2006 Kia Amanti Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Kia's largest car gets additional standard features for 2006. Amanti comes in a single trim level with a 200-hp V6 and 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shift gate. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, front and rear side airbags, and curtain side airbags are standard. Traction/antiskid control is optional. Dual-zone climate control and power front seats are standard and are joined for '06 by leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a sunroof. A driver-seat memory system is optional.

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 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and Toyota Avalon. At this time we have no Recommended picks.

News

Amanti may get a cosmetic freshening for 2008, but nothing drastic. A complete redesign is possible for 2010, at which point Amanti would become a retrimmed sister of parent Hyundai's Azera.

2006 Kia Amanti Road Test

Pros	Cons

Ride	Steering/handling

Quietness

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

Base w/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
5	5.6

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/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
4	4.5

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

Ride Quality

Base w/Electronic Stability Pkg.	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/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
4	5.9

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/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
8	6.8

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

Controls

Base w/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
8	6.5

Gauges and most controls large, simple, handy. Display of available trip computer 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/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
8	7.8

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/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
7	7.1

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

Cargo Room

Base w/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
5	5.8

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/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
5	7.1

Amanti's soft, floaty ride and noseplow in turns recall American sedans of years ago. For some buyers, that throwback flavor is a virtue, for others, a vice. Everyone will appreciate this car's quiet cabin. And there's no debate that it's impressive on a features-per-dollar basis.

Total Score

Base w/Electronic Stability Pkg.	Class Average
60	63.8

Scores for all Large Cars

Low Score		56
Average Score		63
High Score		70

2006 Kia Amanti Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 07/14/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

Base 4-door sedan	$27,995	$25,510	$680

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, front-seat active head restraints, emergency inside trunklid release.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning w/dual-zone automatic climate controls, power steering, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, heated 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, power sunroof, AM/FM/cassette/CD player, analog clock, tachometer, automatic day/night rearview mirror, universal garage door opener, 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
Infinity Pkg.
Base	$1,000	$890
Memory system (driver seat, mirrors), Infinity AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, trip computer.

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

Appearance and Miscellaneous
Special paint
Base	$100	$90

2006 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	5/60,000	--

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

< 2006 Kia Amanti Photos

Also in the 2006 Kia Amanti Review:

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Kia Amanti Road Test

Kia Amanti Prices & Equipment

Kia Amanti Specs & Safety

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