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:

• 

  I Didnt Like It - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By friendstiltheend - January 17 - 10:00 am

  this car had little seats and was not the car i thought it was when i bought it. I thought it was a pretty color and thats about all. It was, in all, reliable, but it did not give me the feeling of safty when i drove it on the high way.

• 

  love my kia - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By sexiestinpink - January 17 - 10:00 am

  my new kia handles very well , corners highway ect.its good on gas although all cars could improve on that!the warranty is excellent.it is comfortable and the design is kind of sporty.the ride is very smooth. i havent had it long enough to know of any future problems,i feel very safe in my kia spectra. i will say it is a nicely designed car.im very happy with it. anyone who sais kias are no good , they are wrong!!

• 

  2001 kia spectra - 2004 Kia Spectra
  By Spickez334 - January 12 - 10:00 am

  i like the car a lot

• 

  Great New Car! - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Pink Panda - January 7 - 6:03 am

  My husband and I just bought our new Kia Spectra 5 and love it. We didnt really want a Kia, but when we test drove the Spectra 5, we changed out minds. I love the look of it and the extras we got like sunroof and cruise control. It drives really well - smooth and quiet. And best of all, its fun to drive! And lets not forget the warranty we have on it, we dont have to worry about costly repairs. We also purchased the gap insurance which is great in case the car gets totaled. Whatever the insurance wont pay, the gap insurance will cover the rest. Great piece of mind!

• 

  great car - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By dparent - January 6 - 5:18 am

  I had my 2005 kia spectra for 5 years, the car had 148,000 miles on it and it had never let me down. 2 weeks ago my wife and I and our 2 sons were rearended buy a fullsize suv we were waiting to turn into a drive way and we were hit. The driver of the suv didnt even try to stop he hit us at at least 55 mph. my 9 yr old son and my 6 year old son were in the back seat. and even with the impact we all walked away without injurys. after the accident the car still runs great. I will find a new body to the motor into.

• 

  Im Very Happy - 2002 Kia Spectra
  By SPIKE - January 3 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy my spectra. The warranty is great. Kia (The Company) is very nice to deal with. However, plan to keep your spectra. The trade in value on mine with 21,000 miles and clean was only $6000.00

• 

  Pleasantly Surprised - 2003 Kia Spectra
  By Hayes - December 29 - 10:00 am

  When I moved to the US from Canada I did not bring my 99 Honda Civic SE with me. I immediately went car shopping at auto dealers in my new area. While I was looking over a variety of models at a huge automall I came accross the Kia Spectra GS/GSX models and was immediately struck with its appearance especially from the back. I had actually planned on buying another Honda Civic/Accord or Toyota Camry but I decided to take a closer look at the Spectra GS. I took one for a test drive and was impressed with the ride and performance. I purchased a Spectra GS and have not regretted it for one minute.

• 

  My Spec 5 - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By therepokid - December 29 - 4:03 am

  I love my Spectra. I have done a couple of performance modifications to it and it will run with just about any other import on the road. I had a bad outlook on Kia in general when I bought it but it has changed my mind. It has been the best far I have ever owned. It has almost 50,000 miles on it an has never had to go to the dealer for service. Kia is coming up in the world.

• 

  Great Economical Car for Tall People - 2005 Kia Spectra
  By Kirsten - December 27 - 4:40 am

  I love this car so much, I would recommend it to anyone with long legs and a long torso! I have plenty of head room, elbow room, and leg room, and Im a 59" woman. My passengers always ride comfortably in the back seat. The stereo is very impressive as well. It has a very good turning radius and handles curbs well.

• 

  Look out Toyota and Honda - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Tango6 - December 26 - 9:40 am

  My wife bought this car just before we got married. I have owned a few Hondas and Toyotas in my lifetime. After researching Kia, I felt it would be an OK car. Now 77,000 miles later, we have had no mechanical problems and the car still gets better than 30 MPG. It easily made 4 trips from Columbus, GA to El Paso, TX. The wife uses to go to work every day(12 miles one way) and for all of her shopping needs. We occasionally make weekend trips of about 400 mile. Overall this car has impressed me. Its not the fun driving car my Audi is, but it doesnt have that price tag either. Only normal maintenance and a set of brakes and tires at this point.