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We may aspire to own the ultimate luxury vehicle, but most of us have to settle for safe reliable economical transportation. However the gap between our wants and needs gets smaller each year at Kia. Just a few years earlier, standard equipment for basic entry-level transportation was fairly abstemious. Power windows and locks used to be options for entry-level vehicles. Now even cars like the 2004 Kia Spectra has a plethora of power accessories such as remote entry and automatic headlights. Why don't car companies make a "no-frills" basic car that will just get someone from home to office in comfort, safety and economy? Well the answer is not that simple. First, we can't agree on what level of comfort and safety is a necessity and what is a luxury. The old saying is that "a luxury once experienced becomes a necessity" is really true. So is a panic alarm on a remote opener a luxury option or necessary safety device? To a single girl walking alone to her car in a darkened parking lot, it may very well be a necessary. As consumers we simply demand more of these features as minimal accepted needs. The second major reason for the proliferation of features and gadgets on even the most basic vehicle is that with plummeting production cost for electronics, economy can still be achieved even with advanced features. In mass production the cost of adding a feature, which automatically turns off the headlights, may be pennies but might just impress a new buyer. Kia made their mark in the US by offering high content quality vehicles that are inexpensive and covered by long term warranties. In the past these vehicles have suffered a perceived quality deficit thereby accelerating depreciation costs. To inspire confidence, Kia offers an industry leading 10 year or 100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty on top of the standard 3-year/36,000 mile warranty. This is a car that you "drive the wheels off," rather than trade frequently. After a week driving the 2004 Kia Spectra, I found it to be a surprising value. Every day I found new features such as the 8-way adjustable drivers seat with lumbar support. Air Conditioning, Cruise, Tilt, and a six-speaker stereo with CD player are standard equipment on the LS model. No longer is this compact sedan really compact, as it had plenty of room for passengers and a huge trunk for luggage. At no time did I have the claustrophobic feeling of a cramped econobox. This is not a luxury class sedan, but noise vibration and harshness was very acceptable making driving a pleasure. The Kia Spectra is not a status vehicle, but it is very attractive with sporty lines and classic good looks. The standard 1.8 Liter DOHC engine developing 124 horsepower and 119 lbs-ft. of torque is more than adequate for moving this 2,661-pound vehicle around. Of course with the 5-speed manual transmission, 32 miles-per-gallon on the highway and 24 in the city are very attractive EPA numbers. The 2004_Kia_Spectra is not an aspirational vehicle for those of us who value automotive high performance or pampered luxury. But for those needing a safe, reliable and economical commuter vehicle, aspiring to own a Kia Spectra is a worthy goal.
2004 Kia Spectra LS $13,450 Base MSRP
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©2003 - Stan Risener