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Used 1997 Kia Sephia Consumer Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
33 reviews

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We have a limited number of reviews for the 1997 Sephia, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sephia since its last redesign.

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Pros
Cons
2.63 out of 5 stars

A mixture of good, bad, and ugly.

lawyr2b, 06/07/2003
1997 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

No major breakdowns; overall high reliability but at 70k miles, it is starting to fall apart at the seams! The interior build quality is absolute crap and the interior materials are highly substandard. My dashboard is BURNED from the sun and severely warped (has completely come unglued from the windshield side and has a huge warped bulge). Repeated brake problems that still have not been adequately remedied after taking the car in more than 10 times for service on this problem alone! The air conditioner has been completely out since about a month after the warranty covering it expired (go figure).

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5 out of 5 stars

great cheap car

J Matos, 03/22/2020
1997 Kia Sephia RS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

mazda base engine (bpo5) , easy fix issue.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4.13 out of 5 stars

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.

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4.13 out of 5 stars

My Kia was as good as my Civic

skymax, 08/19/2002
1997 Kia Sephia LS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Kia got a bad rap. They are now on track to becoming one of the top 5 automakers in the world.

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1.5 out of 5 stars

A bad two and a half year experience

silver, 04/17/2008
1997 Kia Sephia LS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This is my first car. I bought it used for $700 at about 70K miles. I made a mistake of not running the carfax report because the car was in an accident previously. When I bought it, the radio and interior sucked, the check engine light was on, it turned out to be a dead cylinder! It affected the O2 and MAF sensor that I have replaced 4 times already. I have also installed a rebuilt motor, catalytic converter, alternator, axles, wheel bearings, exhaust pipes, starter electrical switch, starter twice, belts and a host of other parts. I have put in about 8-9K into a car that cost me $700. I've been stranded 4 times and my engine has died on rough idle hundreds of times!

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