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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  Friendly Environment - 2016 Kia Forte
  By Kiacustomer - December 10 - 4:01 am

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  Great Crossover - 2011 Kia Sorento
  By Kansas - December 8 - 7:03 pm

  We have had our Sorento for 3 weeks now. Taken a couple of extended trips. 25 mph on highway, 21 in city (2500 miles so far). Rides stiff, but I knew that and like that ride. No rattles. Bluetooth works great; love the styling in and out.

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  Love My Kia! - 2005 Kia Sportage
  By LKirk - December 8 - 5:40 pm

  When I was looking for an SUV I was put off by the looks of many of them and defintely their price. I liked th enew look fo the KIA Sportage so I waited for it to come to the dealership near me to se it for myself and test drive it! I was so impressed I bought it! I have had nothing but compliments from strangers at the gas station even! They like the style and want to know what make SUV it is! It had every option I wanted for an extrememly reasonable price. I love it!

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  gift-car - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By ix - December 8 - 2:00 am

  decided on a kia due to its warranty and price value. having a 10-yr warranty says this car will last or were putting our companys coffers in an jeopardy. price incentives to get kia established as a viable alternative to gotten-to-be-expensive toyotas and hondas.

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  first new car - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By jared02 - December 8 - 2:00 am

  Ive been searching for a mid-size SUV for a year. I found the Sorento online and thought it too good to be true. Great looks and well built! Handles just as good or better than my wifes 99 Honda Accord. Fuel economy suffers. The best warranty and standeard features you can find for the price.

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  Forte, so far so good - 2010 Kia Forte
  By victor - December 6 - 6:13 pm

  Purchase price-otd-$17,800 (not icld. My down payment) has everything except leather- think I got a good deal? Finance guy went on and on to sell me extended warranty, I bought into it to shut him up and leave then went back next day and canceled but still had to go back and forth with him about it just to cancel, way too much pressure to buy it. All in all, I drove a sephia for nine years and forte is several levels up and above Hyundai and I like it better than lancer and mazada3, esp. The price and all the extras

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  Kia Optima - 2006 Kia Optima
  By Adam - December 3 - 5:03 pm

  Great car for your money. The 4 cylinder drives like a V6. I would recommend this vehicle to anybody.

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  KIA SORENTO A GREAT SUV - 2005 Kia Sorento
  By diego - December 3 - 10:26 am

  After doing some research on the SUV market we chose the Kia. It has great looks, very good ride, excellent engine performance and an overall quality that I would expect from a more expensive SUV. The interior is very well planned and the materials are of very good quality. The Sorento is built on a truck frame giving it a firm ride that I like. It truly is a good off road truck that I can depend on in all types of conditions.

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  Worth Every Penny - 2003 Kia Sedona
  By Rustycg - December 2 - 2:00 am

  We have had the Van for almost a year now and have yet to have a single problem. After almost 10k miles it still makes us smile. It has alot of power for a van and alot of exelent features. Maby we are lucky but on our trips and just around town we have had above average fuel consumption. Averaging around 24mpg on the highway and about 19pmg in the city. So I will not say fuel consumption is a problem for me. GET ONE!! Youll be glad you did!! Good job Kia, and since the Sorento has the same engine we may just buy one of them here soon.

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  KIA - Keepsake, Innovative, Affordable - 2003 Kia Sorento
  By Carla Copeland - December 2 - 2:00 am

  I broke down near the KIA dealership on my way to Toyota to look at their 4- Runner. I had no idea of the changes and upgrades that KIA made. Approx. 3 hours later, I was the PROUD owner of a new KIA Sorento. I have all the luxury of the "more popular" SUVs at an affordable price. What I love most is how people look at the vehicle, trying to figure out what it is........