I have owned 2 Kias. My first was a 2000 Sportage donated to me by my mom, and by 2013 or thereabouts needed repair work that would cost more than the car was worth. I don’t think that is totally terrible, but that, coupled with the fact that they obviously didn’t have a full understanding at the time of what Americans want (the cupholders were directly in front of the heater/AC vents, for example). It was also a pretty unremarkable in design.
I had never once considered the “KIA” = “Killed in Action” acronym. I was little during Vietnam, and more familiar with MIA.
In 2015, I was looking for a new car, and looked at a lot of brands and models. I became very intrigued by the Optima. I thought it was a beautiful car, and feature packed for the money. Being the researcher I am, I looked at tons of reviews and forums about Kias. Discovered they handed over car design to Peter Schreyer, formerly from Audi, and it really showed, inside and out. I don’t know what the previous poster is talking about as far as interior design.
http://x-img.autorevo.com/2015-kia-optima-lighthouse-point-fl-6360031/800x800/2009246-20-revo.jpg
This is more or less the interior of my car. It also has an impressive combo of a sunroof in the front and moonroof in the back and I think it looks fantastic, and can’t see a single thing wrong with it. Not bad for the $25k I paid for it anyway. If this was from a more “reputable” brand, I think it could have demanded a much higher price. The optima is a mid tier car. Obviously it’s going to look better than a low tier one like a Forte.
In my research I did see a couple digs about the KIA acronym from haters, but it did not deter my purchase, and so far I am very happy with it. I do, however, think it might serve them better to use the logo from some foreign markets.
Might be viewed as too much of a ripoff of the Lexus logo though as they are similar.
My only complaint about the car is the engine is a little anemic (yet adequate) in the base trims. I wish I had bought a lightly used 2015 turbo, I could have gotten it for the same price. It has some minor exterior improvements like led headlight trims and led rear lights too. Oh well.
The shocks are a little too stiff as well. You feel every bump.
Sorry if this seems like a sales pitch for Kia, but I really don’t think the KIA initials are going to deter someone who’s at least at the test drive point. Also, according to Forbes, Kia has beaten it’s closest, most obvious analog, Hyundai in sales. Since Hyundai doesn’t have an acronym problem, but perhaps similar, (imo) outdated reputation problems (I also owned a crap Hyundai from the early 90s), I really do not think the initial premise is even correct anyway. I think they sell just fine by relatively new Korean car standards.