Kia Spectra Sedan vs. Hyundai Elantra

In August 2006 I bought a 2006 Hyundai Elantra and my mother bought a 2006 Kia Spectra EX. Since both cars were made in Korea by virtually the same company, I thought this would be a great way to compare both vehicles. I drove the Kia for approximately 25 days.

The Spectra has the same exact 138 hp; 4cyl engine and transmission as the Elantra. Both cars are good at exceleration at take off but are sluggish at quick pick-up after 60 MPH. Nevertheless, both are able to hold their cruising speeds easily on the highway.

The Spectra has a more modern style interior than the Elantra. Upholstery in the seats are a bit thicker and seem to have more support in the Spectra. A/C, Fan control knobs are more stylish and are easier to reach in the Spectra. The dash board has been updated to suit the driver better.

Leg room is o.k. for anyone under 6.0 foot in height. I am 5'8" and get a bit cramped after a long drive. The sound system in the Spectra is slightly better sounding than the 2006 Elantra. The Spectra comes with an AM/FM CD Player with 6 speakers that has been upgraded in the 2006 models. The sound is fair to good. Elantra's sound system could only be rated as fair and has not been upgraded until 2007. Elantra sound quality is somewhat flat for 2006 models.

Kia Spectra comes standard with electric windows, locks, electric side view mirrors, driver / passenger air bags with front side air bags. Also, it comes with a console / arm rest and a couple of small storage compartments in the dash. A small sunglass storage compartment is also standard. Trunk space is adequate but nothing great. Rear seats fold down to offer more trunk space if needed. Rear seats are comfortable but only enough room for 2 people in back. 3 in the back would be a tight squeeze.

The 2006 Kia has a more firm ride than the 2006 Elantra. The 2006 Elantra seems to have a floaty feeling when cruising over bumps. The Kia is just a bit more bumpy. One good quality about the Kia is that it has a more responsive steering than the Elantra and the Spectra is more quieter at higher speeds. The Spectra has less wind and road noise. Unfortunately, the Kia does not have cruise control or a built in alarm as a standard feature. The Elantra has both as standard. The Kia cost $15,600. The Elantra Cost $15,680.

One negative feature for the Spectra is the view out of the rear window. There is a large blind spot on both right and left side that requires more head turning when backing up. This could be a potential hazard. The Elantra does not have this problem. Elantra has larger back window for better viewing.

Finally, the Kia has a more modern body style than the 2006 Elantra. After driving the Kia Spectra for almost a month, I would recommend it. It is very comparable to the Hyundai Elantra and both have the 50,000 / 6 yr bumper to bumper 10 year 100,000 mile drive train warranty. The Kia Spectra has a more modern look inside and out and a quieter ride overall. However, the Elantra offers a couple of extras that the Kia does not offer.