Overview:
This week the Kia Spectra GSX provided a comfortable ride for a short vacation to Arizona. I was pleasantly surprised because the trip took us about 1500 miles from Los Angeles, California to Arizona. We stayed in Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix, then on to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. After a nice breakfast at the El Tavor on the south rim we were off to Laughlin, Nevada. No, I didn’t leave my money in the casino’s there, in fact a won a few bucks. Boy that’s a first. Well, anyway, the last leg of our trip continued over historic route 66 through Kingman, Barstow, Needles, San Bernardino. I started humming that wonderful old song, “ I got my kicks on Route 66”, and took another trip down memory lane. But in the “good old days” I might be singing the advertising jingle, “See the USA, in your Chevrolet, America the greatest land of all… nothing can beat her, life is completer in a Chevy…and seeee it in your Chev – ro -lay”.
I found few flaws in this little Kia from Korea except for a slight clicking in the suspension while going over bumps and the remote trunk lever didn’t release all the way. Just an adjustment, but it does bug you. More importantly however, the cloth seats were well padded and formed to add comfort to such a long drive. That wasn’t the case in the Chevrolet Cavalier I tested recently. I took that one to Portland, Oregon and found myself shifting a lot and that detracts from the journey.
Handling & Performance:
The inline 4-cylinder engine is peppy. In fact, in 5th gear with cruise on, I was cooking along at 80+ and it never wanted to kick off, but just pulled without hesitation. I’d like a longer 5th gear for better mileage and easier on the engine that labored at 4000 rpm at highway speeds. Although the car is small and a little light, it was stable at higher speeds, and very good gas mileage on the road. I got more than the EPA numbers and made it from Los Angeles to Scottsdale on less than a tank of gas.
Styling:
Styling is real nice, and has a flair and look of more expensive cars, much like the BMW 3 series. In any case it was more than the price tag would indicate. They also designed in a good-sized trunk that is really a hatchback. Pretty slick… I liked it.
Fit and Finish:
Generally it was very good for this price range car.
Conveniences:
There is no scanner function on the radio, which was a pain finding stations on the highway. I’d want to have that feature. Otherwise, for the dough, it is well appointed.
Cost:
Yes, you get what you pay for, but cars like this are great buys. You can literally have a new car for what you’d pay for a used upscale anything. If you don’t have an ego to feed, you can drive a Kia or any of the competition noted below and feed your face and family better. I wonder if my kids read any of my reviews? From what they drive, I can’t really tell, but then kids rarely take their parents advice, right?
Recommendation:
Next car you buy, Jenny and Mike, consider a Spectra or one of the other worthy opponents. Then you can have me over and throw a few more shrimp on the Barbie.
The competition:
Chevrolet Cavalier $13,160-16,365, Daewoo Nubira $11,399-14,799, Dodge Neon $12,715, Ford Focus $12,220-15,355, Honda Civic $12,760-16,910, Hyundai Elantra $12, 499, Mazda Protégé $12,215-15,315, Mitsubishi Mirage $11,877-14,717, Nissan Sentra $11,649-14,899, Plymouth Neon $12,715, Pontiac Sunfire $14,175-16,295, Saturn SL $10,570-12,895, Subaru Impreza $15,995-19,495, Toyota Corolla $12,568-13,383, Volkswagen Golf $14,900-17,900.
Good News:
Well-priced, good economy, comfortable ride even on long trips, new car at used car price.
Bad News:
This is one of the few cars built in Korea and the quality is yet to be established, and that may also lower the resale value.
Standard Equipment:
1.8 liter inline 4 cylinder engine, 5-speed manual trans, power front disc rear drum brakes, dual airbags, child safe rear door, cloth seats, split folding rear seat, remote mirrors, AM/FM radio and cassette, air conditioning, power door locks and windows, tilt steering. Options included: Stereo with CD player upgrade, cruise control, power mirrors, rear wiper.
Gas Stats:
23 City and 29 Highway MPG.
Pricing:
MSRP $12,995
Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is movello@earthlink.net.
