Acceleration

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
5	5.5

Fine in most any situation, and quicker-feeling than 8.2 sec 0-60 mph of test Amanti implies. Enough power to merge or overtake with ease, and quite responsive with automatic transmission's manual-shift feature employed.

Fuel Economy

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
4	4.7

Test Amantis averaged 16.7-18.2 mpg in city/highway mix. Kia recommends premium-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
6	6.7

Unusually soft springs and shock absorbers smother most small bumps, but allow copious float and bounce over large humps and dips, especially at highway speeds.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
4	5.4

Turns, steers with competence when driven gently, but even mildly aggressive moves trigger marked cornering lean, copious noseplow. Rewarding straightline stability, but reacts slowly to quick steering input. Good stopping power, but one test car suffered overly long brake-pedal stroke.

Quietness

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
8	6.5

Isolation from wind, road, engine noise on par with many luxury cars.

Controls

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
8	5.8

Gauges, most controls large, simple, handy. Trip-computer display at top-center of dashboard washes out in some sunlight. Conservative cabin design includes old-fashioned, shiny woodgrained plastic. But dashboard surfaces, other interior panels are of unexpectedly high-grade material. Amenities include power up and down for all windows, fully illuminated switches, and controls that move with precision feel.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
7	6.9

Adult-size head and leg room. Generously sized seats long-haul comfortable. Standard power driver seat, tilt steering wheel help tailor good driving position. Good outward visibility, though very tall drivers may find inside rearview mirror mounted low enough to interfere with forward view.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
6	5.9

Adequate leg and head room even for 6-footers on comfortably contoured seat. Easy entry/exit through wide doorways.

Cargo Room

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
4	5.6

Trunk has useful shape, large opening, noninvasive strut-type lid hinges. Cabin storage includes map pockets in each door, bi-level console bin, good-size glovebox, and magazine pockets on front seatbacks.

Value within Class

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
5	6.7

Amanti's soft, floaty ride, quiet cabin, and noseplow in turns recall American sedans of years ago. For some buyers, that throwback flavor is a virtue, for others a curse. There's no debate about the car's high level of features per dollar, which helps its perceived value.

Total Score

Base w/ESP, Leather, Convenience Pkgs.	Class Average
57	59.7

Scores for all Large Cars

Low Score		53
Average Score		59
High Score		67