If you're looking for strong value in a compact package, you've come to the right place. The Kia Spectra is a nice little car. It represents one of the best values among compacts, with an impressive list of safety equipment for its modest price.
Styling is sharp and distinctive. Its cabin is roomy and pleasant with a modern design and nice-quality materials and good fit and finish. Everything is easy to operate. It gets an EPA-estimated 25/34 mpg City/Highway yet produces peppy performance.
Kia Spectra is an all-new car, totally re-designed and re-engineered late in 2004. New models have been added to the 2005 Kia Spectra line that add fun and versatility, including a sporty SX sedan and a new five-door hatchback called the Spectra5.
Safety features are impressive: The Spectra comes with a full complement of airbag supplemental restraints. In addition to the mandatory dual frontal airbags, the Spectra's front-seat occupants are protected by seat-mounted side-impact airbags; while full-coverage side curtain airbags protect both front- and rear-seat occupants.
The 2005 Kia Spectra line has doubled in size, with the addition of the new Spectra SX sedan and Spectra5 hatchback. Four models are now available.
All models are powered by a 138-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The standard transmission is a five-speed manual; a four-speed automatic is optional ($975-$1,000). LX, EX, and SX are four-door sedans. Spectra5 is a five-door hatchback. All are front-wheel-drive compacts that can seat up to five passengers.
LX ($12,700) is the base model and comes with a short, but interesting list of comfort and convenience features. Among them: auto-off headlights, four-wheel disc brakes, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM/CD six-speaker stereo, and a six-way adjustable driver's seat. Outside mirrors are manually adjustable and windows have hand cranks. Air conditioning is optional ($960).
EX ($13,850) adds air conditioning, power windows, heated power mirrors, power central locking, remote keyless entry, and fog lights. Fifteen-inch aluminum wheels (replacing 15-inch steel wheels) are optional ($360).
SX ($14,995) features a sport-tuned suspension with a strut-tower bar, 16-inch aluminum wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and unique interior and exterior trim.
Spectra5 ($14,995) is equipped identically to SX, but is a five-door hatchback instead of a four-door sedan.
Optional on the EX, SX, and Spectra5 are anti-lock brakes ($400), cruise control ($250) and a power tilt moonroof ($700).
Bland is out. The 2005 Kia Spectra makes a styling statement; not a busy, fussy one, but one that's clean, with sculpted character lines and interesting surface planes that set the car apart from the look-alike, safely conservative econo-box class.
Compared to the pre-2004 model, the new Spectra's face is more open, with a larger grille and lower air intake, the latter split by one vertical divider, instead of the busier two of the previous generation. The EX model's fog lights are round, adding perceived height to the front end. Headlight housings taper upward at the outer edges, drawing the eye more naturally into the hood's increased slope. The sporty EX and Spectra5 are distinguished by a more assertive front end highlighted by a black mesh grille, blacked-out headlight surrounds and a deeper front spoiler.
A sharp groove etched into the Spectra's side and running from directly over the front wheel well all the way to the hindmost portions of the rear quarter panel accentuates its wedge shape. Embedding the door handles in the groove reduces clutter. The added two inches of wheelbase appear to have been dedicated to widening the rear door opening. Clearly defined fender blisters add sportiness to the wheel openings. The beltline beneath the nicely arched side windows grows out of the front fender blister and runs past the rear side window where it draws a distinct line between the car's lower and upper body. An understated rocker panel flares outward beneath the doors, visually pulling the car's body closer to the ground. One stylistic hiccup is the rear fender blister, which isn't as well proportioned to the surrounding body panel as is the front blister and leaves the rear wheel looking undersized. Badging is minimal, confined to a Kia logo centered in the grille and above the rear license plate.
