Used 1996 Kia Sephia Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 1996 Sephia, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sephia since its last redesign.
the best car ive ever owned 1994 kia sephia
jennifer , 01/16/2021
1994 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
my 1994 kia sephia the i still have today i got the sephia brand new in 1994 it has been a great car the 5 speed manual is fun and buttery smooth it alway starts but ever since august of 2019 the car will squeal when it starts but it will stop squealing in a minute after it starts but over all its a great under $10,000 car well yeah the dash starts to wrinkle up and fade but the only thing i have to do with is just taking care of and thats just it and she perfectly happy
OH MY KIA
Curgeo82, 03/07/2005
1995 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My family was the 12th people to own one in Houston. I learned to drive (stick) on our Kia Sephia. It was basic with nothing (RS) and at 100,000 miles we replaced the tranny, and timing belt, and ball bearings. After 4 1/2 years we still average 48mpg hwy and 39 city with 175,000 miles on it. And trust me, being 16 and stupid, I put that car to the test. I love Kia, and now I'm 22 and I am determined to buy the new Spectra as soon as i get a job. Kia made a customer of me for life thanks to that Sephia.
Nice reliable car
AP, 07/10/2003
1995 Kia Sephia GS 4dr Sedan (1995.5)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought the Sephia and immediately used it for around town and approx 12 - 15 long trips per year (1000+ miles roundtrip each trip). It has given us no problems other than what we consider regular maint. up north here (replaced brake pads, muffler, front struts, & battery).
The thing will not die
whiterook, 01/13/2004
1995 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan (1995.5)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought it new when I first got married. The wife played bumper cars with half a dozen people and did a 360 flip in the air off of the highway. The others did not fair so well but the Kia is indistructable. I had to replace the alternater when I baught the car and the timing belt and water pump at the hundred thousand mile mark. But, since I can sell my lawn mower for more used I'll drive it until drops. Which is looking like an easy 20 years.
mixed feelings
collegestudent, 08/28/2004
1995 Kia Sephia LS 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This was my first car. It got me around town with no problems and i bought it used. However, i have been in two very minor accienrts with it- a tire that rolled off another car hit the front from of my car. I also barely tapped the back of a jeep at less than 10 mph n another accident. DONT HIT THE CAR! The first accident left me with the whole right side messed up (undrivable) and lots of money to fix. THe horn still doesnt work. The second totalled my car- radiator was ripped apart, whole front messed up, hood popped upo and broke my windshield... and the jeep had no only a nick on its plastic wheel cover! UNSAFE
We may have gotten a lemon, but......
christiejo, 03/10/2003
1995 Kia Sephia LS 4dr Sedan (1995.5)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Our Kia has given us nothing but headaches. At about 70,000 miles we had to replace the transmission. We then repaired an oil leak. We have repaired the transmission once since the replacement and now it is leaking again. The radiator has been replaced and had numerous repairs. The reliability on this car has been nil. Not to mention, that about 2 1/2 years after we purchased it, the engine began to ping so badly in hot weather that getting up long stretches of hill is an impossibility. The air conditioner is also out but too expensive to fix, as it is not necessary. We probably got a lemon, but I won't take the chance on KIA again.
1996 Kia Sephia LS, Manual, A/C, Powered
Driven 25,000km,148K, 01/17/2010
1996 Kia Sephia LS 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Excellent car for a late 1990's model. 1996 received excellent reviews (looking online). This vehicle is well built, repairs are inexpensive (in Korea), the built is solid. For $320 I bought a vehicle driven 25,000km over the past 1.5 hours without a breakdown. Quality build tested on rough Korean roads intercity and highway driving. Weakness: curling dashboard, radio electronic problems, replaced drive shaft, ball joints, front brakes, master clutch cylinder, 1 front strut, 4 (new) recycled new tires ($80!). Very dependable and a little hard to get rid of really. Save money, this is a good one if mechanically maintained. Thx.
Lucky I guess
HEIDI, 01/29/2003
1994 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
In January 1999, I bought a used 1994 Kia Sephia RS. Single owner, 89,000 miles on it. I have had the brakes done, regular oil changes & tune ups, a new battery. Some minor tweaking of the timing & general maintenance (headlights etc). But, other than that I have had NO PROBLEMS with it. It always starts & gets great gas mileage. This is the best car for it's value that I have ever had.
You get what you expect!
Deniseprude, 11/03/2002
1994 Kia Sephia LS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
For a car under $10,000 we have been more than happy with our Sephia. The only problems were with an unscrupulous dealer who seviced it, and not the dealer we bought it from. It's sporty and fun to drive with the 5-spd manual, and gets 33-36 mpg even with over 100,000 miles. Needs a new clutch now, but that's about it! The front seats could have been more comfortable.
Holds up well
nontrad, 07/19/2004
1994 Kia Sephia GS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has been in my family 1994 and has averaged over 20000 rough miles a year and has traveled from coast to coast. It now has close to 210,000 miles and has never had a major engine or transmission problem. It's not the nicest, trendiest, or most comfortable car but it's held its own over the years. I would give a new Hyundai or Kia a try especially with their new warranties. Don't assume that they're cheaply built cars.
Lucky I guess
Heidi, 01/29/2003
1994 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
In January 1999, I bought a used 1994 Kia Sephia RS. Single owner, 89,000 miles on it. I have had the brakes done, regular oil changes & tune ups, a new battery. Some minor tweaking of the timing & general maintenance (headlights etc). But, other than that I have had NO PROBLEMS with it. It always starts & gets great gas mileage. This is the best car for it's value that I have ever had.
Great Buy
Des, 07/05/2003
1994 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased the car new. The only major repair was to replace a worn cv boot. Like any car, if you take care of it... I still enjoy driving it as much as the first day.
decent little ride
lemichaelj, 07/11/2002
1995 Kia Sephia GS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Good little car have 2 now and would certainly buy a new one especially with the new 10 year 100000 mile warranty, therefore making a decent car to have and to own.
Ilove kias
locky, 08/27/2002
1996 Kia Sephia GS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Very good auto for a very good price
Alright
Joebob99, 09/02/2002
1996 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is my second car and I bought it two days ago and already the check engine light came up. I mean its only a 96 there should be anyhting wrong with it already I mean there is only 55,000 miles on it. But other than that its been alright its sort of noisy.
Cheap little sporty sedan
colbywan, 01/01/2003
1996 Kia Sephia LS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Took a gamble when my '83 Accord gave up in late '96 and bought a Sephia LS. With the exception of a "Check Engine" light at 6,000 miles, it has been trouble-free, reliable and sporty transportation ever since. It performs just as well now with over 160,000 miles on the clock as it did when it was new, the paint still looks nice, and the styling is not yet obsolete. For what I paid ($12K), I feel I got a lot of bang for the buck.
Lou's Review
Louis E. Niedermeier, 02/22/2003
1996 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I haven't had too many problems with the Kia Saphia other than the engine light tends to go on if you accelerate too fast with it... I have beaten a Ford Mustang with it, Acura Integras, Honda Accords, and Honda Civics. Now if you don't think thats all that great, well, the car is all stock. If you buy one of these im sure you will be pleased.
Owner
Greatfoo, 05/15/2004
1996 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The car has proven to be dependable with limited problems. Fuel cell or computerized fuel system has to be repaired as did the hydraulic clutch. Next will be the timing belt. It has been a very good car and has needed only basic maintenance and clutch hydraulics.
Everything Rattles
jpass12, 03/07/2002
1996 Kia Sephia GS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I got this car in 1996 and has 65k miles on it. The engine is great, it is very fast, if not, tell those Civic EX drivers behind my tail. That's about all I can say in the positive side. Everything else, rattles, squeeks, vibrates or comes apart. This car drives very rough, even on good pavement. The seats are not confortable and the a/c is not very cold. You may ask, Why I still have the car? Well, I have nobody foolish enough to buy the thing.
Good car just hard to find parts
lemichaelj, 05/15/2003
1996 Kia Sephia LS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I own 2 Kia Sephia's they both are good cars one a 95' and one a 96' almost the same except one is a stick shift, only problem with them that I see on all kia's is the axle shafts only last about 75000 miles hard to find parts for these jokers too, but they are relativly good cars for the value, I have had no major mechanical problems with either one of mine, the 95 Air went out just a month ago and is expensive to replace car isn't worth it. but drives like a champ, like I said just hard to get parts for them but if you search hard enough you can find them.
It's not your normal kia
Eladio, 01/14/2003
1996 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Well at first i had some problems but i decided that i wanted to street race in this car so i rebuild my motor with some performance parts and it has worked out great. I put aluminium pistons with aluminium rings, the block was cut by 20 plus some more modifications, right now it did about a 15.1 on the 1/4 so its pretty good.
STAY AWAY!
crxbrett, 11/18/2002
1994 Kia Sephia GS 4dr Sedan
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
Quality is very cheap. Acceleration is a joke (13 second 0-60). The transmission and the brakes are horrible. Handling, what handling? Wind sheer & road noise is atrocious. The interior is extremely bland. The fuel economy is good (but that is to be expected on a 2300lber) When I found a new car I was happy to hand back the Kia's keys to my friend. My friend bought this car without checking into Kia's. Within a couple of months of buying it he had to throw away $1000 to have the engine rebuilt! He got the car for $2000 (way too much)! That was his fault for buying the damn Sephia in the first place!
KIA
ICatchYou2004, 08/18/2002
1994 Kia Sephia GS 4dr Sedan
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
i hate it. It is the worst car i have ever owned
I wouldn't do it again!
gholt, 04/30/2002
1996 Kia Sephia LS 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
As of this date, the car has 34k miles on it and has about that many pieces of paper from the dealerships that serviced it for one problem or another. I wish I could find someone to buy this garbage heap from me.