Kia Shuma Review (2001 to 2004)

Quick Summary

The Kia Shuma II is a car that most people shopping for a cheap runaround will never have heard of. Although it's hardly cutting edge, if you can track down a decently specified model, it'll make a very respectable family hatch that can soak up a good deal of punishment. If buying a tired high-mileage Fiesta or Punto doesn't appeal, try a Shuma II. You might just surprise yourself.

Overall:

Models Covered:(5 dr hatchback 1.6, 1.8 litre petrol [S, L, SX, LX, SE, ICE])

I HEARD A SHUMA

If value counts for everything and getting a lot of metal for your money is a priority, it's difficult to do much better than a South East Asian car. Of the three major brands, Kia are probably the most affordable. The company has been making ever more sophisticated cars of late but the Shuma II isn't one of them. Still, if you like to keep things simple, the Shuma offers no nonsense transportation. Pick up an example that's a couple of years old and you'll have overcome the steepest part of the depreciation curve and your motoring will be so cheap you won't care that it doesn't wear a more illustrious badge on its bonnet.
Used Kia Shuma for sale

History of the Shuma

The Kia Shuma was launched in this country in September 1999, taking over from the virtually ignored Mentor. Unfortunately for Kia, the Shuma didn't really grab the public's imagination and Kia stepped in two years later with a set of revisions, dubbing the facelifted car the 'Shuma II'. Better equipped and safer than its predecessor at little appreciable increase in price, the Shuma II was only a moderate success. By the start of 2004, the Shuma range had been scaled back to one solitary model – the 1.6-litre Shuma ICE – in preparation for the arrival of the new Cerato.
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Kia Shuma Road Test

On the road, anyone who did drive the old Mentor will find the ride and handling of the Shuma II a significant improvement, thanks to re-engineered suspension which brings a better ride, sharper handling characteristics and improved stability. The Koreans claim however, that the long distance comfort that was the saving grace of the old car has been preserved. Certainly, it's still predictable, safe and easy to drive, designed for those wanting to get from A to B as comfortably as possible, rather than driving enthusiasts.The 1.6-litre engine is a reasonably decent petrol unit, capable of 100bhp and an average fuel figure of 35.3mpg. It'll detain you for 11.3 seconds en route to 60mph and the top speed of 115mph is certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Refinement is said to have improved, yet the car feels slightly buzzy with quite a lot of vibration coming up through the gear stick. Where the car suffers is in terms of emissions. It may be many things but it's not the car that cares for the environment. The 1.8-litre unit is worth going for if you plan on undertaking longer journeys, the additional 13bhp giving it a bit more zip.
Used Kia Shuma for sale

Buying a Kia Shuma

Make sure the car is in perfect condition. There's no reason why it shouldn't be, as it will be within warranty, but check for those parking knocks and scrapes that are easy to pick up in multi-storey car parks. The ventilation systems aren't too great, so make sure that it's working to its full capacity else demisting will be a chore in the morning. Otherwise insist on a full service record and contact a few franchised dealers to try to find the best bargain available.
Used Kia Shuma for sale

Kia Shuma Typical Pricing

The Shuma II suffers from the usual hefty depreciation that most South East Asian cars are afflicted by and a 2002 1.6 S which retailed for £8,315 is currently valued at £3,200, perhaps one reason why new sales were so poor. What's bad news for new car buyers is distinctly good news for those looking for an affordably priced nearly new car, however, and an L specification 1.6 Shuma II on an 02 plate can be yours for £4,000. The top specification 1.6-litre car, the SX Automatic, opens at £3,100 on a 2001 X plate. Move up to the 1.8-litre model and you can expect to pay from £4,300 for an 02 plated LX model and £4,700 for an equivalent vintage SE. Insurance for the Shuma II reflects the generally mature clientele, starting at Group 7 for the lower spec 1.6-litre cars and topping out at Group 10 for the 1.8-litre models.
Used Kia Shuma for sale

Kia Shuma Parts

(approx based on a 2003 Shuma II 1.6S) The Kia Shuma offers some of the cheapest parts prices around. A new clutch assembly retails at around £170, while front brake pads are around £30, with rear brake shoes only a few pence more. A new radiator is around £80 and an alternator an eminently reasonable £120. To replace a headlamp will see change from £80.
Used Kia Shuma for sale