Kia Spectra5

spectraman · May 2005

2005 Kia Spectra5 vs. 2005 Suzuki Reno

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehicle_Reviews/Sedans_and_Coupes/2005_Kia_Spectra_vs_2005- - _Suzuki_Reno.S180.A8508.html

Looks like the Reno just wins this shoot-out, at least from a daily driver perspective. The Spectra gets the nod for those more inclined to sporty driving.

-SM

dekan · May 2005

Well I knew a time would come when i would have to have a little work done on my Spectra5. Nothing major just a few minor items. I noticed a few surface rust spots on my hood along the front next to the chrome trim. There are 5 tiny bits of surface rust that at first thought was caused by rocks or salt but when I really looked at them I noticed they are all even spaced apart and starting from the perfect center running left and right. The last ones in the line stop the same distance from the ends. perhaps this is from a process at the factory because i could not find any bolts or weld marks on the underside of the hood. i showed them to my dealer during my last oil change and they have agreed to repaint the hood free of charge.

The second problem I have had is the driver side center console vent does not work with the direction dial. You can control it up and down but not side to side. Again I showed this to my dealer and they are ordering a new vent free of charge.

The latest problem is with the front bumper. The decorative molding that rides low apparently has lost two screws or they were never installed. The piece is held on with four screws and I have lost the center two. Now the bumper rides low in the front and has fallen out of the two holes holding it in place. This is also being taken care of next week.

Hey don't get me wrong, I love the car. I am even still really happy with the dealer. I am not writing this to warn people about my problems. if anything I am writing this to 1) Praise my local dealer for doing everything possible to help me, and 2) give a "heads up" notice to all my fellow Spectra5 owners. Check those screws holding the front accent on, they may be loose. By the way if anyone is wondering I have 12,000 miles on my Spectra5.

Thanks,
Dekan

axel_rose · May 2005

This writer must have been stoned when he test drove the Spectra 5 because my car doesn't exhibit any of the poor ride handling qualities or noisy cabin qualities that he writes about...perhaps he was driving a pre-production model.

geomatics · May 2005

I test drove the 2005 Reno as well as the GM badged Optra5. And all i can say is that these cars are not even in the same class as the Kia S5. the GM Dawoo /suzuki combination provides an uninspired attempt at exterior design. A distinct lack of driver refinements. Less HP and over all a grocery cart feel. Drive it then you will know what I am talking about.

But if what you want is a economical small car that is absolutely no fun to drive and not outstanding in design, refinements or power... then go for the GM Daewoo/suzuki built car.

7000km on the Kia S5, no problems yet.

backy · May 2005

Re the distinct lack of driver refinements, I found the driving position to be superior in the Reno/Forenza compared to the Spectra/Spectra5, mainly because of the dual-arc seat height adjuster in the Reno/Forenza. So I have to agree with the review there, and also with the look/feel of the dash (although the Spectra's is not bad by any means).

Overall I thought it was a pretty good comparo review of the two cars and highlighted the differences quite well. I think the Spectra5 is the superior car overall, but given that Renos can be had in my town for about $11k, I think it's a lot of car for the money and quite acceptable for the around-town driving most people do.

spectraman · May 2005

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosconsumer/0505/11/F03-177670.htm

"Kia soon will offer a variety of budget-priced but dealer-installed body, exhaust and wheel packages for those who want to give their Spectra a "sport compact" treatment."

"...If warranty issues can be addressed, Kia would like to offer a supercharger option to boost the output of the Spectra's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from its stock 138 to more than 200 horsepower.

I recently drove several souped-up Spectra 5 prototypes and was impressed with the quality of the parts for the body kit and with both the look and the tone provided by the cat-back exhaust system.

The lowering springs make the car's handling more dynamic. That performance can be enhanced by 18-inch wheels and high-performance tires; cars I tried wore Goodyear Eagle F1s or even grippier Nitto Neo Gens.

The supercharger installation fits nicely between the engine and firewall. For those who can afford another $3,000, the performance boost is impressive."

=============================

200 hp with a supercharger, eh? Wow. I wonder if they've got any goodies in their engineering grab-bag to handle the ensuing torque-steer that's bound to come with such a HP increase?

-SM

spec5 · May 2005

I just read through all these posts about the Spectra and it has been an interesting ride. I have a prospective that's just a bit different. I purchased a 2004 Suzuki Forenza (basically the same thing as the Reno) last September before I knew about the Reno or the Spectra 5. I bought automatic and test drove an automatic Spectra sedan. I made my decision based on styling. Both cars are very roomie (6'3" and over 300lbs) but I just liked the styling of the Suzuki...inside and out...better. Well, I purchased a 2005 Spec5 in classic red yesterday. I did a lot of comparisons online and one thing that I found hard to believe is the 0-60 differences between the AT and the manual...about a 2 second difference! Well, my Spec5 is a manual and I have to say that IMO I'm already having more fun driving the Spec5 than I have driving a car in years. I saw one performance 0-60 on the Spec5 that said 8.2 and I can believe it. I'm not running it hard yet with only 54 miles, but already, WOW. Anyone interested in a sporty little car that doesn't drive the Spec5 with a manual is missing out. BTW...rumor of supercharger from Kia if they can work out the warranty issue? Something to think about when all Suzuki SWT only offers a rear spoiler and some stickons.

iluvmysephia1 · May 2005

I must say I continue to be interested in the great looking new Kia Spectra5. I'm currently enjoying my 2001 Kia Sportage 4x4 to the full and love the styling and value found in Kia's. Keep reporting on your Spectra5 and congratulations!

lngtonge18 · May 2005

So did you trade in your Forenza? What was yuor experience with that car?

spec5 · May 2005

Yes, I traded my Forenza. It's a great car and 2 days into the Spectra 5 I can tell you the stereo is much better in the Forenza. I did have to deal with a couple of glitches with the Forenza. Stalling in the morning a few times that the dealer fixed and the check engine lite came on but went out before I could get to the dealer. The Suzuki dealer was great but so was Kia. I drove the Forenza to Atlanta from my home near Greensboro NC (about a 5 hour drive) and it was very comfortable. I know at this point that the Spectra 5's styling and attitude are much more a match for my personality.

iluvmysephia1 · May 2005

what kind of gas mileage are you getting in your new Spectra5?

Anyone else with a Spectra5, what kind of gas mileage are you all getting? Closer to the 30's or the 20's?

geomatics · May 2005

I have been tracking my milage on http://www.fueleconomy.gov since the car was new, I have shared all my data so all users can see it, I am a very spirited driver so take this into account when looking at the mpg. I hope this helps.

MPG: City - 25, Highway - 33

PS I love My S5.

iluvmysephia1 · May 2005

geomatics. Does your Spectra5 handle fairly well? The way the car sits it just looks like you could toss it into turns and it would grip the road well.

geomatics · May 2005

The S5, handles better tha my wifes' 98 Miata, if that is any basis for comparison. The handleing characteristics and engine power were the two most important deciding factors for me in choosing this car over the others that I test drove. The handleing is crisp and solid due to the front and rear sport independent, multi-link coil springs, and sport stabilizer bars. The S5 also has a wider body and therefore wider track which hugs the road. The understear is there but well managed and never during my spirited driving has the car felt like it was going to break free. I do have the strut tower brace installed and have noticed moderatly improved handeling on curvy roads but the car felt much the same without it. even before the strut tower brace the car experienced little body roll and has continued to be a complete joy to drive.

iluvmysephia1 · May 2005

update. It sounds like a really nice car. When I was still living back in Missouri the Sportage 4x4 was in for maintenance and I looked at the Spectra5's they had just gotten in. They looked very well put together and sporty looking. Appealing looking car that invites a person to test drive it.

smalltown · June 2005

I have 1650 miles on my Spectra5 now (automatic). After a short trip today, even though the tank was only half empty, I filled up just to check. I went 35 miles in-town, 50 miles on a four-lane, and 150 miles on two-lane and backroads (blacktop but no centerline or other markings) which included slowing down through towns and dealing with slow-moving farm vehicles.Those vehicles easily cover a lane and half on a two-lane road. Unless they move halfway over onto the shoulder, you can't pass them. I got 31.3 mpg for this trip.

spec5 · June 2005

I'm gonna fill up for the first time tomorrow. I drive 6 miles one way to work on a 2 lane residential with a few stop lights. Weekend is usually also just some 2 lane residential and short 5 miles trips on the highway. Well see how things go...

spec5 · June 2005

I received a call from my Kia dealer today. They were calling to inform me that I will be receiving a survey call from Kia about my dealership experience. She said they will ask me 6 questions and wanted to know if I would be able to give a "10" to all questions. I told her I would have to know the questions first so she went over them with me. There were 2 that I honestly couldn't answer 10 to. 1. How satisfied was I with the cleanliness of my car upon delivery. I answered 8. While they did run it through the wash for the outside, there were smears on some of the glass areas and while not exactly a "clean" issue, there was bits of plastic poking out everywhere. I'm assuming the protective plastic used in shipping. Also things like the film covering the center KIA emblem on the steering wheel was left on. 2. Was the warranty and roadside assistance fully explained to me. It really wasn't. the Suzuki dealer I bought from last year did a much better job. Well, a phone call from service and a free oil change and detail later, I agreed I'd be all "10"s on the survey. I'm not saying to make things up to get free stuff, but if you have recently bought and get a similar call, be honest! I was straight up with them and they satisfied my needs.

Sylvia · June 2005

We have an entire discussion just on this topic - Dealer bribes and satisfaction surveys.

spec5 · June 2005

Fuel mileage aside, I'm beginning to wonder how long I'll drive on 1 tank of gas. I filled up on June 3 and so far it's barely off the full line! I have a very short drive to work and we live very close to shopping and restaurants etc so we don't do much driving. Can I make it a month on a tank of gas?? If so, at least for me, the MPG is a bit less important. $25 a month for gas would be incredible! I'll keep the progress posted!

geomatics · June 2005

when my spectra was new new,(to about 4000km) the gas gage showed me getting about 400km per half a tank then dived quickly after the half a tank line. it has since settled down and now shows the correct readings.

just though that you would like to know, be carefull not to run out of gas early.

spec5 · June 2005

Thanks, I've also had cars that seemed to go forever before they move, then when the gauge moves...it MOVES. My case however is that I don't drive very much and it could be weeks before I burn a whole tank. Won't that be nice?

spec5 · June 2005

Well, I filled up today and with driving back and forth to work in very short 6 mile trips I averaged 24mpg. Not bad considering I have less than 1000 miles on it and have been driving more for fun than fuel economy. We'll see how things progress.

geomatics · June 2005

It is becoming a common occurance for people to pull up beside me and ask how I like the Spectra5. But even after my first oil change 8000km I still am very impressed with the overall quality and funfactor built into the new car.

Thanks Kia.
Geo.

doohickie · June 2005

As the "not-quite-as-good" Elantra GT 5 dr. But the enthusiasm on this board makes me want to check out my Kia dealer. I took a quick look at a Spectra5 but the sales lady and I didn't quite hit it off (she had the air of desperation that makes me nervous in sales people).

It may turn into a Korean shootout for my next car: Spectra5 vs. Elantra 5 vs. Reno... and if I wait until the new models come out, I may even give the Rio/Accent a looky-see.

iluvmysephia1 · June 2005

to creative nicknames, and humorous ones. Canuckkiafan, that's great! I've caught myself saying "Canuckia" as a silly way of simply stating "Canada". I've also called Canada "Cananada" before. Here's to great nicknames, then, and also great carmakers. I'm currently enjoying my second Kia in a row, I own a 2001 Kia Sportage 4x4 and the little SUV is a reliable and enjoyable rig to drive.

I also like the new Spectra5 and have it firmly plopped onto my futures list.

Make sure you keep us posted of your Kia decisions. If I'm gonna dink around on the Internet I at least want the information I glean to be important information.

Come on down Tragically Hip! Don't just play Cananada!

csandste · June 2005

One of the earlier posters (in what forum?) mentioned Canuckistan. That certainly got into my vocabulary--eh???

doohickie · June 2005

I will probably go back and forth several times before I buy since I don't plan on buying for a few months yet, but I test drove two cars today: The Spectra5 and the Elantra 5 door (although not GT). I was kind of disappointed by both. I mean, they are okay cars, but the interior materials and design still seemed kind of second-rate, and the ride of both left a lot to be desired. The most disconcerting aspect of the ride of both cars was that when I hit 70 mph I felt the "Elantra shimmy" discussed in one of the Elantra threads.... It was almost comical- I felt the shimmy with the Spectra5 and glanced at the speedo: 70. Same thing with the Elantra. Just like the thread said. I'm driving a Ford Aspire with 115,000 miles and it rides more smoothly at freeway speeds than either of those two cars, brand new. Bummer.

I was looking around with my son (he's a freshman in high school; this purchase will likely be the car he takes college). After looking at the Spectra5, the Elantra & the Suzuki Aerio & Reno, we went over to the Scion dealer, since I've been looking at the xA. While there we decided to check out all the Scions. If it was just for me, I would prefer the tC coupe.... very very nice, especially for the price, about $17k, including a two-pane sunroof. I figured we would be settling on the xA, and my son saw the xB. He asked, "What's *that*?" so we had the salesman open it up for us. He got in and he was sold, and I have to admit that I was too. There is just SO MUCH room in there, and the materials used on the Scion interiors just seem to be better quality than the Korean models. The auto writers say the new Korean models are up there with the Japanese models. The auto writers lie.

I guess I can save some money up front buying Korean, but the Scions get much, much better gas mileage. I haven't yet driven the xB, so that could change my mind, but my other son's 95 Escort with 110,000 miles rides a lot better than any of the Korean choices... and has much better acceleration.

canuckkiafan · July 2005

First, thanks for the comment on the nickname! I kind of like it too.....

I'm happy to say that I just returned from the cottage & the drive was great. I took the longer scenic route up, but coming home took the highway the entire way and am happy overall with how the car handled. Loved having cruise again, it's definitely a treat.

I was fairly conservative with the drive, however am still pleased with the spunk that I mustered out of her. Passed with no problem, and found it to be a very quiet ride. I did notice that the engine got a bit louder at @ 120km/hour, but quieted right down as soon as the needle was at @ 118. Not sure if this is just me getting used to it, but it was enough of a difference for me to make mention of it. No shimmying noted though - I had read that on an earlier message. So, the first milestone has passed with flying colours!

I'm at approximately 300km & have just over half a tank of gas left. Will be interested to see how many clicks on a full tank.

That's my update for now - am going to go & give her a rinse to keep the volcano blast red shining!

Hope everyone has a nice 4th of July! :shades:

iluvmysephia1 · July 2005

I'll bet the Volcanic Red Blast color looks great on your Spectra5. That is probably the color I would order as I have Pepper Red on my '01 Sportage 4x4 and still love it.

Question for ya (and any Spectra5 owners for that matter): How's the stock Spectra5 stereo rock? Nice and loud? Deep bass (I mean, to a degree)?

If it's anything like the stock stereo in my '01 Kia Sportage 4x4 it would fit the bill just fine.

doohickie · July 2005

The poor sound quality of the stock stereo in the Spectra5 was one of the things that jumped out at me. The Suzukis I drove the next day were outstanding in comparison.

iluvmysephia1 · July 2005

was going to be one of the things Kia was going to address in the new world order Spectra's, I thought. I don't know, we all probably have different tastes in stereo's as well as music, I think. I would need to test drive one and bring along a CD to test the stereo. Only then would I possibly decide I would need to replace the stock stereo with a better one.

doohickie · July 2005

interstate nearby that does that... but that was not the road I was on at the time. It was definitely the cars. That being said, it could be that the salesman's lame, "When the car sits too long, there's a flat spot" line could turn out to be true. I will probably look at both Elantra and Spectra again before buying. I would like either one of those to feel like the Suzuki Reno felt when I drove that.

Could have been an expectations thing because when I drove the Elantra & Spectra, it was after reading glowing reviews by many, as well as a few reports of the 70 mph vibration thing. So I was expecting either great or terrible, and when I felt a little vibration, perhaps I made it out to be worse than it was.

On the other hand, I drove the Reno and Aerio with the express purpose of eliminating them from my list. I think I set my expectations so low that they both exceeded them by so much it shocked me. If the Reno had fuel economy numbers of, say, 25/34 instead of 22/30, my mind would already be made up. But as it is, I've seen reports on the Suzuki forum that some Renos don't even get 20 mpg... pretty bad if you asked me.

That said, if Suzuki listens to its customers, it may tweak the Reno/Forenza engine to get a little better mileage for the 2006 MY.

npaladin2000 · July 2005

That said, if Suzuki listens to its customers, it may tweak the Reno/Forenza engine to get a little better mileage for the 2006 MY.

Doubtful. it's a Daewoo, not a Suzuki anyway. And one place the Koreans always seem to finish last is MPG efficiency...they seem to have more trouble getting higher efficiency out of their engines.

backy · July 2005

The fuel efficiency picture is beginning to change as Hyundai/Kia roll out their next-gen engines, which have CVVT technology. For example, the new Sonata's I4 and V6 are very competitive with fuel economy numbers from other makes. When (if??) the next-gen engines filter down to the Spectra, I expect to see improvements in fuel economy.

spmrebel · July 2005

Hi all,

I am kinda of a new 2005 Kia Spectra Ex owner. OK, its actually my girlfriend (I helped her with the decision quite a bit though). Anyway, we were debating between an Elantra GLS vs a Spectra EX. Both were very similiar in feel, workmanship, quality, and driving dynamics but the more modern interior of the Kia; and since this generation is only a year old, it last another 4 years, we decided on the Spectra EX. Another factor was the side curtain airbags. Also, I have a 2005 Elantra GT already and getting a GLS would nearly be the same.

We got a White 2005 Spectra EX with auto, moonroof, alloys and cruise control. It was without the rear spoiler (I actually don't like the Spectra's rear spoiler as it looks too ricy). I looked for ABS everywhere but couldn't find it. Its a really nice vehicle. Its near silent at idle (similiar to Elantra). I would say that the quality of the materials on the interior would beat the Elantra. I always thought that the Elantra had the best quality on the interior of anything in its price range until I looked at the Kia. My friend who owns a 2000 Civic and a 2005 Infinit G35 was amazed on the quality of the interior also. The other thing I noticed is that the doors felt a tad bit heaver on the Spectra than the Elantra. It almost seems as though the side impact door beams are a bit heavier. Another nice feature of the Spectra that I wish my GT had is that it has a remote trunk button on its FOB.

Doohickie,

I have been reading your posts about your next car purchase. My previous car to my GT was a 2003 Suzuki Aerio SX with the 2.0L. I had the car up until end of May when I sold it. I would say that both Hyundai and Kia are definitely superior cars in quality and craftsmanship. The Aerio didn't have the fit or finish that Hyundai has - especially on the interior. Also, the Aerio's engine was noticeably noiser at idle. Though slightly cruder than both Hyundai and Kia it was a darn good car. I only had 1 problem outside of routine maintenance. The catalytic converter went out and was replaced under warranty. This was in in 57K miles when I sold it.

Oh, I briefly took the Spectra Ex to 70 mph and no vibration. Also, my GT doesn't have any vibration at or above 70 mph also.

Good luck on your purchase decision.

Happy motoring to all.

Shawn

geomatics · July 2005

Actually, the 2005 Spectra 5 already has the continuously variable valve technology CVVT, I have just over 9000km on the car now and mileage has increased from 26/28 to 32/38, of course that depends on how you drive.

love my spectra
Geo.

geomatics · July 2005

and it is still not as good as the Spectra5 (IMHO).

had one on a loner basis when my previous GM pos was in the shop. and this her are only a few reasons why i think the S5 is a much MUCH better car.

OPTRA5 Spectra5
119hp 138hp
126@4000 torque 136@4500
2 airbags 6 airbags /active head rests
mp3 optional mp3 standard
mpg (combined 30) mpg (combined 34)
15" wheels 16" wheels

I could go on but you already know i bought the Spectra5.

doohickie · July 2005

Shawn: Thanks for the input. As much as I personally liked the Suzuki Reno, I'm beginning to think it's probably not the best car to buy. The Elantra and Spectra are right in there, along with the Scion xA and Aerio, in terms of the numeric scale I've been working on. I wish I liked the Elantra or Spectra better in terms of the way they felt on the road (handling & power), but they just didn't impress me. In one of the reviews I read at cars.com, the writer said the Elantra is like that: You aren't crazy about it at first, but it grows on you.

I will have to drive all the cars again, and see what kind of year-end deals they offer. Most of the rebates I had figured into my numerical ratings expired on June 30 or July 5; I need to see what they're offering in September or October when I'm actually ready to buy.

For once in my life, I actually have time to look over the field and make an informed decision; now that I'm there I wish I were in more of a hurry! Heh...

doohickie · July 2005

Yep, yep, yep; you're right, of course, geomatics. There are precisely three things I like about the Reno:

1. It makes peak torque at lower rpm's, giving it a slightly better off-the-line jump (my perception; YMMV).
2. I preferred the ride feel of the Reno to Elantra/Spectra. It felt more glued to the road (again, my perception).
3. It's stereo sounded better to me. I know it's shallow to prefer one car over another based on the stereo, but it really jumped out at me. (The Aerio's stereo was also good.)

These are all things that don't show up on paper, and all the stuff you cite is a convincing argument. But cars are more than numbers on paper, aren't they? It's funny, but the things I liked about the Reno are cited in many reviews as actually being worse than in the Spectra and/or Elantra. Maybe I'm getting old, but I actually prefer a softer ride to excess road feel.

I'll bop around the forums for a while and probably stay away from the car lots, then go back in September just prior to buying I guess, and then I'll decide.

On paper, the best cars for me are the Accent & Rio, followed by the Scion xA, Elantra GT 5 dr, Spectra5 and Aerio, with the xB, Focus and Reno also in the running. On paper, Accent and Rio are #1 & 2, but I wouldn't buy them as they are and have to wait for the 06 models come out to see if I like them... and I'm not sure Accent will have a hatch version. So that leaves a shootout between the xA and the Koreans. My son really likes the xB, so I'll probably keep that on my list as well, at least for now.

backy · July 2005

Right, Hyundai/Kia bolted a CVVT head onto the old Beta engine back in '03. Fuel economy went up a little (2 mpg in city, one on highway with the 5-speed on the Elantra for example, and emissions improved too) but I think we'll see even better fuel economy (and more power per liter) from the next-gen engines. On the CVVT Beta engine and an automatic Elantra, I can easily get mid-20s in the city and upper 30s on the highway (at legal speeds). That's not quite as good as a few other compacts like the Civic, Corolla, and ECHO, but it's not far behind and has more power than those cars.

spectraman · July 2005

Shawn said:

Oh, I briefly took the Spectra Ex to 70 mph and no vibration. Also, my GT doesn't have any vibration at or above 70 mph also.

For the record, my Spectra EX with 10,000+ miles has no vibration at 70 mph, nor even speeds in excess of 80 mph.

Could the grooved road explanation in a previous post have some validity? I know that there are several semi-truck "grooved" highways around the Detroit area that have the tendency to make all my vehicles either wander or give weird steering wheel feedback.

-SM

csandste · July 2005

Although I didn't buy the car, I think the Aerio's 05 interior tweaks add a ton of sophistication to the car. I didn't like the pre-05 digital dash and monochromatic interior one bit. The 05 passed my 01 Elantra in terms of fit and finish-- however, I'm still glad I bought the Maxx!

With the improvements to safety, the Spectra5 would be on my list if I bought today.

doohickie · July 2005

Naw, it wasn't the road. It was the car, both times. I suspect there is a resonant frequency in the front end that tends to exaggerate any imbalance at about 70 mph. I am also starting to suspect that what the salesman said is true: That when a car sits for a while, the flat spot forms an imbalance that works itself out with some time on the road.

I'm aware of the phenomenon you're talking about, and that wasn't it.

doohickie · July 2005

I like the looks of the Spectra5 better than the Elantra, but I'm not sure it's worth the cost difference (a little over $1000 more for the Kia, and that's an Elantra with leather seats!) I'm constantly tweaking my criteria for rating the list of cars I will buy from.... if I put a "fun" or "looks" factor in there, the Spectra5 would move up quite a bit compared to the stodgy Elantra (no offence, backy!)

backy · July 2005

Personally I like the Saabesque fastback styling of the Elantra 5-door more than the mini-station-wagon styling of the Spectra5, but to each his own. Also Kia doesn't give me a loyalty rebate like Hyundai does, so a Spectra5 would cost me at least $2000 more than the Elantra (with leather, as you noted; or I can save even more and get the GLS 5-door with a nice sport cloth interior). I can take quite a bit of "stodgy" for $2000 or more.

doohickie · July 2005

You may like Saabesque, but I think the Spectra5 is *very* Mazda3ish.... :shades:

Oh... and check out my latest question on the Which Hatchback forum, backy. :confuse:

muffin_man · July 2005

I just did an Edmunds comparator deal of the Reno, Spectra, and Elantra and Aerio. And while there is way too much data to write here - I think the Aerio looks best on paper.

Tough call between the other 3, but I would probably skip the Spectra because it's so heavy. (almost 3000 ponds) The Reno has by far the most toys.

My ranking is:
1. Suzuki Aerio (this car has everything)
2. Suzuki Reno (for the toy lover - arguably the best looking)
3. Hyundai Elantra (Could be the winner for the right price)
4. Kia Spectra (loses on weight and crash test results - but I like the looks)

geomatics · July 2005

actually the designer of the Spectra 5 , was the designer for the Mazda Protege 5.

doohickie · July 2005

Muffin Man: Seems like you're reading my mind; that's pretty much the way I see it. The other cars to throw in there, though, for the heck of it are Scion xA & xB, and Ford Focus (either 3 or 5 door).

Kia Spectra5

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