Since its debut in 2004, the Kia Amanti has been one of the most unheralded cars on the road. And it's difficult to understand why more premium midsize sedan buyers haven't considered the Korean manufacturer's top-of-the-line offering.
I hadn't driven the Amanti since its debut model. It's been redesigned once, but for 2008 the Kia remains largely unchanged from a year ago. It still features exterior characteristics reminiscent of Audi, Lincoln and Mercedes, and there's nothing wrong with that.
The Amanti (it means "love" in the Italian dialect Calabrese) remains a premium vehicle at a budget-conscious price and with one keen feature none of its more popular and well-heeled competitors can offer -- a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
In 2005, about two years after the Amanti was introduced at various auto shows, J.D. Power and Associates selected it as the "Most Appealing Premium Midsize Car," in its Performance, Execution and Layout Study."
Two years later, the Amanti outscored several more expensive luxury car in the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) side-impact crash testing, and earned the highest rating of "Good."
My recent weekly test drive was the 2008 Amanti. It's available in only one trim, a 3.8-liter, 264-horsepower V6 with a five-speed automatic transmission.
Audi, Lincoln and Mercedes have all had long head starts and decades to refine their offerings. But some of the Amanti's interior features are equally impressive. The wood grain-accented dash is well designed and handsome. The driver and passenger front seat adjustment controls are shaped like seats and are contoured into the sides of the seat panels. And the Amanti has well-positioned seats, easy entry and exit and plenty of room for five adults.
Standard equipment includes: dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-way driver seats and four-way passenger seats, cruise control, three 12V power outlets, leather steering wheel with audio and cruise remote functions, front fog lamps and front windshield de-icer, among a dozen other items.
My weekly driver also included two option packages: the $2,500 leather package (leather seat trim, two-way memory for driver's seat and outdoor mirrors, heated front seats, Infinity AM/FM/CD audio system with 9-inch speakers and 4-inch monitor with trip computer; and the $1,600 premium package (black interior key color, supervision meter cluster, aluminum interior trim, 17-inch chrome finished alloy wheels and power-adjusted pedals. The sunroof with tilt option added another $900, pushing the price to just under $31,000.
Amanti's refined looks its and generous features are also complemented by a fine drive. The Kia flagship accelerates well in traffic and cruises with a nice, quiet ride in highway situations. The power steering is near effortless and the car maneuvers in and of tight situations without hesitation.
Five years ago, I concluded the debut Amanti was a surprising newcomer and that its more luxurious cousins would do well to keep a close watch on their half-priced relative. What I can't figure out is why the Amanti still hasn't become more of a family leader.
Safety Features -- Dual front, front and rear-mounted and curtain side airbags.
Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 17 mpg (city), 24 mpg (highway).
Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles; Powertrain, 10 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/100,000 miles; 24-hour roadside assistance, 5 years/unlimited miles.
Base Price -- $25,495.00.
Price As Driven -- $31,695.00.
No comments:
Post a Comment