The news of the review follows a sales increase of 52.8% in the first six months of the year. The brand has achieved a 1% market share for the first time in its history.
Kia does not have a DM agency, but uses internal design studio AGL Care.
Its overhaul marks the latest in a series of reviews and is a result of the UK firm's takeover by Korea's Kia Motors corporation last October. Earlier reviews of its agency relationships were carried out at the behest of Kia's parent, but the incumbent agencies were retained.
The latest reviews are being overseen by marketing director Guy Jones and threaten Kia's relationship with ad agency Mustoe Merriman Herring Levy and media agency Starcom Motive.
Kia tends to use press ads to promote its models. The last time it advertised on TV was during a campaign highlighting its green strategy and promoting its Sedona people-carrier, which comes with a mountain bike.
The work focused on the company's 'Think before you drive' strategy, which discourages drivers from using their cars for short journeys.
The campaign, which was launched at the end of 2000, included a two-year sponsorship of 'Walking the way to health', a lottery-funded programme run by the British Heart Foundation and the Countryside Agency.
Last October, Paul Williams, sales and marketing director of Mitsubishi Motors (UK), was appointed managing director of Kia Motors in the UK. The marque used to be distributed in the UK by Kia Cars UK, part of MCL, a joint venture between Britain's Inchape and Japan's Itochu Group.
Last year Kia's owner, Hyundai, took over distribution and paid an undisclosed sum to MCL to break from its contract.
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