}} The Kia Cerato was introduced in South Korea in 2003, sharing a platform with the
Hyundai Elantra (XD) and using Hyundai's
Beta II (
G4GC) (CVVT-enabled)
four-cylinder engine. It replaced the
Sephia/Mentor sedan and
Shuma hatchback. In North America, the "
Spectra" name was used when introduced for the 2004 model year, with "Spectra5" designating the hatchback. For Latin American markets, the Cerato was still named
Sephia until 2005, when it was discontinued in favor of the name Spectra. In Europe, the Cerato was replaced by the
Kia Cee'd. For the Malaysian market, the first generation Spectra was launched in Malaysia on August 15, 2007 as the "Spectra5" available only with one trim level and with the hatchback bodystyle powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC CVVT engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission. File:2005 Kia Cerato SE 2.0 Rear.jpg|2005 Kia Cerato SE saloon (UK) File:2004-2006 Kia Spectra5 -- 09-12-2010.jpg|2004–2006 Kia Spectra5 SX hatchback (US)
Facelift In 2006, a facelift version was introduced, including revised
Gamma engines. Stylistically, the bumper and headlamps lost their pronounced crease near the grille area, the trunk lid became more rounded, and the tail lights were reshaped. File:2007-2009 Kia Spectra sedan -- 03-21-2012.JPG|2007-09 Kia Spectra EX sedan (US) File:2008 Kia Spectra EX in Ebony Black, rear left.jpg|2007-09 Kia Spectra EX sedan (US) File:Kia Cerato 2.0 EX Iceblau.JPG|2008 Kia Cerato hatchback (Europe) File:Kia Cerato 2.0 EX Automatik Iceblau Heck.JPG|2008 Kia Cerato hatchback (Europe) File:07-Kia-Spectra5.jpg|2007 Kia Spectra5 hatchback (US)
Cerato Green concept car At the
2004 Geneva Motor Show, the Cerato Green Concept was presented, featuring Kia's new 2.0-liter CRDi diesel engine and showcasing the first Kia passenger car to be diesel-powered.
Motorsports In China,
Dongfeng Yueda Kia and the Shandong Kigee Racing Club jointly entered the 2006 National Automobile Track Championship 1600CC using a modified Cerato 1.6 driven by Wang Shaofeng and Liu Yang.
Kia Cerato R and Horki 300EV The Kia Cerato R is the extensive facelift of the Kia Cerato to extend sales within the Chinese market, while the second generation Kia Cerato was sold as the Kia Forte in China at the same time. The design was significantly updated to be in line with other newer Kia products. The Horki 300EV is a compact electric sedan with the design being essentially a rebadged version of the Kia Cerato R from the Chinese market, it was unveiled on the 2016
Auto Guangzhou. The platform is the same as the first generation Kia Cerato, which is still in production in China as the Cerato R. File:2018 Dongfeng-Yueda-Kia Cerato R, front 8.16.18.jpg|Kia Cerato R taxi (CN) File:2018 Dongfeng-Yueda-Kia Cerato R, rear 8.16.18.jpg|Kia Cerato R taxi (CN) File:Horki 300E 01 China 2018-03-20.jpg|Horki 300E (CN)
Safety == Second generation (TD; 2008) ==