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Low End Sedans (under $16k)

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Comments

  • giantkillergiantkiller Member Posts: 273
    Why are you telling me that? Am I Toyota? I'm not a carmaker. I'm not employed in whatever manner to the auto industry. So if you want, go to Toyota, Honda, Nissan GM, Ford and Daimler-Chrysler website and get their E-mail address and tell them not to ignore Hyundai-Kia's rapid turnaround and perceive threat to their mrket share at their own peril.
    As for me, Hyundai-Kia can hire all the PR guys they want and send me all kinds of press release everyday telling me how they're gonna rule the world in the future and I wont give a damn.
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,704
    is some people are still viewing HyunKia products as rattletrap rustbuckets produced out of coffee cans and with rusty wrenches. Reading some of rroyce's reports from the auctions are always a barrel of laughs. How goofy can you get?

    There is a lot of information from those auction reports regarding dealers and owner experiences that is missing. Anybody else smell a stinky rat regarding those "auction" reports?

    spectraman is indeed accurate regarding the folly of disrespecting Hyundai and Kia. Robert Lutz of GM noted that the automakers he feared the most were the South Korean ones. It was a smart move by GM to swallow up Daewoo a few years back and the move has already started paying for itself. The success of the Aveo and the inroads into the Asian market for GM are two indcators of that.

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    I *LOVE* my 03 Sentra 2.5LE! Seriously, it was a great combination when I got it in Jan 03. Head protecting side airbags, 4 wheel disc+ABS, 165 horses. Yes, its outdated now, and ripe for a redesign, what with its diminutive and useless cupholders and rear seat, as well as behind-the-times standard issue crash safety... but I've got 53K miles on it, no warranty repair items or unscheduled trips to the dealer (save for 2 recalls early on).

    ~alpha
  • micwebmicweb Member Posts: 1,617
    I think 165 hp and side head protecting airbags make up for the old design....
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    ... unless you are the one sitting in the back seat. ;)
  • allfiredupallfiredup Member Posts: 736
    Suzuki Forenza- if it only drove as good as it looks...
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    It really is a shame: classy exterior, great interior, ho-hum mechanicals. If GM would just drop the 140 hp Ecotec and Getrag 5-speed in that thing...
  • allfiredupallfiredup Member Posts: 736
    It'd be even better if they could put the 2.3L 155hp engine from the Suzuki Aerio into the Forenza. It even has the same fuel economy as the Forenza, 31 mpg highway.

    The Aerio is one of the most underrated cars ever, in my opinion. I had one as a rental back in '03 in Orlando and I fell in love with that funky looking Tonka toy. I even test drove one last year when they updated the interior and got rid of the digital dash. Impressive, solid little car with great handling and more power than most competitors.

    The only think the Forenza has over the Aerio is exterior appearance and price. The interior on the Aerio and definitely the drivetrain is far superior. Then again, one is built by Suzuki in Japan and the other by GM/Daewoo. Go figure!
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Maybe it would help if Suzuki would advertise the Aerio more. I see lots of ads for the Forenza and Reno, and few/any for the Aerio.

    I drove the Aerio when it first came out and thought it was pretty decent--and it didn't have 155 hp then. The interior is much improved now. But bottom line for me was that I could by something else (Elantra) for much less money, with more equipment, better fuel economy, and a more comfortable ride--and a longer warranty.
  • allfiredupallfiredup Member Posts: 736
    I've seen a handful of ads for the Aerio in magazines, but not many lately. I read that they only sell around 6,000 of them per year (unsure if that is the number of sedans or both sedans and wagons). Few people know that it even exists. I remember reading that Suzuki dealers don't even try to push it as much as they do the Forenza/Reno. Perhaps a higher profit margin?

    For the $16k or so it would take to get into a well equipped one, there are a lot of alternatives out there. For $14k I might think seriously about it.

    The warranty is still pretty good at 36/36 b2b and 7/100 powertrain. The Aerio is the only Suzuki I'd trust since it's the only one engineered and assembled in Japan.

    We can always hope the new Suzuki Swift will make it here.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I think their SUVs are designed and assembled in Japan also.
  • allfiredupallfiredup Member Posts: 736
    Yes, the Grand Vitara (dumb name) and XL-7 are made in Japan, but just not any of the "cars" except Aerio.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Being a small-car lover, I am thankful for all the great low-end car options that will be available within 6 months. Consider that just a couple of years ago, low-end car choices were: Accent, ECHO, and Rio. That's it. And those cars were pretty crude, especially the Rio. By next spring, we'll have the following choices in low-end cars:

    Accent 4-door sedan (new design)
    Accent 3-door hatchback (new design)
    Aveo
    Fit
    Rio (new design)
    Rio5 (new design)
    Versa (new design)
    xA
    xB
    Yaris sedan (replacement for ECHO, new design)
    Yaris hatchback (3-door in U.S., 3 and 5-door in Canada)

    Another thing that has changed is the availability in these low-end cars of safety and convenience features that were a short time ago common only in luxury cars. Features like ABS, side airbags and curtains, electronic stability control, 6-speaker high-power sound systems, 8-way adjustable driver's seats, 16" alloy wheels, power heated mirrors, and folding rear center armrests are standard on some of these low-end cars.

    There was an review in my local paper today of the 2006 Rio5; it was from Dan Neil of the Los Angeles Times. The article went beyond the normal nuts-and-bolts review to ask some philosophical questions. For example:

    Perhaps the larger point is that these [low-end] cars suggest a subtle change in U.S. car culture, which has taken as an article of faith that we should consume as much as we can afford. What if, like Europeans, we were to buy less car than we could afford? Would that be so bad?

    His answer to his own question was, "Not really, and the Kia is proof." He went on to give a positive review on the Rio5. In it, he imagined himself in an alternate reality, in which he was living in a flat on the outskirts of Prague, working at the National Museum, wearing a long scarf and overcoat and living with a sloe-eyed and surrendering Czech girl. Oh, and he'd smoke--a lot. And drive a Rio5 SX.

    I can understand where he is coming from (not the smoking part, and my wife wouldn't like the part about the surrendering Czech girl). I believe in buying less car than I can afford--the smallest, least-expensive car that meets my needs. Well, not quite the least expensive. I do like the fun of buying new cars and I haven't had much luck with used cars, so I tend to buy new. So I think it's great that we have or will soon have so many fine choices for low-end cars, and I won't have to sacrifice safety or convenience to buy something small and inexpensive. And students, single working people, small families, retirees, and others on a budget will also have those choices.

    2006 is going to be a great year for low-end cars!
  • allfiredupallfiredup Member Posts: 736
    Backy, you eloquently expressed the same exact feelings I have about low-end cars. I'm very excited about the current (and near future) explosion of these vehicles onto the U.S. market.

    There was a time when I'd devote 35-40% of my income to a car payment. I was a dumb 20-year old in those days who thought nice wheels were the key to happiness.

    As a 30-year old, I love the idea of getting a comfortable, fun-to-drive, reliable vehicle for a few hundred dollars less per month than I could theoretically afford. I'm a single guy and intend to stay that way, why the heck should I pay $400 per month for an Accord or similar when I could buy a Rio, Accent or even Honda Fit for around $200 per month. I'd also save some gas in the tradeoff.

    I think these cars will enjoy tremendous success in the U.S. I think their high fuel economy numbers will appeal far beyond their low sticker prices!
  • allfiredupallfiredup Member Posts: 736
    I just read the First Drive of the Toyota Yaris Sedan and Liftback. I actually like the 3-door best, even though it reminds me of the goofy Ford Ka.

    The 4-door looks like someone took a Camry and boiled it. Only they started with one of those goofy Camrys that has the rear spoiler/ground effects but still has the small standard wheels. Not very attractive in my opinion. The Corolla S suffers from the same problem, IMO. That little Liftback (reminds me of the old Celica) is a cutie, though.

    Note to Toyota- center mounted gauges are stupid. The scream cheap.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    I disagree that the center mounted instrumentation screams cheap. Cheap to me has much more to do with materials quality and fit and finish of those materials. Toyota is using electroluminescent instrumentation on some of the Yaris models- is that cheap? To me, it screams Acura/Lexus/Infiniti. I also like the symmetrical orientation of the controls; one thing that bothers the hell out of me with respect to the Corolla, for example, is that the stereo and HVAC controls arent truly centered/aligned.

    Now, Im not necessarily a fan of center mounted gauges, but I dont think they are by default cheap.

    ~alpha
  • smith20smith20 Member Posts: 256
    Nice . . . I really like the styling of the sedan. Looks like it's going to be a great car. :)
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    The sedan looks like a pretty nice car, except for the center-mounted gauges (sorry, I am a traditionalist on gauges). I just wonder what the tab will be for a fully-equipped car, that is, with ABS, side bags/curtains, A/C, alloys, and 60/40 fold-down seats. The Accent will be $14.5k equipped like that. If Toyota can get close to that price, it will be a very compelling package, considering the slightly better fuel economy and Toyota's reputation for quality and high resale value.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    Isn't the 5M Accent rated at 35MPG on the highway? Please correct me if Im wrong, but if thats the case, and the Yaris gets 40, then thats more than a "slight" difference in MPG- its 15% better (highway).

    ~alpha
  • smith20smith20 Member Posts: 256
    Yeah, the Accent isn't very competitive in fuel efficiency. It's surprising to me that the Accent highway mileage is barely better that the four cylinder Sonata! There's a huge difference in the displacement of those two engines.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    If you just want to focus on one aspect of fuel economy--highway with a stick--it's a 14% difference. But if you look at fuel economy in a broader sense, the difference is a range from 6% to 21%:

    Highway, with automatic: 36 vs. 39 (8% difference)
    City, with automatic: 28 vs. 34 (21%)
    Automatic, overall (est.): 32 vs. 36.5 (14%)
    City, with stick: 32 vs. 34 (6%)
    Stick, overall (est.): 33.5 vs. 37 (10%)

    So if someone drives the stick, or the automatic mainly on the highway, it's a 6-10% difference per EPA ratings. I don't think that's a huge difference, do you? The worst case for the Accent is in the city with an automatic, and next the stick on the highway. Personally, I would tend to get the Yaris with the stick (based on Edmunds' review where they really praised the stick), and I drive mostly in the city, so I see a slight difference in fuel economy there.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    A potential range of 6 to 21% seems more than slight to me, especially given your averages are 10% better overall for the 5Ms and 14% better overall for the 4As.

    But of course, everyones driving style and conditions are different. And, its probably a good idea to look at engine performance and refinement as well.

    Here are the comments from Edmunds.com on the Yaris 1.5L tested with the 5M and 4A:

    "We sampled both powertrains, and found the manual gave the Yaris a peppy, sporty feel. The engine stays smooth and vibration-free, even at high rpm. We took the engine to redline again and again and never felt like we were thrashing the car. Both the gearshift and clutch action are light and the gearshift knob doesn't vibrate, whether at idle or while running at 75 mph on the freeway.

    As expected, the automatic sapped some of the fun, as off-the-line performance is blunted. But like the manual, it has decent midrange pull and has no problem getting up to and cruising at 75-80 mph on the highway."

    Here are the comments from the same source, on the Accent/Rio's 1.6L, as tested in the Rio5 4A:

    "We flat-foot it getting onto the freeway and there's a swell of noise and vibration but not a lot of push from the seat. The leisurely feel of its acceleration is later confirmed by an 11.5-second 0-to-60 run at the test track which is nearly a second slower than its Chevy and Scion competitors.

    Shifts from the automatic are reasonably quick and an on/off button for the overdrive gear makes it easy to drop to 3rd for climbing long grades. We make use of it often and find ourselves maneuvering through traffic with ease. There's no ignoring the engine noise at full throttle, but when the transmission drops into top gear on the flat sections the cabin gets surprisingly quiet with little road or wind noise. "

    Given the Edmunds.com's hatred of the underachieving ECHO, Im surprised they were this positive about the Yaris. Cant wait to see a sedan comparo of the Yaris, Accent, Rio, Fit, and Versa.... preferrably in Car and Driver, and of models with 5M.
    ~alpha
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I can't wait for the comparos either.

    The Rio LX automatic I tested seemed more than peppy enough around town, even though I didn't push it, and while it was raucous when revved, it was very smooth and quiet on the highway, and shifts were smooth and almost unnoticeable. On the Yaris, I would tend to go with the stick. With the Rio or Accent, I might lean to the automatic (depends on how the stick drives) for more quiet operation and the ten years of warranty coverage (not as valuable on a stick, since clutch wear is not covered).

    P.S. I agree that 21% is not slight--but IMO 6-10% is.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    So then, given your stated city driving orientation, the difference would be 6 MPG; 28 MPG for the Accent with an auto to 34MPG for the Yaris with a stick.

    In that case the 21% increase in fuel economy would make a difference, as you've indicated? And we're back to the difference NOT being slight.

    ~alpha
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Yes, if that is the way I would go then the Accent would need to cost less than the Yaris to make up for the disparity. But since I only drive about 7,000 miles a year, the dollar difference @ $3.00/gallon is only about $10 a month. And that is worst-case; I do some driving on the highway, and I average 28 mpg in the city in my 2.0L Elantra, so I expect I will do better in an Accent. So fuel costs will not be a major factor in my decision--things like crash safety, driving position, ride and handling, back-seat room, NVH will be much more important for me.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    I understand, thanks.

    I dont really think the Yaris will come in under the Accent. My gut feeling is that a similar Yaris will be about $800 to $1000 more. Still, given this extremely positive review, the Yaris may just be worth it, say $15.5K for an LE 5M sedan plus alloys, ABS, convenience pkg, side curtains. Cruise would be nice too, though Im not sure if its offered.

    What really compels me about the Yaris is, again, based on this one review- the interior quality, the "dare they say fun" handling, and the powertrain- a smooth 1.5L that will happily rev all day long and feel peppy to boot.... are really big deals, IMO. Plus, to my eyes, its the best looking small sedan I've seen (of the Rio, Accent, Versa, Aveo- I consider the 3, Civic, Elantra etc... compacts)

    Backy, whats goin on man? Are we the only ones enthused by this segment? Wheres everyone else?

    ~alpha
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I think a lot of people are enthused. But there's no new cars yet! Just the Rio, and the now-dated Aveo. I think when the new little cars start rolling out this spring there will be lots of excitement.

    The Edmunds review said the Yaris offers cruise, which is another plus over the Rio and Accent.

    I expect the nicely-equipped Yaris will be quite a bit more than an Accent or Rio. The Accent with ABS, six airbags, power package, 60/40 rear seat, alloys, and A/C is $14,500 USD. The Edmunds review said the Yaris would start at about $13,000--which is like the Accent. But at that price, the Accent comes with ABS and 6 airbags, which are optional on the Accent. OTOH, I think I read that A/C is standard on the Yaris. So adding power package (a requirement in a 4-door for me), ABS, and bags will put it up near $15k I think. One nice thing is it looks like you can add alloys separately on the Yaris (but not on the Accent), so that will help keep the price down. I would pay $1000+ more for a Yaris than an Accent easily, if the ride and comfort is at least as good. But I suspect rebates and discounts on the Accent will make the difference more like $2-3000.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    What do you think of the Fit? If the sedan is actually 152 inches long, as the thread seems to indicate, thats just too small for me, regardless of how it drives. The Yaris is only 8 inches shorter than my Sentra, and it will likely have more interior space and handle even better (I consider handling one of my Sentras strong suits), if the edmunds.com preview test is true. The hardest adjustment would be the discrepancy in power (namely, losing about 50 horses). BUT- if the EPA ratings are true, I could get 12 mgp better with the Yaris.

    I'll probably looking in 6-8 months, so the timing is very nice.

    I sincerely hope for Hyundai that the company doesnt have to offer $1000 rebates so early on...

    ~alpha
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I like the 5-door Fit a lot, but so far there's nothing to touch and drive. Unfortunately for me, I may need to get a new car as early as next March or maybe April, so I hope Honda, Toyota, and Nissan don't delay the launches of their new low-end cars too long. But the worst part is I would probably need to pay near sticker for a Fit, Yaris, or Versa, since they will be brand-new and I expect in short supply. The Accent, OTOH, will have been out 3-4 months so the rebate cycle might have started already. And I think rebates will be on the Accent when the other small cars start coming out at around the same price. I don't think most people are willing to pay the same price for a Hyundai vs. a comparable Japanese model yet. There's still that resale value issue hanging over Hyundai. Until that is gone, there has to be a significant price break on the upfront purchase of the Hyundais.
  • allfiredupallfiredup Member Posts: 736
    Backy, whats goin on man? Are we the only ones enthused by this segment? Wheres everyone else?

    I'm here and I'm interested in this segment, too. I really can't wait to see and drive the Fit and Versa. I was considering a car in this class, but I totalled mine a few weeks ago and had to go ahead and buy. I went with the Mazda3. But I still enjoy talking about cars, particularly the lower end of the range.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    The 3 is a phenomenal choice. Its still my favorite (in a price range above the topic cars here), though the new Civic is a REALLY impressive package, much moreso than I expected from seeing it on paper. It drove incredibly well- excellent balance of ride, handling, power, efficiency, space, and safety. I dont like Star Trek IP, though, and the front seats werent too comfy on a 10 min test drive....

    Enjoy your 3!

    ~alpha
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,704
    2006 Kia Rio5 in this segment and found Edmunds' review to be interesting and informing. The picture of the interior shows a nice up-slant to the front seats and a cool look out the front. The ergonomics of the seating and guage-accessibility and the view out the window give the new Rio5 a sporty and enthusiastic look to me.

    Kia has added the seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags for added safety and the pricing is fair IMO at at $14,190.

    This thread should pick up as the next few months roll on as these little cars are released.

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • aeriohawaii1aeriohawaii1 Member Posts: 39
    How about a Suzuki Aerio SX.
    I own one and I have been Very Happy with the car. It gets 28 mpg with a 2.3 litre engine and automatic, so it has plenty of zip on the freeway and up hills with the A/C running. It comes standard Loaded and it costs Only about $15,000. It comes standard with ABS, side air bags, 6 CD changer and subwoofer, fog lights, mag wheels and of course automatic temperature controlled A/C, the only thing missing is headlights that turn on and off Automatically. It is a small nimble car, but not tiny. It is actually bigger than a Ford Focus. You sit High in the car so it is Easy to see over the other cars. It comes with a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty and it is built in Japan with alot of parts in common with Toyota's, but it Doesn't cost as much as one.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I have looked at the Aerio but for some reason I don't like the looks of the wagon that much. I haven't driven one recently but when I drove the sedan a few years ago I thought it was OK. I plan to drive a '06 sedan when my local dealer gets one. The standard equipment level is pretty good, but it doesn't have the dual-knob height adjuster on the driver's seat that I prefer to a single lever. The dash is a big improvement over the original dash. A couple of turn-offs for me are the dearth of dealer support, and I didn't like what I saw on the Aerio Problems & Solutions discussion.
  • marikamarika Member Posts: 39
    for something to break the 40 mpg city barrier. Nearly two decades ago, I promised myself that I would not buy anything that could not double my EPA estimated 27/32 from my 1.8 L mt 1988 accord dx coupe (with which I routinely broke 40), and at some point I realized I would have to lower my standards--but hopefully, not by too much.

    So now, nearly 18 years later, this is what I have to choose from?

    Accent 4-door sedan (new design): nope
    Accent 3-door hatchback (new design): nope
    Aveo: nope, not by a long shot, worse than my previous
    Fit: there's hope, but at this point it looks to be irrational
    Rio (new design): nope
    Rio5 (new design): nope
    Versa (new design): probably not, if the combined estimate is 38
    xA: nope, really disappointing in fact, for such a small car with such a small engine
    xB: definitely not
    Yaris sedan (replacement for ECHO, new design): nope
    Yaris hatchback (3-door in U.S., 3 and 5-door in Canada): nope.

    This is progress?

    I'm running out of enthusiasm and it looks like I might have to wait for the next generation. Hybrids are for the wealthy and I am anything but.

    Color me disappointed. I don't care about power. I don't even care that much about safety.

    I like the looks of the Getz, which we do not get. I also like the Polo and the Lupo, and a number of other Euro and Asian cars which we don't get.

    I know they will come eventually, but it looks like it will be another long wait for me.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    How about the Accent/Rio hybrid, due next fall? It's supposed to get over 40% better fuel economy than the regular Accent/Rio, so that should put it over 40 mpg city. And it should cost a lot less than the HCH and Prius.
  • marikamarika Member Posts: 39
    Yes! You sing my song! Let's hope it's affordable.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    How much do you want to spend? It's possible it could be under $16k, but hard to tell until we know how it will be equipped. A regular Accent with A/C and the power package is $14.5k.
  • marikamarika Member Posts: 39
    I'd rather spend less than $15. I would prefer very stipped model, manual, 3 dr vs 4 or 5 dr, no options except for a/c. If they provide incentives, it will be doable. But, maybe that will not be realistic the first year or two, even. I expect that they will be wildly popular if they come in under $17K, even.

    If they bundle it with mandatory power seats and door locks, cruise, moonroof, nav, and other similar nonsense that I have no use for, it will be considerably less compelling.
  • aeriohawaii1aeriohawaii1 Member Posts: 39
    With the average new car costing about $25,000. It is Not easy to find a car that is $10,000 less. It is not like the old days, when a cars were built stripped. Most buyers now days expect a CD stereo system, power steering, power brakes, side airbags, ABS and maybe power windows and door locks standard. With the Higher expectation expected from cars now, it would be Difficult to build a car for only $10,000.
    I agree the Aerio SX is kind of different looking, but the Aveo and Yaris are kind of different looking also. I think only the Fit and Accent are kind of typical looking.
  • aeriohawaii1aeriohawaii1 Member Posts: 39
    On the Kia and Hyundai you are Only able to get Cruise Control on the Loaded version of the cars with the Sunroof and Leather Seats. Those cars stickered for over $17,000 and that defeats the purpose of buying a cheaper Korean built car to begin with.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Which Kias and Hyundais are you talking about? I didn't know the Rio and Accent were available (from the manufacturer) with sunroofs and leather.
  • aeriohawaii1aeriohawaii1 Member Posts: 39
    I was looking at a Kia Spectra or a Hyundai Elantra. I was looking at cars with at Least a 2 litre engine.
    Since the smaller engines don't seem to get much better gas mileage. I rather trade a little mpg fro more zip.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Elantra has cruise standard now on all models.
  • allfiredupallfiredup Member Posts: 736
    I was shopping for several months before I finally bought and the Aerio actually was on my list. Particularly with a local dealer offering 5-speed Aerio "Premium" 4-doors at $14,200. I test drove one and was impressed, particularly the new interior. I had an '03 as a rental in Tampa once and the dash design was horrid. The updated interior is near perfect.

    The power is also impressive, especially in the 5-speed. It's a great little car that only a handful of people know exists. A slightly used one is a killer deal, too. I found an '05 SX wagon here in Atlanta for $12,100. I'm not much of a fan of the wagon, though.

    Just thought I'd add my two cents. Suzuki is to blame more than anyone/anything else because they've not supported this car with advertising from its introduction. Must be higher profit margins on their Korean built models?
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Yes, in fact, take a look at the markup over invoice on the Aerio and you'll see it's pretty slim compared to cars like the Elantra.
  • aeriohawaii1aeriohawaii1 Member Posts: 39
    That is good to hear that they have now made it Standard equipment, I thought it was kind of weird to have power everything, but not to include Cruise Control as standard equipment. I use my cruise control alot on my Aerio. Fortunately I am able to drive non-rush hour times and on the weekends, so I am to make good use of the cruise control.
  • allfiredupallfiredup Member Posts: 736
    Kia still charges for cruise on the Spectra, which was a bit irritating when I was shopping and considering one. I'd find a dealer that had 10 Spectra manuals, but only two had cruise. Almost every automatic model had it though.

    Good to see that Hyundai has included it as part of the package on Elantra. Cars the size of Elantra and Spectra really need it to be competitive with other cars in their class, at least in my opinion. Perhaps cruise isn't as important to some as others.
  • spmrebelspmrebel Member Posts: 130
    I think cruise control has always been part of a package for the Elantra. It is now incorporated as a standard feature.

    I am not sure why Kia for the Spectra doesn't have a package for the Spectra. Everything is ala carte.

    Has anyone ever seen a Spectra with ABS. I have never seen one in southern CA.
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