Kia Sephia Midsize | Compact

Kia Sephia Midsize | Compact 

DESCRIPTION

The Sephia is offered as a 4 door sedan with a 1.8-liter/125-hp 4 cylinder and a choice between a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. ABS is optional.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 81-90 of 244  
[Jun 03, 2002]
Sarah Mallard
Model Reviewed: Sephia

Strength:

Cheap car, I am at 84,000 and no major problems (besides the dash). It has lasted me 4 years.

Weakness:

Dash, burns oil pretty bad, seatbelts twist very easily, check engine light has been on since 1 week after purchase (for no apparent reason), KIA Customer Affairs is a B@#$H to deal with, they make you feel like a complete idiot!

I bought the Sephia in 1998 with 3,500 miles on it. All together I paid $11,000 (extended warrenty, extra insurances). All in all it has been a good car. I haven't had to take it in for any major repairs and it's been 4 years now. The major problem that I have had is the dash. Back in 1999 I noticed a "discoloration" or scortching mark. It grew bigger and bigger. I contacted KIA at the time and was told that no one else has called about this problem and that it was not covered under warrenty. I took it to the dealership and was told the same thing. Unfortuately I didn't have the $800 it would take to get it fixed. About a year and a half ago, the scortched mark turned into half of my dash. It had come off of the metal "skeleton" by close to 8 inches. My husband had to cut my dash, just to get the defrost to defrost my windshield. (the dash was literally warped to the point the air wouldn't get to my windshield.) I have since seen severel other Sephia's with the same problem. I have been in contact with KIA just recently about this problem and they are STILL insisting there is NO problem. I have contacted other dealerships, besides the one I bought my car from, and have been told there is a major problem with these dashes. Please if there is anyone out there with this problem CALL KIA! The dash is starting to warp around my passengerside airbag. I am lucky to have found a dealership that is willing to replace the dash for labor cost only! BECAREFUL, If you see a discoloration, it is the dash actually burning from the sun!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

NONE, KIA was my first car.

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[May 28, 2002]
courtneym26
Model Reviewed: /Sephia

Strength:

Looks nice

Weakness:

Electrical system, compressors,tires,breaks,paint job,dents easily,few service centers to take advantage of warranty issues,rude salespeople,incompetent service dept.

To make a really long story short-this car has been in the shop too many times for me to count. The wire harness for the electrical system has been replaced twice, there have been 2 air compressors, and numerous small items. The major problems took months for the service team to diagnose, meanwhile I can't drive because they are too incompetent to figure out what is going on. After one year, it has depreciated by half. I tried to at least trade it in on a new one, but the salespeople were rude and unwilling to help. I have memorized the 50 mile trip turn for turn to where I could drive it with my eyes closed. I was told this car was safe and reliable, both of which have been proven untrue. When my compressor went out, it disabled the engine making me lose control of the car. My 2 young sons were in the back seat when I almost hit a guardrail doing 60 mph on the expressway. If you are considering this car, please think again. I am only writing this to hopefully save at least one person the time & money, and possibly their life.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[May 12, 2002]
Steveg
Model Reviewed: KIA Sephia LS

Strength:

Gas Mileage Price Ride Value

Weakness:

I feel that the automatic transmission could shift alittle better. My wife has since bought a 2002 KIA Spectra and the automatic transmission in that one seems to shift alot better. Other than that I don''t see anyother weakness.

Me and my wife love this car. We bought this car when my old Plymouth Sundance deceided to finally blow up one day and we needed a car in a hurry. Not wanting to buy another used car we deceided to look for a new one. As you well know there is not much out there in the KIA''s price range. We both took the Sephia for a test ride and were quite impressed with the ride and quality of the car. It has more than enough power for an entry level sedan and is also quite roomy, being 6''1" this was a concern to me as most smaller cars lack enough headroom. I commute 50 miles each way to work so gas mileage was also a concern. The Sephia did not let me down, over 30 mpg. The only options we got on this car was AC and the automatic transmission. So far both seem to work quite well.

Similar Products Used:

87 Chrysler LeBaron GT 2.2 Turbo 89 Plymouth Sundance 2.2 92 Chevrolet Beretta 3.1

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 29, 2002]
alec vargus
Model Reviewed: /sephia

Strength:

its so gay no one will come within 50 feet of it

Weakness:

its a sephia what isnt weak?

this cars almost as gay as i am

Similar Products Used:

big dongs

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Apr 28, 2002]
Casey Le

Strength:

Good gas mileage, roomy, lots of amenities, cheap to buy, cheap to own, reliable

Weakness:

Road noise, bad suspension.

I got my car in March of 2001 with 30,000 miles. I have now driven it 22,000 miles myself for a total of 52,000 on the odometer. I really love my car. Recently the transmission started acting up but I was informed that was due to my neglect to have the oil or transmission fluid changed...ever. For a car to go that long without oil is amazing! I forgot. I have the LS with all the options and everything works, and everything is great.

Similar Products Used:

1996 Dodge Neon, 1988 and 2001 Honda Accord

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 26, 2002]
Tara
Model Reviewed: / Kia Sephia

Strength:

NONE

Weakness:

transmission, brakes, pre-silencer, engine, lights

This is the WORSE car you caould possible buy! I have had one problem after another with this car. I''ve had the transmission replaced twice. The pre-silencer on the exhaust has craced twice, my check engine light is constantly coming on, my lights quit working and everyone in Sale Auto Mall in Dalton Georgia gives you the run around. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR. Don''t let the 100,000 mile warranty fool you nothing that tares up on this car is covered!

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Apr 26, 2002]
dfelps
Model Reviewed: Kia Sephia

Strength:

Good gas mileage, cute little car, has good pick up for a 4-cyl.

Weakness:

None, just don''t ever take to Cottman''s!!!!

I bought this car in Jan/2000 w/100,000 miles on it, thinking that it would just get me around for a couple of months until I could get something newer...well, 2 1/2 yrs later, I am still driving it. It now has 175,000 miles on it. The only thing that I have done is basic maint., brakes, and at 160,000 miles, put in new clutch, and since Cottman''s did such a poor job, had to have transmission rebuilt 6 mo''s later after clutch....but overall, I LOVE MY KIA. You couldn''t ask for a more dependable car for the price. I am now waiting for the new Kia SUV to come out this fall. And I will be the first one at the dealership to buy one.

Similar Products Used:

''91 Cavalier, ''89 Sunbird

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Apr 24, 2002]
Michelle Perkins
Model Reviewed: Kia Sephia

Strength:

nothing...if it were a 5,000 dollar car then it would be worth it

Weakness:

everything in the above summary

This car is a piece of junk! I would never recommend anyone to buy it from the first weeks we bought it, it has been nothing but a headache. It started with or paint chipping off, then our transmission was replaced, and is about to go again. brakes have been replaced several times, at one point you had to push them to the floor and you would still be moving, our master cylinder leaked, and i was turning out of my rouad and i heard craking coming from my steering whell and went into the other lane couldn''t steer or anything pulled off the road and stopped, the air bag light was on and the horn was honking on its on??? really safe what if i was on the highway??? coe to find out it was the hosing that goes to the air bag and still allows you to move the wheel, i asked the kia repair shop if this was a common problem he said he has never replaced one before thats why it took hime 4 days to recive the part???hello i could go on and on! but i wont. the sad thingis we have had rental cars more then our own. and nice ones at that, and not to mention when or only 36,000 mile warranty was up(now it 100,000) i wonder why. we tried to purchase an extended warranty through the dealer where we bought the car and we were denied 3 times before finally getting one, just makes you think of why??? my advice just spend a little more to get alittle more, i mean i don''t even feel safe driving this car anymore, this was my first car and never late on a payment and we have to go through this, why do people buy new cars for the reliability of knowing you have dependable trnasportation!!! its seems almost like i bought this off the side of the road, and i should feel like showing it off, but i can''t theres nothing left that impresses me anymore....its to bad that Kia wouldn''t own up to there mistakes!!!

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Apr 20, 2002]
D

Strength:

Almost 30 MPG! Inexpensive, reliable.

Weakness:

None - however I would not buy a Kia made in the 1990''s.

2000 Sephia - 16000 miles. 5 speed. Not one breakdown. Never been in shop. I am an ASE mechanic and I lube/change oil every 2000 miles, rotate the tires and perform preventative maintenance as is written in owner manual. Car runs great. Excellent warranty and roadside service however, I''ve never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Escort, neon.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 20, 2002]
ray block

Strength:

comfort,gas milege,warranty, good solid ride ,over all good deal for the money!

Weakness:

speakers could have more ummff

now called the "spectra a great commuter car.....if your looking for a basic transportion car this is it!,i drive between 6 & 7 hundred miles a week commuting to and from work so believe me when i say that this car is pretty comfortable,i''ts decent on gas about 31-34 highway could be a little better for this class but all in all for the $money its a really sound investment!i would recomend you check one out

Similar Products Used:

honda civic,ford focus

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 81-90 of 244  

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