Used 2004 Kia Spectra Consumer Reviews
Used Spectra for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Good Little car-exceeded my expectations
Teri, 01/23/2019
2004 Kia Spectra EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Well it is now a 15 year old car and it is still going strong. I am the original owner and I have kept up with all maintenance. It only has 50K on it ( iwork close to home) so it may not compare to a car with more miles on it. I have really beat the heck out of it and had no problems. I would take it on a long trip today and feel fine about it. So far I have replaced the back brakes and the timing belt. The latter I did simply as a preventive measure because of the mileage on it. There was one recall regarding the passenger airbag. It is a little rattly but it is an old car. Though a very simple car - no bells and whisles- I don't need anything fancy)-it has served me well and I intend to keep it til it dies. It has a big trunk and folds down back seats which have been handy. I replaced the tires with better ones. It gets about 30 mpg highway and 28 in town.The interior is very user freindly- I love the map lights and the sunglass compartment. None of the trim has fallen off or broken - door handles etc are fine etc-and it feel like a more sturdy body than my friendss 2013 corrolla whos trim has fallen off and my bumpers are definelty more solid than his car. I have had some dings and and bumps and it didnt fall apart - unlike some new cars that seem to be more fragile. It accellerates just fine- the transmission has worked well- and I drive it on curvy mountain roads regularly. So for a simple commuter car, it has been perfect. I think that the more complicated a car is- the more that can go wrong.I love that Kia gave a ten year 100 warranty on the car. That is not the case with other brands. Altho nothing went wrong that needed to be replaced. My mechanic said that will probaby get another 50-75k on it. It is not likely that there are many Spectras of this age that have such low mileage- but if you find one and just need a simple car-go for it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great first time car!
Rob Richter, 04/29/2009
2004 Kia Spectra LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I've had my Spectra for 2 years now and not once have I been to the mechanic for any problems. I've put about 13,000 miles on it and so far so good. City mileage is about 22-23 not bad but could be a little better. Transmission is kinda rough shifting from third to fourth gear sometimes. If you can find a low mileage Spectra (the newer models are even better in my opinion) you will not be dissapointed!
KIA Motors Unfair to Consumers
Pirate62, 01/15/2004
2004 Kia Spectra 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought a KIA and had the thing for 1 year. An electrical fire behind dash destroyed car. I called KIA and asked them to correct this issue. KIA refused.
Don't But a Kia
karen dowds, 05/02/2009
2004 Kia Spectra EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
Experienced what felt like a transmission slipping problem before warranty was up - dealer test drove car with me and felt problem but wouldn't svc it without check engine light being on. Light came on finally and fun began. Murray, dealer, monkeyed with car 6 times and light kept coming back on - problem grew worse till car would stop. Had to go to Eastern Regional Office to open a case. After 6 more trips to dealer and a special kia tech having to come out to look at car (tech had to come out for other cars that Murray couldn't fix too) and replacement of wire harness ($900 part which did not correct problem), another tech FINALLY found o2 sensor problem, light off for 5 days.
Car for those in the know
JWBB, 07/03/2005
2004 Kia Spectra EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Its a 4D sports car with a sedan body like the BMWs, the Lotus Cortinas, Toyota Supra, but at a much more reasonable price. Yes, it has AC and few conveniencies. But its got the old soul: maneuverablility, torque and the tech. And, its durable and realiable. It ain't no Cadillac or a tricked out pimp ride, and its 2L DOHC Vortec, IFE has what it takes. Good for short as well as long hauls. Mac struts, 4Discs, Ind. sus., and its amazingly quiet. If you aren't a really experienced sports car driver, I might not recommend it. But its little sister, the Reo and bigger brother Amante are rated #1 for safety. Best ride for the money I've ever had.