Perfectible, but impressive overall
Look at Kia's product lineup today, and compare it to what they offered just six years ago when they came to the Canadian market. They have come a long way since the Sephia and original Sportage, two vehicles that were neither exciting nor durable.
In 2006, Kia offers no less than nine models. Among them, the Spectra5 is the sportiest one. Of course, comparing it to other five-door compacts is inevitable. How does it stack up against the Mazda3 Sport? Or the Ford Focus ZX5?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The Koreans are on a roll, and seem to have no mercy for their competition. They are learning fast, maybe too fast for some other manufacturers' good.
Hit-and-miss interior
The two-tone dashboard looks good. The rotary dials for heating and ventilation are a no-brainer, and everything is well within reach. However, you know when you've skipped an option or two, and you're stuck with a couple of empty spaces on the dash where buttons associated with those options would normally go? Well, this Spectra5's got a truckload of them. I counted no less than ten, which is odd given that this is the most expensive trim.
Otherwise, Kia did a good job of keeping the cheaper plastic trim on the lower section of the dash and door panels, and put nicer-looking plastic on the upper section. I still don't understand why Kia (and Hyundai) puts ashtrays in their vehicles, though.
The seats are comfortable, and the cloth used to cover them feels nice. However, I find the rear seatback a little stiff for my tastes. The car is surprisingly spacious, in front and in back. As for the trunk, it's very roomy, rear seatback up or down, which is the main advantage of choosing a car with a hatchback.
The sound system is average. The output isn't that great, although fiddling with the adjustments helps a bit. And while everyone else's radios turn on and off by pushing on the volume knob, this one has a top-right button marked "Power" instead. Overall, the system is a little on the cheap side, but at least you can listen to MP3 files.
A thirsty engine
The 138-horsepower, 2.0-liter engine is enough to move the Spectra5 along swiftly. It does get a little noisy above 4,500 rpm, but it's not unpleasant. The shift lever works very well, and the clutch is light.
The handling of the car lives up pretty well to its sporty demeanour. Usually, Koreans cars have soft suspensions, but this one is pleasantly tighter. And after a couple of days, I've finally figured out what's bugging me when I drive it: the steering wheel is big and looks like it was taken out of a much larger car. A smaller-diameter wheel would encourage sportier driving.
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| (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
In 2006, Kia offers no less than nine models. Among them, the Spectra5 is the sportiest one. Of course, comparing it to other five-door compacts is inevitable. How does it stack up against the Mazda3 Sport? Or the Ford Focus ZX5?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The Koreans are on a roll, and seem to have no mercy for their competition. They are learning fast, maybe too fast for some other manufacturers' good.
Hit-and-miss interior
 |
| (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
Otherwise, Kia did a good job of keeping the cheaper plastic trim on the lower section of the dash and door panels, and put nicer-looking plastic on the upper section. I still don't understand why Kia (and Hyundai) puts ashtrays in their vehicles, though.
The seats are comfortable, and the cloth used to cover them feels nice. However, I find the rear seatback a little stiff for my tastes. The car is surprisingly spacious, in front and in back. As for the trunk, it's very roomy, rear seatback up or down, which is the main advantage of choosing a car with a hatchback.
The sound system is average. The output isn't that great, although fiddling with the adjustments helps a bit. And while everyone else's radios turn on and off by pushing on the volume knob, this one has a top-right button marked "Power" instead. Overall, the system is a little on the cheap side, but at least you can listen to MP3 files.
A thirsty engine
 |
| (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
The handling of the car lives up pretty well to its sporty demeanour. Usually, Koreans cars have soft suspensions, but this one is pleasantly tighter. And after a couple of days, I've finally figured out what's bugging me when I drive it: the steering wheel is big and looks like it was taken out of a much larger car. A smaller-diameter wheel would encourage sportier driving.