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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  Best family micro van buy in USA period! - 2007 Kia Rondo
  By Steve J - November 24 - 7:00 pm

  This is the micro van the US manufactures should be knocking off! Tweak the styling a little and you have a top seller for the next decade! 5 star safety, stability control, tire pressure monitor, 6 air bags, 100k warranty, quieter/larger than Rav/CR-V, 30 mpg driven @65-70 and handles fine. Im a picky auto enthusiast/motorcycle guy and I cant believe how dumb US auto executives are! You can buy a 4 cylinder with air out here in the NW for as little as $14K/15K plus tax. Thats several thousand less than a honda civic/etc! The motor is bulletproof with a cam chain on the four banger, you get alloys and a complete power package.Come on Chevy/Ford/Chrysler! Knock it off with your styling tweaks!

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  Great minivan - Bad on fuel comsumption - 2005 Kia Sedona
  By Mario - November 20 - 10:36 pm

  I recently purchased a 2005 Kia Sedona LX and it really is a nice minivan. The vans exterior is nice to look at; pleasant on the eyes. The interior is made up of good materials and is quite comfortable. My kids love the roominess of the interior, all the cup holders, lights, rear controls for heat and air. However, in light of gas prices rising to $3.00 a gallon (a small exaggeration for now), I am really concerned about the "below average" fuel mileage the Sedona is known for. This is my only gripe about this minivan, otherwise, I think it was a good purchase for my family and me.

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  cheap - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By christine - November 19 - 10:00 am

  After 980 mile no problem. But the sunglass holder could not open on top. Need abs brakes in this van because I try both van with and without abs brakes. Speaker not loud enough in the front of van on the LX. Parts for this van might be hard to find.

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  Not bad for the money - 2008 Kia Spectra
  By Bryan - November 18 - 1:30 am

  I am a young driver(21) bought this when I was 19(actually still making payments) and this has been a great car. The 5 speed really lets you open up the engine and get the most out of it and I wouldnt have it any other way. Mine has developed a rather strange problem lately, the rear floorboards are getting soaked but there is no leake up top, so I am guessing water is coming in from the bottom? This will be my first experience with KIA customer service so I hope they treat me well and I get my car back soon. This seems like a rare problem so I wont blame the car just yet. Overall, great car for the money hands down.

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  Extend warranty - 2010 Kia Forte
  By VICTOR - November 17 - 10:43 am

  I bought the sx sedan few days ago, Kia trying to sell me on the extended 10 yr warranty for around $32 mo for 60 mo. Sounded like the 1st 5 yrs are the same as Kia warranty. Also, I got car for $17,800 otd everything except leather, not sure yet if I like the sunroof

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  Come on performance parts! - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By azsnow - November 16 - 1:00 am

  I purchased this car for better mpg, and received a whole lot more! I have only had it for a year and have had 29,000 trouble free miles. It doesnt hold its resale value very well, but when you compare it to other cars in its class, you get way more for a lot less.

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  My first Kia - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By C.Knill - November 14 - 7:03 pm

  I wanted a 4x4 bought it used then it cost me $1800 to get the front wheels to work properly.Serviced at the dealship and was treated like royalty. I LOVE the fact its full frame and not a unibody!!! ABS and brake warning light come on stay on till shut down and restart for no reason. Low power but hey 4cyl and 4x4 dont mix LOL. Made its way through 4 feet of snow last winter and numerous flooded streets this spring!!Rugged little beasty...Im happy with it.

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  too many things gone wrong - 2002 Kia Sportage
  By Kim - November 9 - 6:13 pm

  I purchased this little suv because of price. I wanted a 4x4 and this was one that seemed reasonable. Well let me just say that I glad its under warranty. The transmission went at 40,000 miles. The cooling fan busted damaging the radiator & washer reservoir. I need front brakes already and just put on 4 new tires just before this winter. Then this winter I had problems with putting fuel in my tank; kept flowing back out at me. Accelerator sensor replaced 3 times. The service has been great & warranty has covered all except tires and brakes of course. I will be trading it in before the warranty is up thats for sure! Other than that, its not a bad little suv to drive around.

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  Reliable and Dependable - 2001 Kia Rio
  By retze - November 7 - 11:56 am

  I have owned the Kia Rio since January 2001. It has been very reliable and dependable. It has some warranty and repair work done in the first two years I owned it, but I never had to pay any out of pocket expenses for repair work on the car. After owning a Plymouth Sundance and a Dodge Neon, this is the most dependable car I have owned. Its well over 100,000 miles now and still going strong. I also hit two deer with the vehicle and it held up very well. This car does not have any special features or a powerful engine, but its good on the gas and gets me where I need to go.

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  it ok - 2004 Kia Optima
  By Terri - November 5 - 1:40 pm

  seem to me I steering to the right a lot on this car. Maybe caused it have Low performances tires. Also the road noise is bad aint a really big fan of that.