This is a great all around vehicle. Handles great on corners and is a smooth ride. The vehicle holds a 10 gallon tank so filling up is not that much. It goes over 350 miles on a full tank (freeway driving). The 5 speed manual is great for handling the ice and snow covered roads in the mountains. The heater and air conditioning works like a charm and quickly. If the heater blower does go out (mine did) it's a 10 minute fix that you can do for yourself. It has all discs for brakes. The great thing about these is you can replace your own brakes when they go out. Talk about saving money. Now, the front engine compartment is clustered since it is a manual. Clutch does wear out and have to be replaced. It is not something you can do at home - you will to take it to an auto shop. It's a commuter car so it does not speed up too quickly. It does not retain is Blue Book value. And a check engine light does keep popping on, even when you fix the code problem. But, overall, it's a great commuter that will get you to work and keep running. It's not a powerhouse vehicle, small gas tank and trunk size (won't store much), and clutch and brakes do wear often.

I love this Spectra. If I had known I would get such efficiency and reliability I would have parked my large SUV and bought the KIA compact a long time ago. The car is quick to get up and go and has a good stop without noticeable wear. The fuel efficiency, the smooth ride, and the responsive steering are awesome for the money. I dislike the seats - they are cheap but nothing a nice quality cover can't remedy. I love that I can get somewhere in a hurry without actually seeing the fuel gauge move. I am getting 33 mpg on hwy. The trunk is very spacious - fits camp chairs and a big cooler all at once. I also love the digital tire pressure warning I get on the dash as well as the trip odometer that allows me to keep track of my trips and the overall mileage. Couple other things that could be better: the layers of paint seem very thin, but understandable with the price of the car. The timing belt - I have been told if it goes out the whole top of the motor has to be replaced so have it replaced before the miles get too high. This 4 door sedan fits my family of five nicely for now and I would definitely buy another one. I would say the reliability and affordability are just a couple of things that attract people to this car.