2004 Kia Amanti
A Wise Choice

Susan Frissell

Another hit from Kia, the top-of-the-line Amanti sedan is a luxury vehicle we highly recommend. Some may be put off by its $25,000-plus pricing even though it is competitive in today’s marketplace. Vehicles in the "Large" class run upwards of $24,000 and many with plenty of standard equipment. We find the Amanti has some advantages, namely, the smooth effortless ride and handling, quiet engine, decent fuel economy, and long running warranty. All these things, and more, are positives making the Amanti an attractive vehicle to buy and own.

What appeals to us, time after time in this new breed of Korean vehicles, is their ease of driving and handling. It’s just so simple to get in, pop the car in gear and drive off. Parking is effortless, visibility is clear, no obstructions, seating is supportive and one doesn’t have to be highly intelligent to figure out how it all works. HVAC and audio controls are simple and straight-forward, as is Kia’s trip computer monitor.

Our Amanti test vehicle came equipped with three options including a Convenience Package (sunroof, heated front seats, auto-dimming inside mirror with Homelink, $900); Leather Package (leather seat trim, 2-position memory for driver’s seat, 2-position memory for outside mirrors, Infinity AM/FM/Cassette/6-disc CD, 4-inch monitor with trip computer, $1,805), and First Aid Kit, $20.

Standard equipment abounds, but then it should for a vehicle running upwards of $25,000. The Sonata GLS is no exception offering such amenities as A/C, 4-wheel antilock braking system, dual front airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, front active headrests and anti-pinch windows, and lower anchors and tethers for child seat anchors. The AM/FM/Cassette/CD audio system has eight speakers with very good sound and clarity.

The steering wheel is leather-wrapped, the driver’s seat 8-way powered with much-needed lumbar, and the front passenger seat is 4-way powered. We were kind of surprised leather seating wasn’t standard on the top-of-the-line Amanti.

When you see the Amanti coming at you, it takes a few moments to recognize that it’s a Kia. Some have even likened its shape to a Rolls Royce! We think it somewhat resembles the new Chrysler 300, boxy, maybe even dated, but elegant and appealing.

The Kia Amanti is a very smooth, quiet running vehicle, with a pleasurable ride. Handling is crisp and effortless, without the feeling of being in a vehicle too large. Gone is that swaying feeling one used to get when driving a vehicle over 4,000 pounds. However, the Korean vehicles give a sense of lightness so we wouldn’t expect it to feel like, for instance, a Mercury Marquis. Quite the opposite. Nevertheless, the Amanti is classified as a "Large" vehicle.

I suppose we’re beginning to sound somewhat redundant when reviewing the Korean offerings. But what it often comes down to is choosing a vehicle that doesn’t take a lot of work to drive. This is what’s most appealing these days. In and out of several vehicles a year, it’s a pleasure to commandeer something that takes a simple flick of the wrist to operate. At this, Kia excels.

2004 Copyright. Susan Frissell. Women With Wheels. All rights reserved.