1998 Kia Sephia Review
Fuel Economy
24 mpg
Consumer Ratings & Reviews
My Favorite Car
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 3 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 5 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 10 | Exterior Design: | 8 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Kia Sephia 4 Dr STD Sedan
Review
I love this car. It was four years old when I bought it used with 30,000 miles on it. It is now nearly 12 years old with over 75,000 miles on it and with regular maintenace has never given me any trouble. Very reliable, parked outside and always starts on cold winter mornings. Have definately gotten my moneys worth out of it, if they still made them I would buy one new!
Favorite Features
Fun to drive, very reliable.
Suggested Improvements
Use different material for the dashboard, summer heat warps it. Needs higher quality external paint job. Bring back the Sephia!
fantastic car
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 5 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 6 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Kia Sephia 4 Dr LS Sedan
Review
Had this car for only a year, tranny went but that was my fault. Left the e brake up. It's got a lot of power and it'll go forever if you take good care of it.
Favorite Features
very comfortable to sit in. great for long drives.
Suggested Improvements
better exhaust hoists. easier to work on and replace parts.
Served me well
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 6 | Build Quality: | 6 |
| Comfort: | 7 | Interior Design: | 6 | Reliability: | 8 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 5 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Kia Sephia 4 Dr LS Sedan
Review
I have owned my 98 Kia Sephia basically since new, I got it with about 5,000 miles on it and now it has over 115,000 on it. Parts can be expensive, but the motor has lasted great with no problems. The car shows no signs of quiting anytime soon, has been very reliable over the years, had a few parts break, but that is to be expected when you start putting miles on your car.
Favorite Features
Inexpensive purchase price. Good power, quick acceleration. Decent gas mileage. Great A to B car. More durable then expected, I really gave it a beating and it keeps on running. Great in snow.
Suggested Improvements
Replaced rotors and brakes several times, brakes don't work that great. Had to put a new transmission in it. Engine wiring melted one. Loud at speeds over 75 mph. Door locks freeze up in the extreme cold.
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
Faithful till the end....
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 8 |
| Comfort: | 7 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 8 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 7 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Kia Sephia 4 Dr STD Sedan
Review
I bought my Kia new in 1998 in FL. It made many cross country trips and up and down the coasts thanks to travel for the military. It was a great reliable car, had good gas mileage and was fun to drive. The only complaints was the electrical system which was sometimes questionable. A blown fuse or connector shut the car down a few times but was a quick, cheap fix. The battery never quite seemed to last and had to be replaced ever other year or so. Handled great and was a blast to drive in curves. Great fuel economy. Was a bare bones vehicle but great for being on a budget. Great for reliability if you just need a dependable mode of transportation. Am looking at a new Kia today.
Favorite Features
Price, Kia's can be bought new for the price of most used cars.
Suggested Improvements
In newer models the electrical system has been upgraded. In hindsight I see this as a great start for the Kia brand.
do not buy a 98 sephia
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 1 | Fun-to-Drive: | 1 | Build Quality: | 1 |
| Comfort: | 3 | Interior Design: | 1 | Reliability: | 1 |
| Fuel Economy: | 6 | Exterior Design: | 3 | ||
Vehicle
1998 Kia Sephia 4 Dr STD Sedan
Review
I have had this Kia Sephia since 1998 when I got it brand new. What convinced me was the cheap price but two days after I got it the a/c stopped working. And ever since then it has been nothing but new transmissions, dashboards, etc. Now we're having problems with the transmission again, the engine is failing, the brake fluid disappears, the turning pinions rattle, the paint is chipping and the air conditioning broke again.
Favorite Features
None. It's a horrible car. I'm never getting a Kia again. And I heard about a guy whose radio caught on fire in a '97 Sephia.
Suggested Improvements
I'm grateful they stopped making it and I wonder if the Spectra and Rio are just as bad.
View Pricing for Other Years
- 2001 Kia Sephia
- 2000 Kia Sephia
- 1999 Kia Sephia
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- 1997 Kia Sephia
- 1996 Kia Sephia
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