What is it?
Kia Magentis
What's special about it?
The Magentis, a combination of the words "majestic" and "genteel," is the first offspring of the alliance between Korea's Kia and Hyundai, and is presented as the flagship of the ailing brand. Its midsize sedan shape, with its toothy chrome grille, is pleasing, if a bit dated.
Offered with either a 2.0-liter inline four with 136 horsepower or a 2.5-liter V6 that makes 170 horses, the Magentis rides on front McPherson struts and a multilink rear suspension. A five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic is available; a "sport" mode for the auto will give the driver complete control over gear selection.
A decent list of standard features, such as side airbags, vented-disc ABS, leather and heated seats and power windows and locks, will help its status in a very crowded playing field. The instrument panel is angled toward the driver to thwart passenger DJs, and an optional eight-disc changer will be available.
Why should you care?
The Kia Magentis has already passed the requirements of the United States New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), so it is headed to the American market. Although most Korean cars exhibit good fit-and-finish, they have yet to prove their reliability. Perhaps the partnership with Hyundai, along with their 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, will go far in alleviating consumer trepidation.
--Liz Kim
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