2002 Kia Spectra GS-X - Driving a Good Looking, Good Buy
Where the heck did Kia come from anyway? Only two years ago most Canadians had never heard of the Korean manufacturer and now over 150 dealers dot the landscape from sea to shining sea. They wouldn't have grown so quickly if we hadn't bought their cars. So why do we have a sudden fondness for the brand? It must be their witty marketing. I have to admit it's pretty smart. Maybe it's their 'unbeatable' service? At least I've heard it's pretty good. Or maybe, just maybe, it's the cars themselves?
I've driven almost every Kia available to Canadians over the last two years and have had chance to compare their models to almost every other manufacturer of entry level vehicles. How do they rate? That depends on your priorities. If styling, features, warranty and price are important to you then Kia should definitely make your short list.
The 4-door Spectra, that replaces last year's Sephia sedan, is a good case in point. At $14,595 it undercuts most 4-door compacts by $500 to $1,500, while offering at least as many standard features. Move up to the Spectra GS-X, and its $17,595 gets you more creature comforts plus European inspired 5-door styling.
Its sculpted hood melds neatly into a wide and deep trapezoidal grille. At its outer edges four round headlamps join wraparound turn signals under plastic covers. These sit above rectangular fog lamps that surround a triple-vent air dam, seamlessly molded into the front bumper. At the rear, a sloping hatch flows into a tall deck lid, which at its terminus crisply drops off into a rounded tail section flanked by large, wraparound triangular-shaped rear light clusters. The entire package looks distinctive and more valuable than its entry price suggests.
Where the heck did Kia come from anyway? Only two years ago most Canadians had never heard of the Korean manufacturer and now over 150 dealers dot the landscape from sea to shining sea. They wouldn't have grown so quickly if we hadn't bought their cars. So why do we have a sudden fondness for the brand? It must be their witty marketing. I have to admit it's pretty smart. Maybe it's their 'unbeatable' service? At least I've heard it's pretty good. Or maybe, just maybe, it's the cars themselves? I've driven almost every Kia available to Canadians over the last two years and have had chance to compare their models to almost every other manufacturer of entry level vehicles. How do they rate? That depends on your priorities. If styling, features, warranty and price are important to you then Kia should definitely make your short list.
The 4-door Spectra, that replaces last year's Sephia sedan, is a good case in point. At $14,595 it undercuts most 4-door compacts by $500 to $1,500, while offering at least as many standard features. Move up to the Spectra GS-X, and its $17,595 gets you more creature comforts plus European inspired 5-door styling. Its sculpted hood melds neatly into a wide and deep trapezoidal grille. At its outer edges four round headlamps join wraparound turn signals under plastic covers. These sit above rectangular fog lamps that surround a triple-vent air dam, seamlessly molded into the front bumper. At the rear, a sloping hatch flows into a tall deck lid, which at its terminus crisply drops off into a rounded tail section flanked by large, wraparound triangular-shaped rear light clusters. The entire package looks distinctive and more valuable than its entry price suggests.