In a mere five years of Canadian sales, which is about the average model lifespan of any automaker's products, only one of Kia's cars truly doesn't measure up to the majority of its rivals - the Spectra. But that's about to change, dramatically.
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| On Friday, March 26, Kia introduced the new 2005 Spectra to Canadian media in Santa Monica, while the this modified Spectra5 (shown), destined for SEMA, was an exciting sideshow. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Kia Canada just introduced the new 2005 Spectra to Canadian media in Santa Monica, California last Friday, March 26, with most seeming a little surprised by how good it really is. I, for one, am impressed.
It's important to put things into perspective. While I still think the outgoing car is quite nice to look at, with the 5-door hatch actually quite attractive, the new car is much more stylish. While it has been designed to fit into the fairly conservative compact market, there's nothing bland or generic about it.
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| The arcing beltline crease that spans the Spectra's profile from back to front is a particularly nice design element. (Photo: Kia Canada) |
Large, uniquely styled headlamp clusters wrap around the front fenders on their outer most ends before melding in perfect alignment with the tapered and sculpted hood lines. These drop downward to integrate into the car's distinctive grille at both sides, part of a one piece front fascia that incorporates circular fog lamps at its corners in higher trim levels.
My favorite design detail is the arcing beltline crease that spans the Spectra's profile from back to front before disappearing into the front wheel arch. It looks particularly nice from rear three-quarter view, giving the compact sedan a rakish yet fluid appearance. I also like the side molding just underneath, not just because it's nicely styled but mostly for its protective applications. Too many cars today forget to include side moldings in the design, with parking lot door dings quickly obliterating any aesthetic benefits.
