2008 Kia Spectra consumer reviews

I test drove this car for about 20 minutes and it handles well. Nothing special to it, car that takes you from A to B.

Bought it used with less than 90,000 5 years ago. It's now got 177,000 miles with no major repair bills, just oil and tires. It's my daily drive and I'm on the road for business.

I just love this car. Spunky little manual compact. Comfortable interior design. But the car insurance is insane!

It was driving well until the transmission went and that was almost $1000 repair. I have talk to one other person that had the same make and model and their transmission went as well. After that mix it drove alright for a while until the it start getting loud. I have only had the car for 2 years and I had a few costly problems.

Only routine maintenance, timing belt/water pump at 125k and an alternator at 150k. Handles better than Ford/Chev equivalent at 1/3 the price! Going to get another KIA soon....but only now is MPG dropping from 32. ROCK SOLID.

This car is completely average in every way, but it does the job of getting someone from point A to point B just fine.

I was given the car by my parents after I graduated from High School. I used it for all sorts of trips. If I needed to run errands, meet up with friends, drive down to Georgia from Kentucky, drive to Nashville, etc. It proved to be a useful little car. The obvious issues with the car are the aesthetics of it. It's not a very sexy car. As an A to B car, it was pretty perfect. Compared to the average car for interior and exterior styling, it was pretty bland. Nothing notable on the style of it. Just your average run-of-the-mill daily car. The gas consumption was not bad. I managed to drive 8 hours down to Georgia, only stopping maybe 2 times for gas. The audio was not bad. Pretty average for a low-priced car. We didn't experience very many engine or function troubles. It was a relatively reliable affordable car. Not my favorite vehicle made, but it worked for getting around town. 6/10

Bought new at less than 40 miles on OD. Started out w/28 MPG and increased to 35 MPG local city driving within 1500 miles. Have 108000 miles and still same MPG. Highway MPH at 70+, I get 50+ MPG. I have never had a car or PU to give these kind of mileages ! My last tire mileage was over 79000 Mi for 4 tires. I have replaced only three batteries in seven years. Several pair of windshield wipers (not cars fault). Have never had this kind of service from the many cars ever owned! (My MPG as reported was, with 4 adults and AC turned on at 70+ MPA for 150 Miles Driven two ways + 1/4 gas used) !

We own a 2006 Kia Spectra. Bought new. Nothing has gone wrong with it. We've only had to change oil and fluids. The clutch still works beautifully. It currently has 270,000 miles and gaining because of highway trips. It still runs like a brand new car. The downside is the cd player stopped working. And I will agree with the comfort of the seats. They could pose a problem with the lower back region. Personally, I use a pillow. I highly recommend this car for its value and overall dependability and options.

I have had my kia spectra 2008 new and found it to be very reliable. HOWEVER, I have found the seats very hard on my lower back. The seats are TOO firm, and the edges of the front seats bulge out towards the front of the car, leaving little room for your actual back to make contact with the seat back, resulting in a void down by the lower back. The seat is also tipped at an weird angle, so there is no support behind your lower back, and your shoulder blades are pushed forward. RESULT: back pain, esp on long trips!!! The gas mileage is not too good, esp for such a small car. I get 24 mpg overall, and barely 30 (28-29) on the highway. I purchased this car new, it was only $1,000 less than a civic, My back hurt so much I went to trade it in after 4 months, but could not since the resale value on the car SUCKED! They wanted to give me $8,000-9,000 on a trade for a car that cost me $17,000 only 4 months before! The good news: the car has been very reliable. I have replaced the radiator, the battery, and the front struts, and 1 O2 sensor. That has been all , and I have just under 167,000 miles on the car. So to recap: Dependable car, unimpressive gas mileage, uncomfy seat esp on long trips, bad trade in value.