Driving Impressions

The first-generation Kia Amanti was a step up from the Hyundai XG350 upon which it was based, but a step behind the competition in several areas, notably engine performance and refinement. This time around, that has been fixed, in spades. The 264-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine is competitive with just about everything else in the class in terms of power output, smoothness, and quietness of operation. It sounds virile and healthy when booted or downshifted, and accelerative power is prodigious, even with 3770 pounds to motivate. Yet, in fifth gear overdrive, you can hardly hear it running. The transmission shifted quickly and quietly, and is equipped with a manual-control gate for performance driving. The EPA classifies the Amanti as a large car, and it is, with 106 cubic feet of interior volume, but the Amanti drives and feels like a smaller, more nimble car overall. The fully independent suspension handles bumps and potholes nicely. It leans a bit when driven around corners quickly. The power steering assist is related to engine speed, not vehicle speed. We thought it felt a bit on the light side, overboosted and uncommunicative, but it was fine. The brakes are as powerful and as quick to act as the throttle, which means they're very good and very linear, with ABS and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) as backup.

Final Word

The 2008 Kia Amanti is a worthy alternative among family sedans. It's compact on the outside, big on the inside, and it is loaded with standard features and amenities, all at aggressive prices. The engine has big, smooth power; the car is whisper-quiet on the road; and the suspension is near-luxury in its ride quality. Combine all those attributes with a superb warranty, free roadside assistance and the possibility of an honest 24 miles per gallon, and the Amanti is a real contender. NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Jim McCraw filed this report from Detroit.