Overview & Reviews

The base LX sedan has been dropped, and the EX no longer features foglamps or rear disc brakes. On the plus side, all models now come with floor mats and a cabin air filter, while the SX and Spectra5 gain standard cruise control. The optional four-speed automatic transmission has been redesigned this year for greater durability and smoothness (although models with SULEV emissions still use last year's unit).

• Low price, large backseat, comfortable ride, lots of storage and cupholders, standard side curtain airbags, excellent warranty.

• Engine is weak and buzzy at higher rpm, soft handling on EX model.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 107.00

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  love the car - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By green eyes - March 4 - 11:00 pm

  I love this car. I was looking to get a car and trade in the car i was driving and kia was the only one that was willing to work around my budget. I fell in love with how nice and smooth it drives, i also love how easy the cruise is to use and the air conditioning really works i mean i get cold almost instantly when i turn it on.

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  Still love the car, not a fan of customer service - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By weezul - November 17 - 12:42 pm

  Reviewed the vehicle 3 1/2 years after buying, has now been 5 1/2 years. 2 issues since the last review for the vehicle. Started to experience a stiff pinging noise in the front driver side sometime last summer when the vehicle was cold and taking hard left turns slowly. Contributed it to a failing shock, my service manager misdiagnosed twice as brake pad backing plate that needed adjusting. They finally tightened down the shocks cap nut, which stopped the noise. The other issue started two months ago, my passenger mirror and driver side door handle are both peeling the clear coat. Falls out of the 3yr/36 month warranty, but I wrote to express my concerns to corporate, with no results.

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  safety issues - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By eileen - November 10 - 11:26 am

  Ive had my Kia Spectra for 2 1/2 years and was very happy with it until recently. While avoiding an accident on the highway, my Kia lost complete control. My car spun out of control, and did 360s across 3 lanes of traffic narrowly missing hitting a guardrail and several cars. It was very scary, and I was very lucky. There was no way to control my car, I was totally helpless. Im a very good driver who has been driving a very long time and was never in an accident before. Im actually considering getting rid of the car due to this, and look for a car with ABS brakes and electronic stability control which I now know from experience is very important. Not a very safe car in desperate measures.

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  Kia Spectra5 - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By KentuckyRanger - September 12 - 6:20 am

  I purchased the Spectra 5 about 2 months ago and so far the car has performed excellent. The performance is what youd expect from a 2L 4 cylinder engine but as far as the drivetrain, everything runs smooth as silk. The power band of the engine is quite linear and the transmission shifts are smooth and precise. Its taken about 4k miles for the millage to come up and so far with about 5k miles its averaging 31 mpg, not too bad. The ride is superb and the noise level rivals much bigger luxury cars as well. If you close your eyes while riding down the interstate youd swear you where in a much bigger car. The Spectra 5 also has a stout secure feel to it while driving, very solid with excellent feedback.

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  Great affordable, reliable car. - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By shellbee3 - May 26 - 2:20 am

  I purchased my car last year with 86,000 miles on it. I now have 100,500 miles on it and its doing great. I took this car on a 2,000 mile road trip in the summer and my Spectra did fine. I do have to say that one con for this car is that it does not get up to speed very quickly on the highway. When I try to accelerate the engine feels weak and buzzy; it gets pretty loud and I dont go much faster. Beside that, its a reliable car that gets me to and from work and around town with no problem. I get about 30 MGH combined city/highway. The interior is very roomy and comfortable even with five people seated. The trunk is deep which is awesome for travel. Overall a great, reliable car.

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  Used But Loved - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By Paul Callaway - February 3 - 10:20 pm

  I bought my 2006 Kia Spectra SX used about 2 years ago and after a rough beginning fixin issues left by the former owner Ive really come to enjoy this car. The SX wheels, suspension and body are a plus over the other models and considering its a compact car it has plenty of interior room, a nice size trunk and more than enough umph to get around. If I keep a light foot on the pedal I can get MPGs in the mid to high 20s with mixed driving

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  7 years & 90k miles- still feels like new! - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By pakialover - October 6 - 2:22 pm

  I drive about 12k miles/year with a good mix of city and highway. I have had no maintenance issues with this car whatsoever. I just do the regularly scheduled preventative maintenance and thats it. I sometimes forget I bought this car way back in 2006. It still feels brand-new after all this time. American car companies could learn a thing or two about quality from Kia. I will be a Kia customer for life, for sure.

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  WATCH OUT TOYOTA! - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By FASV - January 27 - 3:40 pm

  I got mine in 2004. So far I have convinced a neighbor and a friend to buy this car after they drove mine in a test drive. Minor problems with closing the trunk (it had to be slammed really hard). Gas door got stuck and front wheels were misaligned; all fixed by dealer under the 12000 miles adjustment period. So far all O.K. after a year of use.The ride is very quiet at freeway speeds but the engine is noisy under hard acceleration. A/C OK but should be more powerful for sunny Florida blazing and suffocating summers. If this car lasts me at least 5 years without major problems I think I will become a Kia loyal!

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  My Spec 5 - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By therepokid - December 29 - 4:03 am

  I love my Spectra. I have done a couple of performance modifications to it and it will run with just about any other import on the road. I had a bad outlook on Kia in general when I bought it but it has changed my mind. It has been the best far I have ever owned. It has almost 50,000 miles on it an has never had to go to the dealer for service. Kia is coming up in the world.

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  I love my new car :-) - 2006 Kia Spectra
  By adamsmith2306 - July 23 - 11:10 pm

  I needed a safe, reliable, fuel efficient car, and needless to say I got it. I get about 33 mpg, great space for a small looking car. I have a black 06 spectra sx 5 speed stick shift, w/tinted windows, rims, and a spoiler. It looks very sporty. I love my car and would highly recommend it to all