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2007 Kia Spectra
Date Published: 6/26/08

2007 Kia Spectra
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MSRP:
$12,895 - 16,995

Invoice:
$12,345 - 15,890

Class:
Compact Car
2007 Kia Spectra
Expert Rating Summary
Category EX, manual Rating (See All
Ratings)
Compact Car Average Rating
Acceleration 5 4.6
Fuel Economy 7 6.5
Ride Quality 6 5.3
Steering/Handling/Braking 5 5.8
Quietness 5 4.4
Controls 6 5.9
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front) 5 5.6
Room/Comfort (rear) 4 4
Cargo Room 2 4.8
Value within Class 7 6
Total Score: 52 52.9
Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category
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2007 Kia Spectra Review
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.
News
Spectra should mark time for the next couple years, but Kia will offer a new compact vehicle. It's the 2007 Rondo, a tall-body wagon due early that calendar year. Said to use a downsized version of Kia's Optima sedan platform, Rondo offers seven-passenger seating within an overall length of about 178 inches. Engines reportedly comprise a 158-hp 2.5-liter 4-cyl and a 185-hp 2.7 V6. Rivals include the Ford Focus wagon, Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Mazda 5, and Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe. We should be hearing more soon about the Rondo, so keep checking back with us.
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