Kia Credos

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
Predecessor	Kia Concord
Successor	Kia Optima
Class	Mid-size
Body style(s)	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Engine(s)	1.8L Mazda F I4 petrol 2.0L Mazda F I4 petrol 2.0L Rover KV6 petrol
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
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)
Related	Mazda 626

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 around the running gear of the pre-1997 Mazda 626, 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. 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.
Celebrated Mail on Sunday motoring journalist Russell Bray owns two Kia Clarus models. One is kept in pristine condition and has covered just 63 miles, the other he drives every day and has racked-up 183,000-miles. He famously documented this in his 1998 series of features: Clarity in a Clarus.
The Kia Clarus was replaced by the Optima in 2000.