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10 Best Used Cars Under $8,000

2009 Kia Spectra

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Overview

Trading in or Selling? Know where you stand with the most up-to-date Kelley Blue Book Value at your fingertips. see your car's value

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2009 Kia Spectra Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

In the crowded compact-car field, the Kia Spectra sometimes falls off the radar screen. That's a shame, because this little four-door has a lot to offer, including an unbeatable combination of standard safety and convenience features, not to mention the 10-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty. The 2009 Kia Spectra has sporty good looks with bright exterior paint, body-colored door handles and available body-colored mirrors and racy alloy wheels. The Spectra's 2.0-liter engine doesn't exactly inspire spirited driving, but it is a miserly consumer of gasoline.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're looking for a high-value car and you like the Kia Spectra's more expressive styling, this is a lot of vehicle for not much money. And you might especially appreciate the sprightly demeanor of the SX version.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If the recently documented quality improvements made by at least one Korean automaker have you expecting absolute top-tier refinement, you might be disappointed.

What's New for 2009

The EX trim adds cruise control to its standard equipment roster, while a power glass sunroof and anti-lock brakes (ABS) are now offered as options.

Driving the Spectra

Driving Impressions We drove the sporty Spectra SX model that features a more tightly tuned suspension than the EX version. Like the Spectra5 hatchback, with which it shares its performance modifications, we...

found the SX more fun in the corners than many other cars in this category. In EX trim, expect a smoother highway ride in place of that enhanced cornering capability (although the SX rides nicely enough itself). In any case, the four-cylinder engine delivers responsive acceleration and enough power to make the four-speed automatic a perfectly valid option. With the manual transmission, the shift lever functions adequately enough but the action feels awkward and unrefined.

Favorite Features

Smart Styling
Contemporary, attractive styling makes the Spectra easy on the eyes, inside and out.

Six Standard Airbags
It's nice not having to decide whether to pay more money for extra airbags.

2009 Kia Spectra Details

Interior

Nicely designed, and using materials as good as one would reasonably expect in this price range, the Kia Spectra is a decent place to spend a commute. Most passengers under six-feet will find the rear-seat accommodations acceptable, but frequent stretching breaks may be in order during long road trips. The Spectra's front seats are fairly comfortable but could do with more thigh and lower back support. Two thumbs up for front, front side-impact and front and rear side-curtain airbags being included as standard equipment.

Exterior

Improved exterior styling is a big factor in the recent surge in the appeal of Korean vehicles. The 2009 Kia Spectra features large, jewel-like headlamps that highlight sharply styled sheet metal in a vehicle that in no way resembles Kia's first entry in this country, the Sephia (of which the Spectra is a direct descendant). The sharp crease running from wheel to wheel adds a degree of design sophistication, similar to the side treatment of Mercedes-Benz's S-Class.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The Spectra LX comes equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (the only powerplant available in the lineup), a five-speed manual transmission, AM/FM/CD sound system with six speakers, tilt wheel and front, front-side and two-row side-curtain airbags. The EX trim adds cruise control, air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry and four-wheel disc brakes. The SX trim adds a sport suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, rear spoiler, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and metal interior trim.

Optional Equipment

Options for the LX trim include air conditioning and carpeted floor mats, while the EX can be equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels, anti-lock brakes and a power sunroof. Options for the SX are limited and include a power sunroof, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and a six-disc CD/MP3 changer. Stand-alone options include a four-speed automatic transmission and remote start.

Under the Hood

The Spectra's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine employs continuously variable valve timing to produce 138 peak horsepower – and it often feels stronger than that. City and highway acceleration is brisk, and fuel economy is very good.

2.0-liter in-line 4
138 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
136 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/30 (manual), 24/32 (automatic)

Trading in or Selling? Know where you stand with the most up-to-date Kelley Blue Book Value at your fingertips. see your car's value

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2009 Kia Spectra Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

4.3

Out of 5

Based on 255 Ratings for the 2005 - 2012 Kia Spectra models.

Review this car

Value

4.3/5

Quality

4.1/5
Reliability

4.5/5

Performance

4.1/5
Comfort

4.0/5

Styling

4.2/5

great value small 5-door

By ccb1 (WA) on Thursday, February 09, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 113,000

5 4.0

overall rating 4 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Reliability: 4/5
Quality: 4/5
Performance: 4/5
Styling: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5

Pros: "mileage, looks, size, interior space"

Cons: "poor sterep, low front-end clearence, handling"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"Not sure why they stopped making these and now make those butt-ugly Souls with the terrible dancing hamster commercials. Anyway, the Spectra5 is good-looking, fun to drive and is way cheaper than the same size Subaru, Honda, or Toyata."

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Good car for the price tag

By CornDog on Monday, January 30, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 77,400

5 3.0

overall rating 3 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Reliability: 3/5
Quality: 3/5
Performance: 2/5
Styling: 3/5
Comfort: 2/5

Pros: "good value. pretty reliable."

Cons: "bumpy drive. small interior. electrical issues."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 4

"I purchased this car in 2009, two years used as a rental. There have been a few issues, mainly small electrical quirks. For some reason the horn and the high beams stopped working about six months after I purchased the car. I paid about 8k for the car and I've had it about two and a half years. For what I paid for it, its been a good value. The cabin space is a bit small and the trunk is a bit small as well. Not super comfortable but not bad. The Kia Spectra is a typical base type compact car. I would not recommend this car for a family but for a single person it served its purpose for me."

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