1998 Kia Sephia review from North America
"A surprisingly stable and reliable car for an extremely fair price"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Battery died at 39,000 miles, 3,000 miles after the roadside assistance and warranty went out.
Had to have some minor exhaust system replacements made near 78,000.
Cassette deck (stock system) died after a few years.
General comments?
Despite all the negative reviews here and the general snobbiness people have when talking about Kias, my Kia Sephia has been surprisingly reliable, especially considering the low initial cost.
It gets good gas mileage, usually around 30 mpg during average to-and-from-work Northern Virginia driving.
Service at two different Northern VA Kia dealers (Cherner and Dulles Auto) has been outstanding.
Recommended reviews
  | Good for the money, better than American cars |
| Damn good car for the money |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 31 miles |
| Most recent distance | 79000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 23rd April, 2003 |