Anyone with ownership experience of KIA SPECTRA5?

I'm talking about the latter batch of KIA SPECTRA5 with Hyundai G4FC Gamma 1.6 CVVT engine, also used in the Forte.

I'm not talking about the earlier model of Kia Spectra with high fuel consumption and low pick up.

Please share your views if you're a current or previous owner of one, or you have friends owning one and heard of their rants.

How's the fuel consumption?

How's the pick up?

How's the reliability? How problematic?

How's the cost of maintenance and availability of spare parts?

How's Kia service centre treating you?

How's Korean Car Mates if you happen to have had experience with them?

Please do not suggest I get a Kia Forte or any other car, although I welcome a comparison between Spectra5 and Forte.

IMO, it doesnt make huge differences between this SPECTAR5 and the old spectra. Whats make you to decide to choose this car in the first place ?

On what grounds do you then say there's no huge difference? Please be specific.

Why I'd consider choosing this car is because we're plagued with sub standard offerings by local brands, and if I can find a foreign alternative that is value for money, I'd go for it.

Then your next question could be, why not go for a Vios. Well that's because I'd first want to find a more value for money option, before settling for one of those under equipped and over priced Jappos.

Personally I think it is a very good car. The early batch of this car are CBU cars and the build quality is good. This car uses the same engine as the Forte and fuel consumption is actually quite good. If I recall correctly, 100% highway can go up to 650+ km while 100% town driving range from 400 - 450 km.

The car is stable when you drive on highway as the weight is relatively higher as compared to VIOS or CITY. The car is reliable and there is no problem with spare parts at least for me. You can go to official Kia service center or NSS. Shouldnt be a problem getting spare parts at all.

The back seat you can fold and you can carry all those long furniture you buy from giant etc. There are two 12V socket one infront of the gear lever and the other one inside the middle compartment.

Korean car mates are good and actually better compared to some Kia service center. They know the right fluid (transmission, engine oil, brake etc) and I have serviced my car regularly with them. Overall it is a good value for money car. Simple car with 4AT and simple electronics make it easy to maintain and mechanics to troubleshoot.

know nothing much about the car but yes forte fc is almost the same
also korean car mates are very good alternative if u are not into kia sc

Good point a to point b car,been nearly gets it,lol

Have been using one since 2009, CBU unit. FC wise depending a lot on how you drive it. I can achieve >500km in full city drive (Puchong, Sunway, PJ), light on pedal with no zoom-zoom with others. My average FC with the current fuel price is like:
- 0.14/km for full highway drive
- 0.16/km for mixed drive
- 0.18 for 100% city drive

It's a very nice car to drive on the highway, as it's stable due to the length and width. Torque is sweet when above 2000 rpm, so need to control your right foot a bit when accelerating from standstill to have a good FC

Maintenance wise, so far only go for those routine maintenance, no major parts broken down yet, touch wood . But parts should not be a problem, as it's sharing the same engine as the Forte. So far quite happy with the service from Naza Kia, waiting time is much shorter than my previous experience with UMW Toyota.

I think there are a lot of features on this car that you can't get in other makes in the similar price range, like:
- illuminated glove box with lock
- illuminated power windows switches (all included rear ones)
- tip-tronic gear box
- projector type fog lamp
- variable intermittent front wiper
- full car lock/unlock from passenger side
- front reading light with sunglasses holder
- front door courtesy light
- double din usb mp3 player with 6 speakers
- full flat folding of rear seat, can fit boxes larger than 3'x4'x5'
- good rear leg room, with 2610mm wheelbase
- driver seat height adjustable
- variable dimming of instrumetation light
- variable speed air-cond blower fan
- air-cond system with heater (good when outside is raining and you don't want inside to be too cold)
- double layer arm rest
- power outlet in the arm rest with small opening for the cable to go through the arm rest internal partition, so that you can charge something either in the glove box or outside the arm rest.
- rear arm rest with storage compartment
- and may more that I need to go over the car and have a look

BTW, planning to let go the car for new new Cerato. So if anyone is interested, please PM me to discuss further. Car is still under warranty till next year, 100% accident free, non-smoker car, low mileage (around 72k now), and 99% of the time only driven by myself, so the rear seats are still like new.

Thanks