2005 Kia Spectra5 Preview

The Spectra5 received its official star-studded launch at the New York International Auto Show in Manhattan last April. Why do I say star-studded? Well, Kia Motors America president

The new car was officially launch at the New York International Auto Show in Manhattan last April, with the help of Kia CEO Peter Butterfield and hip-hop pop band Sugar Ray. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

and CEO Peter Butterfield was on hand to deliver Kia's message, and right on his heals was hip-hop pop band Sugar Ray - remember the 1999 mega-hit "Every Morning?" The Korean automaker and California group are doing a cross-country tour together, an effective way to get Kia into the spotlight. Banding together with a group that hasn't exactly been at the top of the charts in recent years may make tuning in and turning on North America's youth a difficult job, but that's another point that has little to do with the new car.

While I'm hardly in the target demographic, some of the younger writing staff assured me that 5-doors are the hottest thing in the sport compact market. OK, I can learn to accept the genre's cool factor despite the fact that if you showed up on a date with mom's 5-door (station wagon) back when I was a

While times and tastes have changed, I was assured that 5-doors are the hottest thing in the sport compact market by a few younger staff members. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

kid it was guaranteed to be a short night. The times change and so with them priorities, and of course style.

Some examples of top-sellers are the outgoing Mazda Protegé5, now the Mazda3 Sport, Hyundai Elantra GT, Subaru Impreza Wagon, and Ford Focus ZX5. A more recent entry includes the Chevy Optra5 (Suzuki Reno in the U.S.). At the top end of the scale there's the Lexus IS 300 SportCross, but that of course is in another league.

The Spectra5 won't be Canada's least expensive car, with Kia's Rio still filling that role, but just the same it will be much more affordable than Mazda's 3 Sport, for instance. Kia won't be offering a bare bones version either, as it isn't designed to be an economical family car, despite the fact that many families will use it as such.