2000 Kia Sephia review from North America
"A very cheaply made, dangerous car to risk the lives of you and anyone getting in it."
What things have gone wrong with the car?
My air conditioner had to be replaced after the first use.
I had to go back a second time to get a different part replaced for the air conditioner.
I had trouble with the gas line.
The car would make noises and they told me it was nothing to worry about.
My gas light stayed on in the car for months only after a few months of owning the car.
I would only get about 23 miles to the gallon and was told the gas mileage could actually go from 20 - 30 miles to the gallon.
My brakes completely failed causing me to rear-end someone going only 20 miles an hour and totaling my car.
In that accident, the air bag (s) never went off.
My car was around $12,000 new and less than two years later is only worth $7,000. That is a 40% depreciation value - that is horrible.
General comments?
The car is a like getting a generic version of something. You should look at it like going to the Dollar Store and knowing whatever you just bought for your kids will break in the first week, but it will keep them occupied for that week. Everything on the car is cheaply made. Besides not being built very well, everything is small and cramped. There is a spot for supposedly 3 drinks in the center column. You can actually get one in there - the other two are two small for anything to fit in them, but maybe a pair of sunglasses. They didn't tell me the truth about how much gas mileage I would get. I did mostly highway driving and would be lucky to get 23 miles to the gallon. Out of all the problems, I am lucky to be alive. Had I been going the Highway or Interstate speed limit (55 or 65), I would be dead right now. My breaks completely quit working causing an accident. I am just glad my kids were not with and I wasn't going any faster. The car was around $12,000 new and less than two years later is only worth $7,000 - that is a 40% depreciation value in two years! That is horrible.
Recommended reviews
| Update of |
| 2000 - Sephia Base 1.8 liter DOHC inline 4 Overall a good car which Kia probably would have built better if they were financially inclined to |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 6 miles |
| Most recent distance | 26000 miles |
| Previous car | Mercury Sable |
| Date of Entry | 15th July, 2002 |