(Kia Spectra Reviews and Articles)

The Kia Spectra 5 is a small family car manufactured by Kia Motors, a Korean company. It was first put on the market in the year 2000, and at that point a hatchback was the only style available.

The 2000 models were available to car buyers in the United States and Korea as the Kia Shuma and the Kia Sepia. The Shuma was available in both a 1.5 and 1.8 L , four cylinder engines. The Sepia and the Shuma were offered at a better price than the Ford Focus, and consumers responded accordingly.

Kia made some minor upgrades in 2002 and called the new model the Shuma II. This new Shuma was eventually replaced by the Kia Cerato. The second generation of Kia cars was launched in 2005. The Spectra 5 model refers to the hatchback version; a four-door sedan is also available. Kia vehicles are available to consumers in North America, Europe, Brazil, Chile, and China. Spectra 5 buyers can expect to get approximately 25 mpg while driving in the city and 32 mpg while driving on the highway.

Different engine sizes and specifications are offered, depending on the market. For the 2004-2006 model years, the Kia Cerato is available in a 1.6 L, 105 hp engine, a 1.8 L, 125 hp engine, and a 2.0 L, 138 hp version. For the 2007 model year, a 1.6 L, 122 hp engine in a choice of manual or automatic transmissions is available. Car buyers in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates had the option of buying a 1.6 L, 123 hp engine or a 2.0 L, 143 hp engine, in either a manual or automatic transmission version.

2007 was the year that the Kia Spectra 5 was given a facelift, to compete with the Honda Fit, that included correcting the space between the grille and the front headlights. This version has a more flushed out appearance when looking at it head-on, which gives the model a smoother look that is more pleasing to the eye. The changes weren't confined to the front of the vehicle, though. The trunk lid was updated from a creased version to one with a more rounded appearance. This wasn't the only change made to the back of the vehicle, though: the tail lamps were moved toward the top of the assembly to bring their appearance in line with the style of other vehicles in its class.