After a complete and impressive overhaul of its compact Spectra sedan last year, Kia continues to upgrade its image with the addition of a sporty SX sedan alongside its base LX and EX models. The old hatchback is rebranded as the 2005 Spectra5 wagon and shares many performance and appearance characteristics with the SX, including a sports suspension, foglights, rear spoiler, 16-inch wheels, leather-wrapped wheel and shifter, sports cloth for the seats, side sill extensions, and metallic interior trim. Both the SX and Spectra5 come with power features and keyless entry as well, like the EX sedan. The base LX features air conditioning, intermittent wipers, a CD player, and tilt steering.

The 2005 Spectra5 gets the updated 2.0-liter, 138-hp DOHC I4 engine. A 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto tran are offered in all the Spectra models. Safety is first in the 2005 Spectra, with six standard airbags, including side curtain ones for the back row. ABS brakes are available on all but the LX sedan, and a sunroof is also optional. In the Spectra5, the cargo area is 18.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat, a good six cubic feet more than in the sedan, and the seats split-fold to offer more flexibility. Interior room in both the sedan and wagon has improved from the first generation, making the 2005 Spectra one of the leaders in its class in this area.

The new and improved 2005 Spectra gets mostly rave reviews from owners. The new engine gives a lot of kick to the lightweight car and makes it fun for city commutes. The small size is also nice for maneuvering and finding parking spaces. By far the biggest draw for budget drivers is the high fuel economy, low price tag, and Kia's 10-year powertrain warranty. That it has six airbags is also a bonus. The negative comments mentioned a clunky manual shift, the lack of standard ABS, and sluggish highway acceleration.