Kia Credos
| Kia Credos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Kia Motors |
| Also called | Kia Clarus Kia Clarus Wagon Kia Parktown[1] (Korea, station wagon) |
| Production | 1995–2001 |
| Assembly | Hwasung Plant, Hwasung, South Korea |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | compact |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related | Mazda Capella |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.8L Mazda F I4 petrol 2.0L Mazda F I4 petrol 2.0L Rover KV6 petrol |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,665 mm (104.9 in) |
| Length | 1995-1998:4,710 mm (185.4 in) 1998-2001: 4,745 mm (186.8 in) Wagon:4,760 mm (187.4 in) |
| Width | 1,780 mm (70.1 in) |
| Height | Sedan: 1,400 mm (55.1 in) Wagon: 1,480 mm (58.3 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Kia Concord |
| Successor | Kia Optima |
The Kia Credos in South Korea and Australia (known as Kia Clarus in Europe) was Kia's first mass production large family sedan, and was based on the running gear of the pre-1997 Mazda Capella, which went on sale in Korea in 1995, and in Australia in 1998.[2][3]
It was powered by one of two Mazda sourced petrol engines with 1.8 and 2.0 litres, which proved to be unremarkable in performance but excellent for reliability (also used a 2.0 Rover KV6 engine). A diesel-powered alternative was not available. The car's interior was dull but spacious and comfortable, as well as the boot being massive. The asking price for the basic 1.8 SX was £11,000 - around £4,000 less than the equivalent Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra.
In Australia, the Credos was introduced in May 1998, and was available only with the 2.0L engine. Sales totalled 839 units during the model's 3-year run.[4]
The Kia Clarus was replaced by the Hyundai sourced Optima in 2000, ending the badge engineered relationship with Mazda.
References
- ^ Template:It icon Kia Parktown debut in Geneva 1998
- ^ "Kia Credos: Korea Gets Serious About Larger Cars". AutoWeb. Web Publications. 1998-05-21. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
- ^ "1998 Kia Credos sedan - Car review - The Car". GoAuto. John Mellor. 2001-05-16. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
- ^ VFACTS Australia[full citation needed]
An affiliate of Hyundai Motor Company | |||||||||||
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