KIA CLARUS 2.0 Executive 4dr (1999)

Kia Clarus - A great value car.

I was severely disappointed when my manager presented me with a Kia Clarus as my company car a few years ago. I was expecting something a bit more classy to be honest and I know that Kia is generally considered a budget brand. However, once I got over the idea that it didn't look very cool I realised that the Clarus is actually a pretty decent car.

Basically what you've got in the Kia Clarus is a Ford Mondeo. That's it, really. It costs a fraction of what a Ford does but essentially it does all the same things, and it has all the same kit. Granted, the Kia isn't perhaps as well built as the Ford and the performance probably doesn't match exactly but to all intents and purposes it's not that different.

I see these on the second-hand market nowadays for a couple of grand and I think I'll get one when I retire. A really great value car with a surprising array of features, a good degree of efficiency and a sturdy, reliable build.