Overview & Reviews

For 2003, all Spectras will come with a CD player and body-color side moldings. Kia has attempted to make the cabin environment more hospitable via additional sound insulation in the roof and floor, an illuminated ignition and revised climate controls. Also, all hatchbacks get a standard rear wiper with an intermittent feature. Finally, note that engine specs have been revised this year -- the Spectra is now rated at 124 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque compared with 126 hp and 108 lb-ft for 2002. The four-cylinder engine itself is unchanged.

• Low base price, nimble handling, available hatchback configuration, killer warranty.

• Lackluster engine performance, weak brakes and tires, mediocre build and materials, poor offset crash test score.

User Reviews:

Showing 21 through 30 of 98.00

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  Satified Mom - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Lynn Green - March 14 - 10:00 am

  Even though I just purchased the car. I thought that the ride was comfortable and it handled it self good on the road. It is a good car if you dont have a lot to spend but you want something reliable with a excellent warrenty.

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  I have owned two - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Graham Johnson - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I have owned Two, a 2001 as a lease and never had a minutes problems. Idecided at 98,000 kilometers, that a lease was not for me, so I bought a new spectra in August 2003 I love my car, I bought a Dodge Minivan new fully loaded and it fell apart as I drove it and so I decided to go to a foreign car I had good things about Kia and I have not had a complaint. These cars are terribly under rated!I have enjoyed my two, and I live in the country in southern Alberta, adn30miles to work and it is extremely good on winter roads

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  great car - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Kia fan - September 19 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my 2001 Honda Civic for a 2003 Spectra and Im so glad I did. The Spectra handles better than my old honda and it comes with a cd player and more ammenities such as vanity mirrors. I owed quite a bit on old car and my payments are $10 a month less!!! Obviously the "professional reviewer" is name brand guy. I wish I looked at Kia before I bought the civic!!

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  Love my Spectra - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By mikewilks52 - June 2 - 9:40 pm

  I bought my 2003 Spectra used, it had 120,000 miles on it when i bought it. It now has 171,674 miles on it. Have only had to replace the water pump. Runs great, drives great. Have never had a problem with it. Keep up your maintance and ive heard its nothing to get 500,000+ miles on a KIA.. Love my Spectra.. My next purchase will be a KIA Soul.. Very happy with KIAs.

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  sAFE & ECONOMICAL - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By smulvey - May 13 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR HAS PERFORMED WELL.IT IS ABOUT 300 LBS HEAVIER THAN THE SATURN SL IT REPLACED. IT FEELS IT. WHILE A LITTLE SLOWER TO ACCELERATE, THAT EXTRA POUNDS ADDS UP TO BIG SAFETY IF YOU LOOK AT PHOTOS OF WRECKED SATURNS AND WRECKED SPECTRA AT THE IIHS WEBSITE. WE LIKE THE SPECTRA A LOT. THE CAR HAS HAD NO SERIOUS FLAWS

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  Short Ride - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Chiefmelissa - March 26 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car on October 7, 2003 and totaled it out on October 8, 2003. I took the car through 4 ditches, with 3 culverts. I can only honestly rate the safety of this car. I was able to walk away with only a bruise and some stiffness. This car was my first brand new car and as soon as the paper work from the insurance company catches up I have all intentions of buying another. Price was great, and it did look wonderful. Steering was a little touchy compared to the 1994 Chevy Cavelier I was driving.

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  Kia Spectra - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Pfri12 - March 26 - 2:00 am

  This was my first new car. Iwasnt sure if I would like a small car. Im used to driving a full size van. After driveing it for a few weeks I love it. The interior is nice and roomey.Everything that Edmunds has said I would have to disagree. I have had no trouble with my brakes at all.

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  OH YA BABY!!!! - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By tw5051 - March 5 - 2:00 am

  my last car was a sephia i needed an automatic...will always recomend a KIA.

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  Even the base model is a good deal!! - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By travisp11 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  After getting tired of paying GM for spare parts for our 1996 Olds wagon...we decided to go Korean. We bought our base-trim 2003 Spectra for $11,000(Automatic with A/C and a CD player)after rebates and feel like we got a great deal. It is impossible to find another car, brand new, for this price with this great of a warranty (aside from Hyundai which is similar). A friend of mine bought a Sephia in 2000 and after 60,000 miles his is still running strong and if ours should not be doing so well in a few years, who cares...Kia fits the mechanic bill on major components!!

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  GREAT LITTLE CAR - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By COREY - June 11 - 8:43 pm

  This is my third KIA. They are terribly underrated. Between the three I have logged over 150,000 miles without any trouble whatsoever. The Spectra I just recently purchased is fully loaded, awesome 6 speaker CD player, puts my brothers Mazda 3 to shame. To anyone thinking of buying one, they are a good vehicle, could use a little more power though.