Overview

What's New
For 2007, Kia's compact Spectra sedan and Spectra5 hatchback get freshened styling inside and out. The Spectra's revised interior includes a newly-trimmed and modified dash and center console.

Overview
In 1994, four dealerships in the Portland, Oregon area began selling a new compact sedan from a new nameplate: the Kia Sephia. In truth, neither the manufactuer nor the car were entirely new to the United States; Kia had been supplying the Festiva and Aspire to Ford since the 1980s, and the Sephia was Kia's version of the previous-generation Mazda Protg. For many buyers, the Sephia was their first introduction to inexpensive South Korean cars. In effect, the Spectra first appeared in the 2000 model year as a 5-door hatchback version of the Sephia. In 2002 Kia dropped the Sephia nameplate altogether; both sedan and hatchback versions were known from that point forward as the Spectra. Kia introduced a revised Spectra sedan in mid-2004 and a new hatchback-known as the Spectra5-in 2005.

For 2007, the Spectra receives revised interior and exterior styling but is otherwise unchanged. The sedan is sold in LX, EX, and sporty SX trim levels, while the hatchback is available exclusively in SX trim. Power for the front-wheel-drive Spectra comes from a 138-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with continuously variable valve timing. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard and a 4-speed automatic is optional on all models except the LX. All models include front, side, and side curtain air bags as well as a CD player, while EX and SX models come with air conditioning; power windows, locks, and mirrors; and remote keyless entry. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard across the Spectra lineup, but anti-lock braking is optional only on the SX. Like all Kia models, the Spectra is covered by a lengthy warranty: 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage with roadside assistance, plus 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain protection.

The Competition
The Kia Spectra competes in the Compact Conventional segment, which consists of 20 models. Buyers in this segment look for fuel economy, reliability, and safety, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Toyota Corolla (328,699 units sold), Honda Civic (316,638), and Chevrolet Cobalt (211,449). The Kia Spectra sold 72,557 units in 2006, an increase of 29.4 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Compact Conventional segment include the Ford Focus, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Jetta, and Saturn Ion. Joining the segment in 2007 are the Pontiac G5, Suzuki SX4, and Volkswagen Rabbit.