Topic: CD Article: 2007 Kia Amanti

[Autos_Editor]

First Drive:

The 2007 Kia Amanti is more than just a face-lifted replacement, says Senior Editor Paul Williams.  Its new V6 engine has 32% more horsepower while offering 9.4% better fuel economy, and its new suspension improves ride and handling considerably, he says.  At a starting price of just $31,995, it's a great value, he says. However, its unoriginal styling "borrows heavily from current Mercedes-Benz models," he notes.            More...

[mdxtasy]

Lotsa room for the price.  Not my first choice.  The copy cat designs are like most sequels to movies, horrible and quite tough to look at.  The front looks horrendous, the side profile and the rear are less  . 

"Competitors at the same price point as the Amanti include the Chrysler 300, Cadillac CTS and Ford Five Hundred, but Kia sees the Amanti as the type of vehicle that would keep company with the Toyota Avalon and Lexus ES330. While Kia may not be a luxury brand"

Not sure a Lexus buyer would be cross shopping this car with an ES....Same with the CTS buyer.  But I've never driven one of these cars, never sat in the Amanti....and I have no desire to...unless it was an airport shuttle.

[Benhaze]

I can't get over the exterior design... Front of a Benz married to a rear half-breed of Cadillac DTS and Lincoln Town Car. Yikes. There was life on Mars after all!  We don't need the Rover to find us a clue when we have it here, on Earth...

[inco]

It's not his fault, but Kia's Canadian president is standing beside a car that is a little "Chung-ky".

Okay groaner I know. Still it blends many styles into a rather offendish package. Looks determine purchase in many cases and this car is just too confused to stir any motivation here.

[stodge]

I could probably live with the front end, the power upgrade sounds respectable and the interior looks ok. But that rear end - it's like the bastard child of a Lincoln Town Car-type car! What were they thinking?

[jww]

I have always considered the Amanti as something of an odd-ball in the lux range. The interior is indeed very good, and the luxury option package has all the right bits (memory driver seats are wonderful when you have multiple drivers in the house). But as many have already pointed out - the exterior is quite a confusing mish-mash of design cues.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I don't like the new rear end - looks similar to the Town Car and very much the same type of refresh they did the the XG 350 with the vertical taillights.

Didn't realize they upgraded the suspension and engine. Bravo on them, and keeping the price so low.

I've seen most of these in Pearl White, a light grey, and black. Does look sorta funural-ish and Buick-like in black. They REALLY need some sort of badge up front too. Otherwise do love the bright front turn signals in these - can't miss 'em.

I have sat in it and was impressed with the comfort front and back. I couldn't not approve while seated in the back. I think with the improvements it is a viable car to shop if looking for space, comfort, features, and value.

[Bullet Blue]

I too like the LED front turn signals. They are quite visable. Good on Kia for that. On the front end, I think it looks for like a Jag S-Type.

These might make a decent used car buy. Although they would probably be few and far between.

But those who miss the town car can have something quite similar now 

[Bernard]

Like Infinity and Lexus of early '90s yore, Kia for the Amanti, have taken bits and pieces or *inspiration* from other companies, and in this case their own.. for instance, the front end treatment of this car to me, resembles more of their own first generation [cira 2000] Kia spectra than a merceded E class.. which i will add did start this eliptical headlight fad.

The rear end treatment, is from their parent company Hyundai's XG350 which was in turn inspired by Bentley.

The interior of this car is right out of a GM parts bin.. The steering wheel, the HVAC controls and CD/Radio controls, even down to the chrome accent rings on the knobs. In this case, they took GM's Radio design and adapted it to their HVAC control instead.

The rear arch of the rear pillar and window are also reminicent of a 2004+ Lincoln Town Car..

Im not saying this is a bad car, just making mention of what sticks out to me.. i find to many different things about this car that are not blended enough togther to form a clean design.. the front, roof and rear of this car are all too different in transition from front to back to form a clean design thats pleasing to the eye..

Same for the interior, the electro-luminescent gauge cluster  contrasts the rather cheap looking steering wheel but goes with the leather appointed seats.. same for the gawdy "INFINITY" badging in the middle of the console and the cheap looking plastic for the transmission gate selector with chrome you know will wear off the selector in three years time..

but i suppose for the price..

Bernard

[David]

I think it is the nicest car I have seen in a long time. (For the price)The only reason I didn't buy one is no AWD available. Maybe in the future? A nav. system would also be nice.