1999 Kia Sephia LS review from North America
"Good so far, but we'll see!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Some interior plastics broke.
Headlights don't work sometimes.
Engine sometimes hesitates to start.
Brakes at 65,000 miles.
Battery at 71,000 miles.
Trunk light switch.
Stock tires were horrible and I replaced with better brand tires.
General comments?
This car handles very well.
5spd transmission makes the car feel peppy.
Gets very good gas mileage.
Parts are dirt cheap and the car is very easy to work on.
The doors feel heavy, you would expect them to feel cheap and light, but they don't.
The engine is very strong.
The interior is cheaply made.
Interior plastics break easily so be carefull with them.
The seats are uncomfortable after long driving and need more support and padding.
The speakers are awesome.
Trunk space is great for such a little car.
The a/c and heat work great, although with the a/c on the car has literally no pickup at all on the highway.
All in all I think this is a great car, if you do get this generation kia sephia get the manual 5spd tranny, don't get power door locks or windows because they have problems. Don't bother taking the car to the kia dealer if you have a problem, fix it yourself or take to a private mechanic.
Recommended reviews
![]() ![]() | The worst of the lot, please don't buy!! |
![]() ![]() | 1998 - Sephia 1.8 liter 4 cylinder A poorly designed car that needs to be treated like a lame horse |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model Year | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 DOHC I-4 Manual |
| Performance marks | 3/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 50000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 80000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 21st November, 2006 |

