Nice Try But...

Earlier this year, I was in the market for a small car. I live in NYC, where parking is usually difficult, and gas prices high, so I thought that an economy car which had a fair amount of carrying space would be ideal.

In that regard, I test-drove a Toyota Matrix (and, later, its twin, the Pontiac Vibe) and, since I'd heard about it, I decided to try out the new Kia Spectra5 for comparison.

Impressions
The Spectra5 is very close to the Matrix/Vibe in dimensions and in carrying capacity. Both are 5-door "tall wagons", shorter than the sedan which each is based on (Kia's Spectra, which is itself based on the Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota's Corolla) and taller than the sedan. This shows up in the seating experience in the rear seats, which is more like a small SUV than a compact sedan.

The Spectra5 is a quantum leap in quality from earlier Kias. Close a door, and you get a solid "thunk". Interior dashboard panels fit well, with few gaps. There's no paint unevenness. The driver's seat is comfortable, though it's only manually adjustable (but lumbar adjustment is included).
The seating position is not as high as the Matrix.

When you fold down the rear seats (60/40 split), you're left with a large cargo area which truly makes this into a small wagon. Unlike the Matrix, though, there are no channels for utilizing package tie-downs. A cargo net is available, but that functions simply to hold the contents from sliding backwards.

The controls are placed in logical positions, and are analog twist dials, easy to use. In some respects, the controls are easier than those in the Toyota, though with less personality. The speedometer and tachometer are not placed deep inside tubes, as they are on the Matrix, which makes them easy to read in all conditions (if not quite as stylish). The accessory stack (CD, A/C, etc) sits in the center. There's nothing eye-catching about it, but when you sit behind the wheel, it all works.

Driving the Spectra5 is another story.

Driving the Spectra5
The Matrix, which has power deficiencies (especially in the all-wheel drive configuration) feels fairly taut when you drive it. There's not much lean, and the suspension feeds back a good amount of the road conditions (though not as much as a Mazda3).

The Spectra5 has more power than the Matrix, but one doesn't dare to push it in tight turns. To say it "leans" is an understatement; the car wallows, and can feel "flippy" if pushed even moderately.

I've already noted that the 2.0L engine on the Spectra5 is more powerful than the Matrix, and feels so. The car pulls away nicely from a standing start, and this continues through the midrange. Get to 50 MPH, and the engine starts to run out of steam. It feels like it's straining. The car *can* handle highway driving, but with the soft suspension and lack of reserve power, it doesn't seem anxious to do so.

Mileage

For 2006, Kia seems to have corrected one other complaint which reviews had about the vehicle: EPA mileage estimates have now increased to 24/34 with the automatic transmission.

Amenities

For a vehicle in this class, there are some standard features which one might not expect: side-curtain airbags, fog lamps, auto-off headlights, heated power mirrors. ABS is optional, and hopefully Kia will bring more vehicles equipped with ABS to the US next year (this was noted as a problem by all of the authors of opinions regarding the 2005 model, and I confirmed that when I spoke to dealers).

Final thoughts

You can get a Spectra5 for as much as $2-3000 less (depending on incentives) than a Matrix. The Kia comes with a 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty, which hopefully is Kia's way of showing that their current generation of cars are more dependable than earlier models.

The Spectra5 is a good, competent vehicle. Given pricing and incentives, it's worth a test drive. Is the Matrix better? Yes, definitely; but since the Matrix has its own weaknesses which Toyota has chosen not to address (lack of power), it's up to you to decide which makes more sense.