2004 Kia Amanti Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Kia's first midsize sedan shares its engine with corporate-parent Hyundai's XG350, but uses different architecture, with a 2-inch-longer wheelbase, 4-inch-longer body, and some 350 lb more curb weight. It uses a V6 and 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shift gate. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, front and rear side airbags, and head-protecting curtain side airbags are standard. So are dual-zone climate control, CD/cassette audio, keyless entry, and power front seats. Options include antiskid/traction control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, in-dash CD changer, and driver-seat memory system. Kia shares Hyundai's warranty coverage of 5-years/50,000-mi. basic, 10/100,000 powertrain, 5/unlimited roadside assistance.

News

Amanti is just out, so don't expect any big changes for a couple of years. We think an optional navigation system will show up by 2006.

2004 Kia Amanti Road Test

Pros	Cons

Ride	Steering feel

Quietness

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

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

2004 Kia Amanti Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 12/11/2003

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

Base 4-door sedan	$24,995	$22,655	$540

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Base

Powertrain

3.5-liter V6 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability.

Safety

Dual front airbags, front and rear side airbags, curtain side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning w/dual-zone automatic climate controls, power steering, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, 8-way power driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, 4-way power passenger seat, center console, cupholders, trunk pass-through, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/cassette/CD player, analog clock, tachometer, trip computer, illuminated visor mirrors, map lights, automatic headlights, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, fog lights, full-size spare tire, 225/60R16 tires, alloy wheels.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Leather Pkg.
Base	$1,805	$1,611
Leather upholstery, memory system (driver seat, mirrors), Infinity AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, trip computer.

Convenience Pkg.
Base	$900	$803
Power sunroof, heated front seats, universal garage-door opener, automatic day/night rearview mirror. Requires Leather Pkg.

Electronic Stability Pkg.
Base	$550	$491
Traction control, antiskid system, brake assist. Requires Leather Pkg., Convenience Pkg.

Appearance and Miscellaneous
First aid kit
Base	$20	$15


Special paint
Base	$100	$90

2004 Kia Amanti Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Kia Amanti 4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	110.2

Overall Length, in.	196.0

Overall Width, in.	72.8

Overall Height, in.	58.5

Curb Weight, lbs.	4021

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	15.5

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	18.5

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	40.0

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	43.7

Rear Head Room, in.	38.4

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	37.8

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc V6

Size, liters/cu. in.	3.5 /212

Horsepower @ rpm.	200 @ 5500

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	220 @ 3500

Availability	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

5-speed automatic	17/25

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Kia Amanti 4-door sedan

Rollover Resistance	4

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	10/100,000	--

Bumper-to-bumper	5/60,000	--

Corrosion	5/100,000	--

Free roadside assistance	5/unlimited	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: South Korea

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

Tester's Comments

(what's this?)

Vehicle Evaluated: 2004 Kia Amanti
Trim Level: Base
Arrival Date: 03/25/2004
Engine: dohc V6
Bodystyle: 4-door sedan
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
4WD/AWD: Yes
Base Price: $24,995
Price as Tested: $28,260
Mileage at Beginning of Test: 4448
Mileage at End of Test: 4784
Total Measured Miles:
Total Fuel Used: 20.059 gals.

Major Options: Convenience Pkg. (Sunroof, Heated Front Seats, Auto-dimming Inside Mirror with Homelink), Leather Pkg. (Leather Seat Trim, 2-Position Memory for Driver's Seat, 2-Position Memory for Outside Mirrors, Infinity AM/FM/Cass/6-Disc CD Audio, 4-inch Monitor with Trip Computer), First Aid Kit

Consumer Guide® Fuel Economy: 16.75 mpg (what's this?)

Problems During Test: None

From The Back Seat
Damon Bell The extra space and interior upgrades are welcome enhancements, but otherwise it seems to me that Kia has taken an XG350 and "spongified" everything.

Tom Appel Korea's first Town Car is a rousing success. we could raise this to a 6. This car is bigger in every dimension than an Avalon and stickers for $28,000. Subpar engine refinement is this cars only real flaw.

< 2004 Kia Amanti Photos

Also in the 2004 Kia Amanti Review:

Kia Amanti

Kia Amanti Road Test

Kia Amanti Prices & Equipment

Kia Amanti Specs & Safety

Kia Amanti Photos

Kia Amanti Full Review

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