Test drive Kia Spectra 2004 - 2009 sedan

Spectral analysis

Tell me, have we not met anywhere? This question was spinning in my head, while at the MimS-2004 I looked at the Kia spectrum at the IZH-Auto stand.
Putting around the bells at the wheel, I found what I was looking for: we already had a spectrum on the test. True, it was a purebred Korean for $ 18,000, imported by an unofficial dealer.
Thanks to the Russian assembly, foreign cars become more accessible. But to call them inexpensive language does not turn. Judge for yourself: in America, Kia spectrum cost (until it has changed its more modern model) $ 11,900. In the basic, by American standards, configuration: with a 1.8 l engine with a capacity of 124 liters. With. and CD player. The car with Izhevsky VIN costs exactly the same. Alas, she has other horses, but there is no music at all ... Moreover, more recently, they asked for 1000 dollars more: obviously, stagnation of sales prompted to make a discount. However, we will discard emotions we will analyze the spectra.
While the manager of the car dealership tears off the countless shreds of the protective film from the instrument panel, the upholstery of the doors and removes polyethylene from the spectra of Dingo's color, there is time to make out the car properly. A little old -fashioned, but quite organic appearance. A typical Korean of the beginning of the 90s: there is no much delight, but there is no rejection. Smooth, albeit not the narrowest gaps between body panels, a good quality of color. To say that this is the merit of the Russian manufacturer of IL-Avo means to deceive. Until the end of last year, only about five hundred cars were collected there, and neither welding nor coloring in Izhevsk, they are not engaged in spectra, come by an auxiliary from Korea.
They say the first impression is the most true. Going down the ramp of a multi -storey parking lot, I got it! A narrow coil, forced by cars, forced to actively work with a thin slippery steering wheel. Why is he so heavy at four revolutions from the stop to the stop? The sobered suspicions confirmed the printout of the basic configuration: the steering wheel amplifier is not provided here. This is the number! With all his desire, he could not remember competitors more than 10 thousand dollars deprived of this device.
On the go, the force on the steering wheel, of course, is noticeably lower than in a fixed car, life is getting better! However, only to the first cool turn. When trying to fit the car into a turn, the steering wheel desperately resists, and then suddenly inferior, finally puzzling. At this moment, food begins to overtake his nose
Another revelation is waiting at the exit from the turn, when the steering wheel has to be returned to its original position. In this mode, the concept of feedback in relation to the spectrum loses its meaning. Perhaps Kumho's tires made their contribution? I do not want to think that these are the features of the Russian assembly.
Blood blows are especially annoyed against the background of a good engine. The only thing the obsessive baritone can be repaired with intense speed set and light vibration on pedals and steering wheel. Otherwise, no questions. With a volume of 1.6 liters, the motor is quite burdened and well lucky, starting already from 1,500 rpm (thanks to the short main pair). For the sake of an experiment, he did not even hear the second discontent from under the hood.
The motor does not sour up to almost 6,000, but I don’t want to bring the singer too much. It is much more pleasant to switch to an increased and calmly roll in the eternally crowded city in advance, the benefit of switching transmissions also does not raise questions. The designers did not began to wise and made the lever moves large, but it is quite difficult to make a mistake with the choice of transmission.
When dumping gas, the machine bites slightly with the nose, but when you calmly drive a soft suspension gives real pleasure, swallowing small irregularities of the coating and gently shaking on more serious potholes. Eh, where are you, the CD player in the standard configuration?
Having sophisticated half a city in search of a place to shoot, finally moored to the embankment of the drainage canal. While the photographer clicks the shutter, look at the cabin. No wonder we compared the prices of spectra on different continents: the speedometer is digitized here not only in kilometers per hour, but also in miles! The influence of the Japanese ancestor of many KIA models is also noticeable: the chever switches familiar from the Mazdas, the instrument panel is again in the spirit of some 323rd not bad! Without complaints, but neatly.
And the fact that the salon is boring-gray, like an autumn near Moscow, is not so scary. But I could sit up with a height of 180 cm with a margin, and in the back seat I did not rest my knees on the driver’s back.
The back of the rear seat is folded in a rating of 2: 3, opening access to the trunk. The pantry of 410 liters is another joy for lovers of country household, and you can unlock it not only with a key, but also a lever from the cabin. The confidence in the niche is inspired by a full -size reserve. The only thing that can cool the dacha of the owner of the spectra of a small, even by passenger standards, road clearance.
Well, how do you like the machine? The nimble butter-mechanic from the car dealership, where they took a car for the dough, was stuck. To answer no means to lie. To agree to scoop the soul. Like many inexpensive cars, Kia spectrum does not shine either with individuality or running qualities. But all this was forgiven for her, if not for the scarcity of the basic version. I think that many buyers will prefer for this money a archaic, but equipped with an amplifier of the steering wheel and air conditioning, Nexia will also remain for winter tires. After all, if you raise the equipment bar, then the spectrum will have to pay already $ 13,300. Another question arises here: maybe add a little and buy a focus? Or take a queue for Viva?
***
P.S. When the number was made up, the message came that the leadership of IZh-Avo allocated funds for the purchase of welding and paint equipment. Perhaps, with the beginning of a full assembly and localization of production, the price of the spectrum will decrease. Perhaps, only under this condition, the plant will be able to fulfill the plan to implement 8 thousand spectrum until the end of 2005.
Kia Spectra
The model made their debut in Korea in 2000, in Europe it was sold under the name of Sephia. In 2004, about 500 cars were assembled in Izhevsk, in 2005, serial production is planned.
Engine: gasoline 1.6 l (101 l. P.).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed automatic.
Summary: 4 options.
Price in Russia: $ 11 90014 990.

SUMMARY
Kia Spectra is a good chance for Izh-Avo to take a step forward and organize the production of a much more modern machine.
+ A rather spacious salon and trunk, a painful motor, good ergonomics and visibility, a comfortable suspension in the city.
- a relatively high price, the absence of steering wheel amplifier, a noisy engine, mediocre handling with active driving.
 
 


Mikhail Gzovsky
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"