Good NHTSA and Poor IIHS Kia Spectra Ratings Raises Questions about Crash Test Methods

For this reason Kia announced it would meet with the IIHS to review the independent organization's results, and discuss

Kia announced it would meet with the IIHS to review the independent organization's results. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

how the brand can improve its Spectra so that it offers greater passenger compartment protection.

"Occupant safety is an absolute priority for Kia," commented the South Korean company's international public relations manager Christopher Dore. "In the development of the Spectra, we have put it through a battery of tests and we continue to have a high degree of confidence in the real-world protection offered by this vehicle."

That's exactly the question Kia wants answers to, and if the IIHS test proves the need to upgrade the Spectra the automaker says it will do so.

Dore continued by saying, "However, we are taking the results of the IIHS test extremely seriously. We are evaluating the

The NHTSA awarded the Spectra a 4 out of 5 rating, so how did the IIHS come to its poor frontal crash rating? (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

results of this current test on the Spectra and similar vehicles in its class to determine what improvements can be made to enhance overall vehicle safety."

The Korean brand's engineers are in the process of meeting with IIHS staff to figure out if changes are necessary, and if so what improvements can be made to allow its compact sedan to achieve better test results.

After upgrades, if needed, Kia will deliver another Spectra to the IIHS for testing, and are confident it will receive an "acceptable" or even "good" grade.