Test Drive Kia Sephia 1993 - 2001
Special opinion
Over the past month, with two editorial machines, nothing unusual or interesting happened. Ride yourself and go. Since we are already accustomed to them, I wanted new impressions. Despite the fact that the country's championship on the nose, the Miller-pilot team took to ride our cars in urban conditions. We hope that the opinion of professional riders will not be interested in us alone. But it so happened that in front of the most tests, our Sportage unexpectedly cradled on a business trip, and so that the pilots were not idle, we took an identical car instead for the test. Alexey Vasilyev and Nikolay Fomenko are divided by their impressions about Kia cars.
Alexey Vasilyev, Miller Pilot Racer (Kia Sephia LEO 1.5 GTX) Workplace driver
The dashboard is easy to read. There is nothing unusual at the driver's seat. Everything is simple. Nothing interferes.
Seat
According to the anatomy close to the eight. But a wide range of standard adjustments, plus adjustment in height, make it possible to find it optimal setting without any problems. The side frame is clearly not expressed. The coupling of the chair has good frictional properties.
Landing
Very comfortable.
Steering wheel
The diameter and section of the steering wheel, as well as the material itself, are chosen optimally. Conveniently arranged the needles. But the buttons of the audio signal on the top two knitting needles are too close to the climb zone of the palms. This leads to an involuntary signal supply with intensive taxi.
Pedals.
Soft. Pedals are coordinated with the landing of the driver. There is no comments to the size of pedals. I would like to note that the clutch and brake pedals are divorced apart from each other. The brake is located next to the gas, which is in principle convenient for those who are used to the braking only with the right foot.
Gearbox lever
The selectivity and informativeness of the lever are good. The moves are optimal for quick work by the lever. True, the lever handle is not the most convenient for such purposes.
The overall impression of the cabin
The salon is spacious and pleasant with his simplicity. I liked that the windshield and the hood have a big tilt and only the front contour of the hood is visible, that is, the line for which the driver appreciates the dimensions of the car. It seems that everything is very close, you see what is going on literally under your feet. The same feeling is experiencing in mini-posah. Good visibility in all directions. Almost both in the aquarium. Some discomfort introduces a wide left front counter, highly bent into the salon.
Suspension
Competent, almost sports short-terrestrial suspension for a good highway. From the point of view of comfort - harsh. In addition, low-profile rubber increases the likelihood of a hard hit.
Engine and box
Typical reaction to gas pedal Japanese power unit for urban ride cycle. For such a car, like Kia Sephia, this is a worthy motor and a good gearbox. They fully correspond to the economical operation of the car. In its parameters, the KIA motor is very close to the VAZ-2108, but due to the use of injection, it works noticeably softer and even more. Motor is much more elastic. Easily spinning. Transfer numbers in the box are chosen well.
Controllability
When I tried a car in the snow, it did not feel his weight stabilization. This is when in turn do not feel the redistribution of the load from one wheel to another. Controlness as such was not. Most likely it is associated with rubber, which is installed on the car. In the snow, the rubber practically did not work. On the asphalt there is a completely different impression - a soft, rugged car with the same effort both at small and with a large corner of the steering wheel. The machine behaves perfectly. Easily shifted and runs up in turn.
Dynamics
For the class of this car - very good. According to acceleration sensations, the car reminded Skoda Felicia with Volkswagen 1.6 motor. But the acceleration of Kia gives greater pleasure.
Torkemose
Good. The effort on the pedals is chosen in moderation - not too soft and not tough. An increase in this effort occurs with smooth progress. That is, the hard stop when the pedal with a sharp press becomes a stake, there is no. Most likely it is due to the material of the brake pads. Before the ABS is triggered, it rarely comes. Before that brakes manage to fully work out slowdown.
The overall impression of the car
A successful solution for urban loaded life. In my opinion, there is not enough good stereo system.
Nikolay Fomenko, Miller - Pilot Racer (Kia Sportage 2.0 MRI) Workplace driver
Made competently and tastefully. Everything is very accessible and good. Regarding everything: light is convenient, wiper - convenient. All buttons again are convenient and available. Everything is seen. All information on the torpedo is easily read. The driver of the city in principle is more information than here is alone, and no need.
Seat
In general, comfortable, with good fixation. Retractable cushion in the back of the seat - Weshk useful.
Landing
If you consider KIA as an SUV, then the jeeper landing here does not justify yourself due to the fact that in any case you are sitting on the front axle. It seems that, sitting like that, you always have a nose - it's not very good. In addition, landing is not very coordinated with pedals. By landing and seed, I would raise 3.
Steering wheel
Nothing special, standard steering wheel. I would suggest softer plastic for the steering wheel. Because the car is generally comfortable, and such a rigid ram makes a disharmony. Light hints on active Jeeper ride in the form of two stops for the fingers on the rim - absolutely not the topic. Kia is not Land Rover, and the steering wheel can be done calm, round, household, softer and thickening.
Pedals.
Located highly and do not meet the requirements of a comfortable fit. Very soft clutch. The pedal is not informative - it is not clear when it grabs. You need to get used to.
Gearbox lever
Everything is very clear.
The overall impression of the cabin Typical Japanese salon. It seems to me that landing is too high. This is determined by the road lumen. I would plan the driver down. It would not be worse.
Suspension
Not combat but good.
Engine and box
The engine is travded and elastic, with good dynamics from the bottom to the back. Long-terrestrial box. With a soft, female clutch, the box is combined not quite clearly. Distribution. It is very good that she is manual. You go on four leading wheels or on two - there is no particular difference, because the car is urban primarily.
Controllability
Steering reactivity - Japanese-American, soft. It is not necessary to say that with the machine you can work in extreme situations. But in conventional modes, the car is well listening to the steering wheel, it is easy to turn in turns.
Dynamics
Acceptable, even more than necessary for such a car.
Torkemose
By themselves, maybe they are effective, but with such a rolling engine brakes should be more abruptly.
The overall impression of the car
I did not feel the buzz, because the car is small, rather female. But in principle, good and, it is necessary to think, reliable. Go to the cottage and return - it will perform these tasks perfectly.
A source: Magazine Motor [№6 / 1997]
