Kia produced the subcompact Sephia four-door sedan and five-door hatchback under many names throughout its production run from 1992 to 2001. In addition to Sephia, Kia badged it the Mentor, Timor, Shuma and ultimately the Spectra. It kept the Sephia badge until 2000. Kia then produced the Sephia with the Spectra before the automaker phased out the Sephia in 2001.
Background
The South Korea-based Kia couldnt have arrived at a worse time in 1992. Korean automakers thanks largely to the late 1980s poor quality Hyundai had a poor reputation for producing substandard cars. Hyundai righted itself and went on to manufacture well-made imports to North America with a strong warranty, but South Korean automakers had a substantial hill to climb. Initially, Kia used components from Mazda and Ford. In fact, Mazda parts made up a large bulk of the initial Kia offerings. Although there was a market for cheap, durable cars, Kia had a thin dealer network in North America, starting with dealers in only 11 states in 1993. It took until about 1995 before Kia could effectively compete with Honda, Toyota and Nissan with enough dealers nationwide to sell cars on a mass scale.
Early Models
By 1995, the Kia Sephia was available in three trim options: the base LS, mid-level RS and the upscale GS. Power options featured a 1.6- or 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. Kia designed the Sephia to compete against the Hyundai Elantra and Ford Escort. Its base 1.6-liter engine generated just 88 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission complemented the engine. There were no airbags or anti-lock brake system. It featured a conventional front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive with the frame placed on a short 98.4-inch wheelbase and overall body length measuring 170.7 inches.
Redesign
By the 1998 model year, Kia completely redesigned the Sephia to feature a more streamlined body and better integrated headlamps into the front end. Kia also produced most of its own parts. It started coming out of its shell as a no-frills cheap ride to something that offered a bit more power and modest prestige. It also became a front-wheel drive car. The LS trim level was now top-of-the-line and came with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder delivering 125 horsepower. Power steering remote trunk release, tachometer, 60/40 folding rear seat, passenger-side vanity mirror and bodyside molding were standard equipment.
Phased Out
Kia phased out the Sephia in 2001, although its replacement, the Spectra, was simply a renamed Sephia. By the end of its production run, the Sephia featured all the amenities found on the leading Japanese imports: bucket seats, center console, power brakes, tinted glass and the 125-horsepower, 1.8-liter, 16-valve fuel-injected engine. In its last model year of 2001, its base 1.6-liter engine generated 100 horsepower. Kia also replaced the 13-inch wheels with 14-inchers. Options included a four-speed automatic transmission, alloy wheels, rear spoiler, AM/FM/CD audio system, power steering and air-conditioning. The wheelbase grew to 100.8 inches and its length measured in 2000 at 174.4 inches.
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