Kia Sephia: description, specifications and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

South Korean auto company Kia since 1992 produced a front-wheel drive sedan Kia Sephia. The car replaced the previous obsolete Capital model. The new project was successful: over 100 thousand copies were sold in the first year. The second generation began to be produced under the name Schuma.

Exterior

Kia Sephia introduces a mid-size four-door sedan. The layout of the cabin is designed for five people. The rear row of seats is quite spacious: tall passengers will not rest on their heads and knees. The luggage compartment is large enough to carry medium loads.

Specifications

In terms of technical equipment, Kia Sephia is in many ways similar to Mazda cars. Handling at altitude, the car behaves confidently both on the highway and in the city.

The line of power units is represented by engines from 1.5 to 2 liters in volume and power from 79 to 122 horsepower. Engines are characterized by economical fuel consumption and good dynamics.

Sephia's exterior is very original, a wide palette of body colors is available. In reviews of the Kia Sephia, car owners note the efficiency, dynamism and spaciousness of the car, which makes it excellentfamily sedan.

First Generation

Presentation Kia Sephia was introduced in 1992. The car was designed on the Mazda 323 platform. The model was in high demand at home, after which it was introduced to the markets of Europe, the USA and Russia. In different countries, the car was known under the names Kia Mentor and Timor.

Kia Sephia was offered in two body styles: hatchback and sedan. The line of power units was represented by injection and carburetor engines with a volume of 1.5, 1.6 and 1.8 liters. The transmission is either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual.

Kia concern in 1994 carried out a restyling of the Sephia model: the car received a new radiator grille and optics. Despite the fact that the nameplate was preserved, the name was changed to New Capital. The restyled version was equipped with only one engine - a 1.5-liter sixteen-valve B5. The only difference from the base model was a set of options depending on the configuration.

Kia Sephia became the first car of the South Korean automaker, created on the original platform. Although many components were borrowed from Mazda, suspension tuning and layout was done by Kia. At the start of sales, three Mazda engines were offered: a one and a half liter 79-horsepower version, a 1.6-liter 105 horsepower and a 1.8-liter 122 horsepower, which appeared after the 1994 restyling. After the success of the car in the Korean market, the model began to be exported to other countries,but with a modified line of powertrains.

Second Generation

The production of Kia Sephia 2nd generation was launched in 1997. The sedan was sold under a different name, but the Sephia II nameplate has been preserved. The line of power units was represented by three gasoline engines with power ranging from 88 to 130 horsepower and a volume of 1.5 liters, 1.6 liters and 1.8 liters. Paired with motors was a manual or automatic transmission.

The model, which was restyled in 2000, received a different name - Spectra - for the American and Korean markets. In Europe, the model was sold under the old name until 2003.