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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  No Brainer - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Mike - January 9 - 8:40 am

  We bought this car with a considerable rebate, and to date it is an excellent value. Outside of a couple of minor trim issues on the inside, and malfunctioning of an interior warning light which were promptly fixed, the car has been no problem whatsoever. The car looks nice, is comfortable, and does what it is supposed to do. With the warranty, it is a no brainer.

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  Green lemon on the road. - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By lemonowner - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I purshased my Kia on June 1, 2003and it has been in the shop four times already. This is the worst car I have even own, drove or even been in because it is a brand new car and has so many different problems including but not limited to poor gas mileage, water pump, radiator pump going and a few more problems.

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  9 years and still going strong - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By nicegirl - December 26 - 11:23 pm

  I have over 123,000 miles on the car and have had no major repairs, except while under warranty it was discovered that I had a faulty transmission. It was replaced immediately. I agree with an earlier post that repairs, tires, brakes, even windshield wipers are more expensive than they should be. My pain has begun fading as well, but its been 9 yrs. since I bought it. Very reliable.

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  First but not last Kia - 2009 Kia Spectra
  By NCjp - December 25 - 8:43 am

  I have waited to write this for a few months because everyone loves their new car in the first couple of weeks. Four months later still finding that I love to drive this car. The styling of the Spectra 5 sticks out from others. Very affordable to operate and the features for the money are great. Never looked at a KIA before this purchase but will look there first for the next one.

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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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  Kia my kind of Car - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Tim Monaghan - December 19 - 2:00 am

  Love this car, excellent price for all it offers

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  I am probably a kia man - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By rob - December 18 - 12:30 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for a couple of days and I am honestly surprised by the performance and 100% happy and satisfied. I would say if you have a small family and you want a powerful and fun economical car go for the spectra sx

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  Buyers Remorse - 2008 Kia Spectra
  By James - December 18 - 5:33 am

  This vehicle is really uncomfortable to drive for more than an hour. The drivers seat curves up sharply jabbing into your rear end. Im not a skinny guy, but by no means large either. But the real disappointment is in the 23 mpg avg Im getting. Mostly highway, this is very disappointing in a car this size. Now one nice thing is that the controls are easy to reach. Second, this car really has some kick. It will jump out in traffic like a 6 cylinder vehicle if you need to. But it fails to be a good ride and to be economical to drive.

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  I luv this car! - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By young j - December 10 - 9:26 pm

  I like my 2005 Kia Spectra. Ii previously owned a 2003 Corolla and it didnt even have as many features as the Kia. I love the automatic transmission - shifts smoothly and revs easily.

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  Kia Spectra - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Dennis M. - December 7 - 10:00 am

  This model is a marked improvement over the earlier models. It has a sporty look, but still has the room necessary to transport four people comfortably. I had purchased a new model in 2002 and there is no comparison. The new model has plenty of trunk space for traveling. I also appreciate the feel of a heavier car in terms of safety and blocking out the road noise.