2000 Kia Sephia Base 1.8L DOHC from North America

Summary:

For what you pay for it, you get a lot out of it

Faults:

MY automatic transmission was replaced at 15,000 miles, give or take a few.

My automatic transmission was replaced at 27,000 miles, give or take a few.

General Comments:

Automatic transmissions from KIA are of poor quality.

The cabin is quit roomy for a compact car.

The seats can get quite uncomfortable on very long drives.

The overall cost and efficiency of the vehicle was well over my expectations.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd November, 2002

10th Nov 2004, 22:08

Do you or anyone know how to change the spark plugs in a 2000 model... wanting to do this myself, but not sure where to start.

2000 Kia Sephia from North America

Summary:

This junk car should be illegal

Faults:

Within the first three months I had it I had to get a new transmission.

I had to put it in the shop because a fuel line was leaking.

Another time, a head was cracked. This happened while I was out of town.

About 1 year after I bought it, the second transmission had to be put on it.

At only 27,000 miles, it has had new brakes and tires.

General Comments:

This car has been one of the biggest sources of misery in my entire life. PLEASE don't ever buy a KIA. I have had to have it towed THREE times. Once from school, once from work and once from home. This is very embarrassing. I have had to bum rides from friends. I missed a day from work. I was without a car for a week. I have even been stranded out of town.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 8th August, 2002

2000 Kia Sephia from North America

Summary:

A very cheaply made, dangerous car to risk the lives of you and anyone getting in it.

Faults:

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.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th July, 2002

6th Sep 2007, 23:37

I purchased a KIA Sephia basic Model 4 door back in 2000, it was a brand new 2000 Sephia. Shortly thereafter I was transfered to Winnipeg from Toronto. Not only did the car survive the Manitoba -45 degree, but always started first twist. I drove Winnipeg to Toronto twice in one year in this car, that is about 2,100 KM trip each way, that's 8,400 KM in total, and the car performed magnificently the two years I had it, and apart from the scheduled dealer maintenance schedule, I never had to do anything to the car. No expenses.

I was so impressed with the Sephia, now that my daughter is going to University, I purchased one for her, used, year 2000 and though she's only been driving it a couple of weeks, she loves it! All the comforts of an Accord and Camry, but bargain basement price. GO KIA!