Airbags? What airbags?
The LX Convenience offers the essential equipment list in order to be happy spending time behind the wheel, including power windows, mirrors and locks as well as cruise control and air conditioning. The stereo's CD player can read MP3 files, and there is even a USB port, although it's a micro connector which means you need an adaptor cable in order to plug in your USB memory key or portable music player.
When the Spectra was redesigned for the 2005 model year, Kia flaunted the car as being the only compact sedan to offer 6 standard airbags. Yet since 2006, the car has only front ones, while at the same time, the competition has added side-impact protection in their products. I'm not a fan of front airbags, but from a safety standpoint, the Spectra is lacking in side-impact protection. And if you want anti-lock brakes, you'll have to move up to the SX model.
Low-frills engine
Every Spectra comes with a 16-valve, 2.0-liter inline-4 that develops a modest 138 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque. Add a 4-speed automatic to that, and you get a powertrain that provides average performance numbers; 0-100 km/h gets done in 10.4 seconds. My fuel consumption average over the course of the test is a respectable 9.5 L/100 km.
This compact Kia isn't a road carver. The ride is tuned more for comfort than ultimate handling, and there is a noticeable amount of body roll. Quick lane-change manoeuvres make the car feel top-heavy, yet it remains easily controllable. Rivals such as the Mazda3 Sport have a much tauter suspension setup. Still, the Spectra5 is a decent highway tripper.
Competition
The 2008 Kia Spectra5 starts out at $16,495, and this LX Convenience model with the automatic costs $19,895.
The LX Convenience offers the essential equipment list in order to be happy spending time behind the wheel, including power windows, mirrors and locks as well as cruise control and air conditioning. The stereo's CD player can read MP3 files, and there is even a USB port, although it's a micro connector which means you need an adaptor cable in order to plug in your USB memory key or portable music player.
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| The stereo's CD player can read MP3 files, and there is even a USB port. |
When the Spectra was redesigned for the 2005 model year, Kia flaunted the car as being the only compact sedan to offer 6 standard airbags. Yet since 2006, the car has only front ones, while at the same time, the competition has added side-impact protection in their products. I'm not a fan of front airbags, but from a safety standpoint, the Spectra is lacking in side-impact protection. And if you want anti-lock brakes, you'll have to move up to the SX model.
Low-frills engine
Every Spectra comes with a 16-valve, 2.0-liter inline-4 that develops a modest 138 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque. Add a 4-speed automatic to that, and you get a powertrain that provides average performance numbers; 0-100 km/h gets done in 10.4 seconds. My fuel consumption average over the course of the test is a respectable 9.5 L/100 km.
This compact Kia isn't a road carver. The ride is tuned more for comfort than ultimate handling, and there is a noticeable amount of body roll. Quick lane-change manoeuvres make the car feel top-heavy, yet it remains easily controllable. Rivals such as the Mazda3 Sport have a much tauter suspension setup. Still, the Spectra5 is a decent highway tripper.
Competition
The 2008 Kia Spectra5 starts out at $16,495, and this LX Convenience model with the automatic costs $19,895.
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| Every Spectra comes with a 16-valve, 2.0-liter inline-4 that develops a modest 138 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque. |