The 2009 Kia Spectra is one of the few Kia models that have recently been given an entire facelift, and what a facelift it is. The Spectra has evolved from being a good hatchback to an even better 4-door sedan that rarely ceases to impress. With the first Spectra generation dating back to 2000 and featuring a price thousands of dollars less than the competition, it wasn’t difficult for the Spectra to find its footing. Since its introduction, the Spectra has added a sedan model to the lineup.
With the Spectra, Kia has cleverly mixed the qualities that it takes to make a small sedan successful. In this day and age to build a popular and affordable car you need to make sure it looks good; none of that box-like grey interior and cheap plastic dashboard that you find in other entry-level cars. You also must have a clever, eye-catching design, inside out, and it needs to not only drive like a more expensive car but it has to feel like one too. Kia does all this and more with the Spectra; Kia does it so well, in fact, that it has made a solid impression on the automotive market for both the sedan and hatchback models.
2009 Kia Spectra Performance
The Spectra now not only looks good and handles well, but it’s far more refined, better constructed and polished with higher-quality materials that previous model years. It has also picked up a little power, making it leaner, meaner and much more satisfying to drive. The 4-cylinder, 2.0L, 138 horsepower engine is powered well for both city driving. It’s lively, energetic and reacts when you need it to, but also delivers decent fuel economy. It lacks a little on the open road making it slightly slow and sluggish when it comes to overtaking on the highways - but other than that, there’s really not much to complain about as far as the engine is concerned.
With a starting MSRP of around $13,000, the Spectra is without a doubt, a good value for money. As an entry-level sedan, Kia managed to spare little expense when it came to designing the interior of the Spectra. The interior materials are of decent quality (for the class) and offers a contemporary feel which makes it stand out from other entry-level vehicles. It also has good leg room and impressive trunk space. What really impresses though is how the Spectra handles - it’s easy to drive, steering is responsive and the power is unquestionably there, making it all that more fun to drive. Safety wise, the Spectra stands strong with front air bags, full side curtain airbags and disc brakes on all four wheels.
2009 Kia Spectra Summary
With Kia putting quality cars into production like the Spectra, there’s no where to go but up for this auto manufacturer. The verdict should be an obvious one this time. The Kia Spectra is an affordable sedan with a lot of features to go with it. It's fairly stylish, with a good interior that uses good materials. To top that off, the performance is pretty good for a small 4-cylinder engine. Although it has a lower than average resale value, the Spectra still holds its own and stands out in the small car market.