage
  By Jerry - October 28 - 7:29 am

  Great vehicle

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  Weathered the Snowmageddon of 2010 - 2010 Kia Soul
  By Sewdiverse - October 28 - 4:16 am

  I waited for a really good snow driving experience before I reviewed. Our recent "Snowmageddon of 2010" provided more than ample testing and my molten red Soul+ made it every place I decided to go once I dug out of my driveway through 24+ inches. Some areas were like the wild, wild West and we plowed right through. I never skidded going behind several SUVs going sideways in front of me. I have stock tires but years of experience.

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  i love my kia - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By daddybean - October 28 - 2:00 am

  i have taken my sorrento on a road trip to california from seattle and it was great. it handled well and was very comfortable. people always come to me and say how nice it is as far as looks go.

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  Excellent van for the money! - 2006 Kia Sedona
  By cbnsoul - October 27 - 4:26 pm

  Since we have our first child on the way, safety was paramount. Once I found out about the crash ratings for this van, I was at the dealer in a matter of days. We really like how easily it drives and all the comfort features like tri-zone climate control standard. Definitely look long and hard at this van if you are in the minivan market - you wont be disappointed.

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  Who paid the EPA off - 2013 Kia Sorento
  By jlaures - October 27 - 1:32 am

  Got your Attention, I hope so . 2.4 AWD w/ 9000miles convenience package. HereÂ’s the deal, this car runs and drives great. Road noise I place in the top ten for quiet. Handling is very good, I like firm but nibble. The transmission while in the ECO mode hunts more than my golden retriever, I thought my toyota shifted a lot, trying to keep that ECO light on is a trick but doable why I donÂ’t know. The beige interior stains very easily DO NOT drop a french fry. The fuel mileage indicator on the dash says what I thinks its supposed to 18-20city 26-29 on the highway. With a average of 22.5 to24. Life

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  WORST CAR EVER - 2004 Kia Rio
  By breezy7 - October 27 - 1:21 am

  My Kia Rio has kicked the bucket at 177k after a crap load of problems. I replaced everything under the sun in the cooling system. 2 new radiators. headlights, tail-lights. Drivers door doesnt lock. Two windows wont go down. I had a transmission fluid leak which was a pain in the butt breaking down every 20 min. New alternator belt. Brake fluid leak. and 2 bad oxygen sensors caused a horrible shaking. I HATE THIS CAR. EVERYTIME I GOT IT FIXED, something else went wrong.!!! NEVER AGAIN KIA. NEVERRRRR AGAIN !!!