Kia Sephia

The Kia Sephia (known as the Mentor in some markets) was a compact car / small family car manufactured by the Korean automaker Kia Motors from 1994 to 2004. It was the marque's venture into mass production family cars for the overseas market and was sold as either a hatchback or a sedan. It was powered by 1.5 (Europe), 1.6 and 1.8L fuel injected inline four-cylinder gasoline engines. In the United Kingdom, it had a starting price of less than £10,000, right up to its demise in 2004. This meant that it was competing on price with the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 206, despite being of a comparable size to the likes of the Ford Focus. Sales were not particularly high, as the car's main attraction was its bargain price and it offered little in the way of dynamic qualities.

The Mentor nameplate was dropped on hatchback models following the launch of the Kia Shuma in 1999, although the Mentor sedan was sold until the Kia Cerato range was launched in 2004. The Sephia/Mentor was also the basis of the Timor in Indonesia.

First generation (1994–1997)

The first-generation Sephia of 1994-1997. In the United States, a significant update came in 1995.5, when grilles and taillights were restyled and all Sephias except California-market RS/LS models got upgraded to the 1.8-liter DOHC 4-cylinder found in the Mazda Protege and Miata. A diesel-powered alternative were not available.

It is important to note that due to safety regulations, this generation cannot be legally imported to Canada. They can be driven there by their US-owners but not registered in Canada. This mostly has to do with the fact that Kia did not meet Canadian crash testing standards and in some years, did not provide the correct safety equipment. However under the 15 year rule for importing out of market vehicles as of 2009 the 94 models can be imported (and each year will continue to be allowed as time progresses). This same rule is often used to import vehicles from Europe, Australia and Japan and presently applies to vehicles manufactured out of market (regardless of meeting emissions or safety regulations) in the year 1992 or before. Kia did not arrive in Canada until 1999....