2005 Kia Amanti Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Kia's largest car returns unchanged for 2005. Amanti shares its engine with the XG350 from Kia's corporate-parent Hyundai. But Amanti has different styling and a slightly longer wheelbase and body. It has a 200-hp V6 and 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shift gate. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. Antiskid/traction control is optional. 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 leather upholstery, heated front seats, in-dash CD changer, and driver-seat memory system. Kia shares Hyundai's warranty coverage of 5-years/60,000-mi. basic, 10/100,000 powertrain, 5/unlimited roadside assistance.

Competition

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Large Cars comprise the biggest passenger sedans and wagons. Large, inside and out, they also include the only 6-passenger cars. Large Cars offer lots of metal for the money and are dominated by domestic brands.

Our Best Buys include the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum. Our Recommended picks are the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego.

News

Amanti should see no drastic near-term changes. That's partly because Kia, like parent Hyundai, is said to be eyeing a late-decade assault on the luxury market with one and possibly two rear-drive sedans. One is a sporty midsize apparently aimed at the likes of Infiniti G35 and Lexus GS. Also under study is a larger, Lexus LS-type sedan based on a redesigned Hyundai Equus, a model long familiar in South Korea. Sources believe one or both of these cars will eventually replace Amanti, though probably not before 2009.

2005 Kia Amanti Road Test

Pros	Cons

Ride	Steering feel

Quietness

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

Base w/ESP, Leather Pkgs.	Class Average
5	5.8

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 Pkgs.	Class Average
4	4.6

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

Ride Quality

Base w/ESP, Leather Pkgs.	Class Average
6	6.6

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 Pkgs.	Class Average
4	5.8

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 Pkgs.	Class Average
8	6.7

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

Controls

Base w/ESP, Leather Pkgs.	Class Average
8	6

Gauges and 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 single-switch 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 Pkgs.	Class Average
8	7.6

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 Pkgs.	Class Average
7	6.5

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 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 Pkgs.	Class Average
5	6.6

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 Pkgs.	Class Average
59	61.8

Scores for all Large Cars

Low Score		54
Average Score		61
High Score		71

2005 Kia Amanti Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 06/10/2005

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

Base 4-door sedan	$25,500	$23,130	$640

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, front bucket seats, 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, variable-intermittent wipers, illuminated visor mirrors, map lights, rear defogger, 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	$2,200	$1,965
Leather upholstery, heated front seats, memory system (driver seat, mirrors), Infinity AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, automatic day/night rearview mirror, universal garage-door opener.

Electronic Stability Pkg.
Base	$500	$445
Traction control, antiskid system, brake assist.

Comfort and Convenience Features
Power sunroof
Base	$900	$805


Appearance and Miscellaneous
First aid kit
Base	$20	$15


Special paint
Base	$100	$87

2005 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.	37.2

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

< 2005 Kia Amanti Photos

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