South Korea's oldest car company, Kia, was founded in 1944 as Hyungsung Precision Industry, a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts. It later produced several Mazda models under licence, including the Pride (based on the 121), and Avella, which were sold in North America and Australasia as the Ford Festiva and Ford Aspire. The name "Kia" roughly translates as "Arising from Asia" in Korean and Chinese characters. Until its merger with Hyundai in 1998, Kia Motors Corporation was the second largest manufacturer of automobiles and trucks in South Korea. In addition to the core Korea market, Kia exports vehicles to Europe, North America and several Asian countries. The company started out as one of Korea's giant chaebols (groups of companies), but was operating as an independent, publicly traded company in the early 1990s. It entered the world's largest potential market, the United States, in 1992 with the formation of subsidiary Kia Motors America. However, the Asian financial crisis forced Kia into receivership, until Hyundai bailed it out in 1998, obtaining 51 percent share of ownership.

In the past few years the company has managed some pretty incredible growth. Both in the number of dealers, who sell the vehicles, and in the number of owners, who drive them. As a matter of fact, today, there are more than one million Kia vehicles on American roads. Kia Motors America - the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea - offers a complete line-up of vehicles through more than 630 dealers throughout the United States.

Kia Sedona (starting at $21, 420)
A recipient of numerous awards in 2007, including a 'Good' rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), being named 'Best Minivan' by MotorWeek and topping Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index (TQI) survey, the Kia Sedona minivan, available in Long Wheelbase (LWB) and Short Wheelbase (SWB) models, returns to its segment as a class-leader in safety and value. As Kia's flagship safety vehicle, Sedona is designed to be safer, roomier and packed with a wealth of style, luxury and convenience features.

Kia Sorento (starting at $21, 695)
The Kia Sorento midsize SUV is one of the sportiest, most powerful and safest vehicles in its segment. In 2007 alone, Sorento topped Strategic Vision's 2007 Total Quality Index (TQI) survey and earned its second National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) five-star side crash safety rating for all seating positions. With its powerful V6 engine, outstanding towing capacity, stylish interior and premium sound system with MP3 player, the Sorento was made to conquer the road in total comfort.

Kia Sportage (starting at $16,675)
The Sportage, which has won a number of awards and accolades since its introduction to the Kia line-up in 1993, continues to offer the same combination of comfort, convenience and safety features for 2008. A Consumer Guide "Recommended Compact SUV" and named a "Best Bet" by Car Book, Sportage has established itself as the value standard in the compact SUV category.

Kia Rondo (starting at $16,995)
The Rondo crossover utility vehicle (CUV) combines comfort and convenience with utility, value and style, offering consumers a unique vehicle that is capable of seating five or seven passengers, depending on their needs. With features like a 4-cylinder engine that delivers more standard horsepower than competitors Mazda5, Chevy HHR or Toyota Matrix or the available V6 engine, the Rondo is fun to drive and functional.

Kia Amanti (starting at $26, 195)
The flagship of the Kia Motors America vehicle line-up, the new Amanti, provides luxury, style and performance as standard features in a value-minded package. Earning a J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Award in 2005 and recently awarded a "Good" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in side impact crash tests, the Amanti was refreshed last year, benefiting from a lighter platform and modified suspension.

Kia Optima (starting at $16, 995)
The current-generation Kia Optima returns to the midsize sedan segment in 2008 as a leader in safety, comfort and convenience. The 2008 Optima's distinctive styling cues include a chrome grille, tinted windshield and halogen headlamps on the outside, with a white-blue illumination theme throughout the interior to continue the sporty design. Responsive engines and driving dynamics are also part of the overall package.

Kia Spectra and Spectra 5
In an ever-growing and increasingly competitive segment, the Kia Spectra (starting at $13, 520) and Spectra5 (starting at 16, 620) continue to prove their mettle and gain ground on long-standing class leaders, such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Style, substance and class-leading safety features, combined with exceptional value, have garnered the Spectra model line numerous awards since being redesigned in 2006. Following Kia's core philosophies of providing value, safety, warranty and fun to the driving experience, the Spectra lineup is available in several trim levels (LX, EX, and SX four-door; SX five-door) and offers a host of standard amenities to appeal to a wide range of consumers.

Kia Rio and Rio 5
Since being redesigned for 2006, Kia's Rio sedan and Rio5 five-door have been garnering rave reviews and accolades. Considered "Most Fun to Drive" by the Wall Street Journal (2006) and being voted a "Most Wanted" sedan and wagon by Edmunds.com (2007), editors highlight the entry-level vehicle's exciting handling and performance spunk. The 2008 Rio (starting at $11, 515) and Rio5 (starting at $ 13, 540) add to these successes by continuing to offer the same lineage of sporty finesse, top-of-the-line quality and high fuel economy. To further push the envelope in terms of value, the Rio5 LX has been added to the lineup and provides yet another affordable option to those preferring the sporty styling cues and interior flexibility of a five-door.