Kia Spectra

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Kia Spectra Models

The Kia Spectra lineup consists of one body style: a hatchback with four passenger doors and a quasi-fastback roofline.

The base trim model is designated GS and lists at $10,995. Air conditioning adds $900 to that price. Or opt for the $13,195 GSX, which lists air conditioning, alloy wheels, power windows, and central locking as standard equipment, plus a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescope steering wheel and an aggressive-looking body kit.

All Spectras are powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine rated 125 horsepower. They come with a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.

Driving the Kia Spectra

The Kia Spectra GSX is not blindingly fast, but if the driver is willing to rev the engine, it delivers spunky acceleration with the five-speed manual transmission. The engine revs with abandon and seems happy to do so.

The gearshift lever has a rubbery feel, but we never missed a shift. Clutch take-up is smooth and light. We suspect the optional automatic transmission would sap a good deal of the engine's vigor; comparing the ratios of both transmissions confirms that impression. Anyone at all interested in acceleration in a Spectra should learn how to drive a stick.

The automatic compensates somewhat with a taller overdrive ratio (0.70:1). Not only does that mean quieter cruising at freeway speeds, but also a better EPA highway mileage rating: 31 mpg for the autobox, compared to 30 mpg with the five-speed. The manual edges the automatic in city mileage, however, at 25 mpg vs. 22 mpg.

In cornering, the Spectra offers good balance, as one would expect from Lotus Engineering. Like most front-wheel-drive cars, its handling is predisposed to understeer (the front tires begin losing grip before the rear tires do). Turn-in for corners is a little sluggish: Our impression was that there's something rubbery between the steering wheel and the pavement, with a squishiness that has to be taken up before the Spectra begins to turn. This is particularly noticeable in fast, slalom-type directional changes.

The Spectra is quiet on the highway, with a surprising absence of wind or engine racket. It feels larger than its compact measurements would seem to warrant, even on an extended drive.

We were delighted by the performance of the standard brakes. We checked them out on a closed circuit that had several corners requiring high-speed braking. The Spectra's brakes never whimpered nor showed any signs of fading. That's extraordinary for an economy car.