In 2002, Kia streamlined its lineup by dropping the Sephia sedan and leaving just the Spectra sedan and hatchback -- the two overlapped in the 2000 model year. As a compact car with a low base price, expecting superior safety ratings was a reach, and the best it could muster up was a four-star rating in front crash and rollover risk.
The 2002 Kia Spectra came standard with a handful of safety features, including child-seat anchors, child safety locks on the rear doors, front seatbelt pretensioners, center seatbelt on the rear seat, electronic brakeforce distribution and dual front airbags. Optionally, buyers could add anti-lock brakes.
The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration tested the Spectra sedan and rated it on a five-star scale in three tests. In driver- and passenger-side safety during a head-on collision, the Spectra received four-star ratings; in driver- and passenger-side safety during a side-impact, the Spectra received three stars; and in rollover risk, the Spectra received four stars.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety -- an independent testing body -- only tested the 2002 Spectra in its small-overlap front collision, and the Spectra failed with a "Poor" rating.
