2007 Kia Spectra: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

A subtle facelift marks Kia's compact car for 2007. Spectra slots above the Rio and shares a basic design used for the 2001-2006 Elantra from Kia's corporate parent, Hyundai. Spectra comes as a sedan in LX, EX, and sporty SX trim. It also offers a sporty 4-dr hatchback called the Spectra5. All models have a 138-hp 4-cyl engine. Manual transmission is standard, automatic is optional on all but the LX. Front side airbags and curtain side airbags are standard. So are tilt steering wheel and height-adjustable driver seat. All but LX include 4-wheel disc brakes, remote keyless entry, and power windows/locks/heated mirrors. SX and Spectra5 have a sport suspension. ABS and sunroof are optional for SX and Spectra5. Remote engine start is available with automatic transmission. Besides a modest exterior freshening, Spectra's '07 update includes revised interior trim, a modified dashboard and center console, and a standard plug-in for digital audio players.

COMPETITION

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Cars comprise popularly priced sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons with wheelbases 100 inches or longer.

Our Best Buys include the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. Our Recommended picks are the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, and Mazda 5.

New or significantly redesigned models include the Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra, Nissan Versa, and Pontiac G5.