Overview & Reviews

People buy compact economy cars because they're affordable and fuel-efficient, but the secret to building a great econobox is to make it look, feel and drive like a more expensive car than it really is. Kia never quite managed to do that with its now-defunct Spectra, though its replacement, the Forte is considerably closer to this ideal.

The original Kia Spectra hatchback and sedan were unrefined, underpowered and cheaply constructed. They reinforced the cheap-car image Americans held at the time regarding Korean cars. But the second-generation Spectra sedan and Spectra5 four-door hatchback counterpart moved up the scale considerably in terms of style, substance and refinement. However, the Spectra was still at the bottom of the crowded economy sedan segment when it was put out to pasture after the 2009 model year. If you just need wheels on the cheap, a used Spectra could satisfy, but we'd recommend anteing up for a more sophisticated rival.

Most Recent Kia Spectra

The most recent (second-generation) Kia Spectra was sold from midway through the 2004 model year through 2009. It was a compact sedan or (as of 2005) a hatchback that could seat four comfortably and five in a pinch. Both body styles featured a 138-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that provided spirited performance around town but felt a little winded during highway passing maneuvers. A standard five-speed manual transmission routed power to the front wheels, and a four-speed automatic was optional.

The sedan was offered in three trim levels -- LX, EX and SX. The Spectra5 hatchback was available in a single SX trim. The LX was bare-bones, but the EX boasted air-conditioning, a CD stereo, full power accessories and keyless entry. The SX model added upgraded interior and exterior trim, along with firmer suspension tuning and bigger wheels and tires. The Spectra's safety features included standard front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and four-wheel disc brakes. Antilock brakes were optional.

In reviews, we generally praised the Kia Spectra for its lengthy list of standard equipment, user-friendly cabin design, decent build and materials quality, smooth ride and competent handling. Criticisms included the engine's lack of pep at high speeds, disappointing real-world fuel economy, and steering that was a tad sloppy. Those looking for a used second-generation Spectra should note that resale values are quite low, so good deals will likely be easy to find.

Past Kia Spectra Models

The first-generation Kia Spectra was launched in the 2000 model year as a four-door hatchback and was offered through the 2004 model year (with the changeover to the current model happening midyear). New to Kia's lineup, the four-door Spectra hatchback served as a more youthful and practical complement to the more pedestrian Sephia sedan, with which it shared its 124-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and major mechanicals. In 2002, Kia dropped the Sephia name altogether and began calling the sedan "Spectra" as well.

The Spectra hatchback originally came in two trim levels: GS and GSX. The base GS offered the essentials, little more than a CD player and a height- and lumbar-adjustable driver seat as standard (although air-conditioning became standard in '04). The GSX added A/C, power windows and locks, a tilt steering wheel and some body modifications intended to make it look sporty, while offering ABS, cruise control and a CD changer as options.

Once launched, the Spectra sedan carried over the Sephia's base and LS trim levels, which basically mirrored the hatchback's GS and GSX trims, respectively, in terms of features, save for the GSX hatchback's body modifications.

Editors at the time appreciated the Spectra's Lotus-tuned suspension, as it delivered decent handling and a smooth, if floaty, ride. Weak links included the brakes, tires and engine. Acceleration was sluggish at highway speeds, with a raucous engine note and unimpressive fuel economy. Inside, the Kia Spectra offered decent room for passengers, but materials quality and fit and finish were well below average. Anyone shopping for a used compact sedan or hatchback is advised to look elsewhere.

User Reviews:

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  THE WINNER IS..... - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By P00T - October 6 - 9:40 pm

  My daughters first car - she wanted the Spectra5 from the start but I made her check out ALL other makes and models first. Long process but worth it since the Spectra5s value is far superior: vibrant styling inside and out, standard equipment that is optional on others, superb warranty, excellent safety features and of course, great gas mileage. Go ahead and check out the others but youll end up in the Spectra5 when youre done!

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  Safety questionable - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Heather - October 2 - 9:46 pm

  I recently was in a bad accident with my Kia Spectra 2006 has no more than 9,000 miles. I hit an oncoming vehicle with my left front into their left front at 60 miles per hour. My front end is pushed in and ripped most of it off and none of the air bags deployed. The auto body shop along with the Deputy on the scene stated there is no reason that the air bags should have not went off. This incident is currently under investigation with Kia. I have three young children and I bought the car because it was supposed to be a safe car, and then this happens. I have a friend that also just got into an accident, rolled his Kia and the air bags in that vehicle did not deploy either.

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  Poor sound system - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By remichal - September 20 - 10:00 am

  If its sound that you want and you want a CD/Cassette combination, forget it. Kia offers CD only or Cassette only. Personally, facing such limited options I chose the cassette and ditched the CD. I can make compilation tapes of my favorite CDs and play them in the car. I do not want to buy two copies of my favorite CDs to avoid toting them back and forth between the house and car. And the sound quality in a car they tout as bordering on luxury is marginal at best. Theres also plenty of storage space for cassette tapes but absolutely nothing for CDs. Whever the rocket scientist is who made this brilliant decision in options left his brain at home that day.

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  Koreans have caught up - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Robert - September 16 - 8:10 pm

  Did a lot of research before buying. Largest interior in the class. Good air bags and safety features, awesome warranty. So far averaging 28 MPG in town. Very quiet interior, and the VTI sends out good amount of torque to get moving well. Good on the highway and works well in town. It is a heavier car than its competitors, but this is good in my book. It is a pleasant car to drive and we are looking forward to our first road trip in it.

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  BEST CAR EVER! - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By Alex H - August 26 - 2:38 pm

  I bought our 2007 Kia Spectra EX with only 4,000 miles on it. It is currently just shy of 170,000 miles and is still driving like a dream! I have never had any issues with this car, its been beyond dependable since I bought it 8 years ago. We have done regular maintenance (oil changes, tires, brakes, etc) the only thing we had to do was replace 1 front-end tie rod. This car is such a beast (in a very miniature package) that the factory brakes and rotors lasted 155,000 miles before they needed replacing. I was very skeptical about Kia when I was initially car shopping but couldnt beat the price and dependability. The car is overall comfortable, I am 55 and have more than enough room; however, I will admit that my 62 husband driving it does make it look a little bit like a clown car! My only complaints I have about this car is that it doesnt have cruise control and the front seats feel more like cinder blocks than the cushy seat facade it gives off! To sum it up: If you find a Kia Spectra, buy it! Its the best money you will spend...and now they are classics!

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  Nice Car - 2007 Kia Spectra
  By thunderfootjk - August 20 - 11:40 am

  I bought this car last week it had 24000 miles on it and still had a last of factory warrant lest on it. The car drives very nice, and handles well, very comfortable and great sound system. Im glad I got this car.

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  unexpected... an inexpensive, great car - 2008 Kia Spectra
  By midwest customer - August 7 - 4:33 am

  Perfect for my purposes. Lots of city driving with the occasional cross country drive. I was blown away when I drove almost 500 miles at about 75mph before needing gas. The roomy interior is perfect as I often have a full car. Safety is a huge issue for me and I always feel good in this car. ABS served me well while driving through N.E. snowstorms. The cruise control is great too. Drives very smoothly, and the CD changer and iPod hookup are great for long drives. I love being able to have my GPS, cell phone charger, and iPod all plugged in at the same time. I have had this car for 4 months and have received tons of compliments.

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  Excellent value for the money - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Dawn B - July 26 - 7:56 am

  I must admit I was skeptical when my husband first brought this home to me. I have been greatly surprised and pleased with it. The equipment on it for the money was a very good value and the factory stereo has surprisingly good sound. It has a good amount of storage for things like sunglasses and cds. This baby will turn on a dime, and after 53,00 miles handles well, and drives and rides well compared to higher priced cars. 2 trips from Kansas City, MO to Fort Knox, KY and a trip to Akron Ohio and all Ive had to do is change oil and tires. No mechanical issues at all which surprised me. A great little car for the money.

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  Love them both (My SX and EX) - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Big Dave - July 19 - 6:20 pm

  I actually own two of these cars ... one 06 SX 5 speed and an 05 EX auto. I gave it 10s based on what you get for the money. Im a big guy (63" 270) and I fit with room to move thanks to the seats. My wife and I do a lot of traveling in it without feeling cramped. The engine is rev happy and fun to drive. I drive my SX pretty hard and it always handles well for me. The older EX had a few minor issues (fuel door, speedometer) that were fixed very quickly and we haven’t had any problems since. Its a very solid build overall and wont give you with that cheap car feeling. Its way more car than what you pay for. This is great driver and really has what you need in the real world.

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  Spectra GSX - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By AAS51506 - July 16 - 10:00 am

  I just brought a Kia Spectra GSX and I am so far satisfied with it. It didnt cost much and there are a lot of bells and whistles for its low price. Dont be fooled your getting into a cheap car if you buy one. The handleing is superb, very quiet cab, and an incredibly smooth ride.