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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  No Spare Tire!! - 2012 Kia Optima
  By alanbala - October 19 - 2:37 am

  My wife and I had to purchase a new car, after our less than two year old car was totaled. After ruling out several cars, we decided we really liked the 2013 Kia Optima EX with the Premium Package. We got a really good price considering it is a 2013 model, and as we were settling on the sale, we discovered the car comes with NO SPARE TIRE!!. Instead, you get some kind of hinky tire inflation kit good for one use. We bought the car anyway. Now we have to go out and buy a space saver spare, a jack and a lug wrench. The jack and lug wrench are easy to find. Not so the spare. Chevy started this stupid trend. its a shame all the other manufacturers are following suit.

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  I wouldnt buy this car if I were you! - 2000 Kia Sephia
  By Mel - October 18 - 3:06 pm

  I have had trouble with it from the start. My transmission went 3 weeks after I bought it. Good thing it was under warranty. So far I have had it for 2 and a half years and the alternator, blower, battery, brakes, wiper motor have all gone at least once some twice. I have to get new tires every 9 months front only due to it cant keep an alignment. Brakes sqeak no matter if they are new or old. Door looks freeze in the winter. Also doesnt handle right in the snow. Right now my car is off the road either due to a blown motor or possibly the catalytic converter. It has been nothing but trouble.

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  first new car in 20? years - 2004 Kia Optima
  By neededacar - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I originally went for the least expensive, highest mpg I could find. The Rio was just to small and offered no extras to speak of. I purchased a demo with 15K on it already. Very Impressive functionality and preformance for a comfortable vehicle with 28.7 open road mpg.

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  LOVE IT - 2004 Kia Sedona
  By DEEM292002 - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I JUST GOT MY NEW KIA AND I LOVE IT NEVER HAD A NEW CAR BEFOR GLAD THIS ONE WAS MY FIRST

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  2001 Kia Sephia - Its been a headache.. - 2001 Kia Sephia
  By Mike - October 16 - 10:10 pm

  I would love to give the reader a thumbs up for this car. But I cant. Had to replace: tranny at 100k mi. $1000, serp belt (always squeaky!), spark plugs; wires, alternator $260, both headlights, all manner of front end work probably amounting to $1200. Sheet metal is easy to dent and scratch. Have to slam trunk to get it to latch. Parking brake needs replaced. Drivers-side strut&spring needs replaced. Wheel bearing going bad quick-like. Doors FREEZE open in winter (Michigan). This is so annoying. You cant even imagine until you experience having to use a bungee. Driver door lock stuck in lock position. Had to take off door panel to fix. Other than all this, it is a fabulous car.

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  Never ending story - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By njones - October 16 - 3:00 pm

  Bought this new. Had problems right from the start. ICV problem caused engine replacement. Now shifter ($500) fell off in my hand. Next I get news from dealer main computer board needs replacement ($900), Kia refuses to accept any responsibility. These problems in now way could be caused by our use. Kia customer service the absolute worse.

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  The "Mona Lisa" Kia - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By Robert Garbacki - October 15 - 11:26 am

  If you decide to buy this van, please take it out for a day long test drive. My Kia has a moan telegraphing from the front Air Conditioner compressor through the dashboard. First time returned - Dealer says noise is "normal" - checking with Kia for countermeasures. Second time in - dealer checking with "tech-line" for countermeasures. Third time in, a Kia District Manager stated again noise heard is "normal". Rode exact same make and model courtesy vehicles transporting me to dealer 70 miles round trip (3 seperate vehicles)- no noise. Offered to trade my van for one of them (with 21,000 miles)- dealer laughed. Make sure you check with NHTSA before buying. I call my car "Moana Lisa".

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  Great car except back seats do not work - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Lisa Reilly - October 14 - 11:18 pm

  The rear seat latch does not work. Had it repaired three times because it kept breaking. We just past 60K and the seat is stuck down. KIA wants to charge us $900 to fix a defective seat. We can not even sit in it and can not get it upright. Corporate fixed it before for free since this is a KNOWN DEFECT but now they say tough luck. Never buying a KIA again!

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  To soon to tell, but - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By Yas - October 14 - 10:00 am

  at least no reviewers complaining about any major problems with this car. Recently paid 10,500$, taxes included for a 2002 Spectra LS with 5600 miles on it. First foriegn car ever and its about what I expected. Bought it for my college bound daughter just for the warranty and I hope economy. Time will tell.

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  Love the car - 2017 Kia Forte
  By Wendy Harris - October 13 - 5:18 am

  I love my car. Was not aware when we purchased it that cruise control is not standard on all cars. Since we have had the car the front bumper and left headlight had to be replaced apparently due to shipping. They were both scratched up and not fixable without replacing them. Now at less than 2500 yes read that again less than "2500" miles the transmission has to be replaced!!! Apparently there have been 26 Kia Fortes that have had this problem and now I am # 27. I like the feel of the car, the color, all the Bluetooth options and the roominess but so far I have not been impressed at all with running of it. I have not even had this car 2 months and it has spent more time in the shop than I have had it to drive. Sorry Kia wish I could give a better review!