2004 KIA SPECTRA NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2004 Kia Spectra?
Longer, wider, more powerful and among the roomiest small sedans on the market, the redesigned 2004 Kia Spectra sedan is the lowest-priced vehicle to offer a standard side curtain airbag system. A new 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine equipped with continuously variable valve timing generates 138 horsepower and 135 lb.-ft. of torque. The motor drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Other hardware includes a four-wheel-independent suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars, and a four-wheel-disc braking system. Two versions of the 2004 Kia Spectra sedan are available: LX and EX. Standard equipment on the Spectra LX includes a six-speaker audio system with a CD player and door-mounted tweeters, a manually height-adjustable driver’s seat, auto-off headlights and a rear defroster. Air conditioning is optional on the LX and standard on the EX. Other features that come with the Spectra EX are power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, heated power outside mirrors, and fog lights. The Kia Spectra EX options list includes cruise control, alloy wheels, ABS, and a power sunroof.

Advantages of the 2004 Kia Spectra:

• Standard side curtain airbags
• Standard side-impact airbags
• Excellent powertrain warranty
• Roomy interior
• Low starting prices

Objections to the 2004 Kia Spectra:

• Hatchback on hiatus?
• Small stereo controls

Editor's Advice:
Kia could have another hit on its hands with the redesigned and substantially improved 2004 Spectra sedan. With a starting MSRP that barely crests $13,000, the new Spectra is the lowest-priced car on the market equipped with standard side curtain airbags. Couple this safety feature with standard side-impact airbags, a new 138-horsepower engine and a ten-year/100,000-mile warranty, and it will be hard for cash-strapped car buyers to ignore the stylish new Spectra. Be careful with the options, though, because if every box on the list gets checked the 2004 Kia Spectra goes for about $16,000, negating to some degree the point of buying one in the first place.