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Kia Sephia sedan with refinements shines among compact cars
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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CUSTER, S. D. -- Hugging blacktop on a rambunctious route wound through the Black Hills of South Dakota amid towering granite ramparts with Mount Rushmore peaking through the pines, we're roaming through the West in America driving a sharp little compact sedan with an unusual name from a car company out of South Korea.
It's the Sephia (say "suh-FEE-uh") by Kia, a brand now owned by the largest Korean automaker, Hyundai. Kia entered the United States market only six years ago but is now armed with dealers in every state and scoring record sales from a midget sport-utility named Sportage and the Sephia sedan.
For the models of year 2000, Sephia has been enhanced in a solid structure loaded with a dual-cam four-cylinder engine that produces surprising power.
Selecting the right gear ratios in the manual transmission and skewing the engine's torque toward lower speeds enlivens the action so Sephia really scoots away from a stoplight start.
Tap the accelerator while standing still and the tires will bark as rubber peels away to the pavement.
That's the surprise: A compact economy car has enough strength beneath the hood to scream like a muscle car. It also acts forcefully on the highway, which boosts driver confidence for passing.
Engineers at Kia managed to control former engine vibrations and then added more sound-baffling insulation to block noises from entering Sephia's passenger compartment. As a result, the tone and quality of Sephia has been enriched -- it no longer feels like a flimsy metal box.
Then consider the spark of Sephia's powerplant and some attractive price points held at last year's level and skewed for several thousands of dollars below the nearest Japanese compact cars, and Sephia in the 2000 format stands out when compared among its competitors.
Sephia separates into three models due to the content of interior equipment, although each carries the same four-cylinder powertrain. A base Sephia becomes the price-leading bargain edition for only $10,000, but with more equipment applied it leads to the Sephia LS, which also has a package of power controls and luxury gear for an ultimate version.
Take one for a spin and it will sell itself due to the goosy acceleration and disciplined road manners.
Sephia particularly impresses with the firm control for steering and an independent suspension that stems excessive body roll when turning to maintain a relatively flat stance.
We steered a Sephia LS through the Black Hills on a chilly day last fall. Narrow roads, free from summer's vacationing tourists, were perhaps best suited for agile sports machines geared for aggressive action, although our Sephia actually romped across the mountainous terrain and transformed the test into a spirited driving experience.
Sephia acts so good because it contains good equipment.
To produce its automobiles, Kia teams with noteworthy names from around the world for component systems. Lotus Engineering of England, for instance, contributed to the design of Sephia's four-wheel independent suspension system, while Germany's Getrag worked on the manual five-speed transmission as Kelsey-Hayes came up with the anti-lock brakes and Bosch LH Motronic did the engine's fuel system.
Sephia's iron-block engine was originally developed by Mazda of Japan, which once owned a part of Kia. Produced now in Korea by Kia, the plant delivers more power than the two best-selling compact imports as well as most of the others in this class.
A manual five-speed transmission is the standard gearbox and it shifts fluidly through a short-throw stick. An electronically-controlled four-speed automatic is also available at every trim level for $975.
The suspension, with MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link design in back, includes stabilizer bars to block the body roll. Finding sway bars in this price-sensitive class of compacts is rare but they're a welcome addition because these body supports enable Sephia to maneuver through curves with agility and bring comfort for riders.
For brakes, the conventional front discs and rear drums tie to a power module, with engine-speed variable assistance applied to the LS.
Further, anti-lock controls may be added above Sephia's base edition, but the price -- $800 -- loads the bottom line closer toward competitors.
Small cars sometimes skimp on safety features, but Sephia matches leaders in the compact class with air bags and adjustable three-point seatbelts, plus a structure with integrated front and rear crumple zones, steel bracing in side doors, a collapsible steering column, childproof rear door locks and rear anchors to restrain an infant's seat.
The layout inside Sephia accentuates personal space for riders and creates more space for passenger heads and legs than in the top competitor sedans. Two front bucket seats are divided by a console in the center, while the three-person rear bench has a seatback which flips down to increase cargo capacity of the trunk.
In addition, numerous comfort perks found in Sephia are typically not available in this price range. The driver earns a footrest on the left side, as an example, and beyond the base issue the steering column and driver's seat cushion tilt to fit better. Seatbelt anchors mounted on the B pillars also can be adjusted vertically for comfort.
Instruments in the revised dashboard include an analog speedometer with white-on-black face, and a tachometer comes with the LS power package.
Sephia's audio system, offered as an option across the board, installs in a higher position now above the center console for better access, with all control knobs and dials enlarged to fit American-size fingers.
Even at entry level, Sephia is nicely trimmed.
Cloth fabric spreads over all seats and on inserts for door panels, which also have map pockets. Dual sunvisors and cupholders are in place up front, along with frontal air bags and the three-point seatbelts.
Windshield wipers have two-speed intermittent operation and there are remote release controllers for the front hood, fuel door and trunk lid. The LS upgrade brings the tilting steering column and tilt adjustment for driver's seat, day/night interior rearview mirror and passenger-side vanity mirror, with a split back on the folding rear seat.
Air conditioning lists as an option on both base and LS trim but it's standard with the LS power package, which also provides power windows and door locks, power for the external rearview mirrors and cruise control.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2000 KIA SEPHIA Specs |
| Description: |
Compact sedan
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| Model Options: |
Compact sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
100.8 inches
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| Overall Length: |
174.4 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 1.8-L I4
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4
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| Drive: |
Front
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| Braking: |
Power disc/drum
LS: ABS opt.
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| Airbags: |
2
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| Gas Mileage: |
23/29 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 10,000 to $ 14,000 |
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