Our view: 2004 Kia Amanti

The sun is still rising in the east. Funeral homes are not going out of business. And that knock at the door is still the IRS looking for more.

But get this: Kia has a large luxury sedan on the market – and it’s not bad.

Kia, the little Korean automaker that could, has done it again. No longer the laughing stock and no longer a load of bad parts, Kia’s renaissance continues. Now it just comes in a larger form.

New for this year is the Amanti. What is it? Perhaps one of the best large sedan buys on the market for value-minded shoppers.

Don’t even say you’re surprised.

Kia has easily had what can only be described as amazing success in the United States. When the Sephia first hit the streets in the mid-1990s, Kia had replaced Hyundai as the running afterthought. Its cars were considered lackluster. Its craftsmanship was suspect. But a good success story always has a better ending and, ironically, with the help of parent company Hyundai, things couldn’t be better.

Look no further than the midsize Optima sedan in 2001 or the Sedona minivan or the Sorento sport utility vehicle as rolling examples. Look no further than the industry’s bedrock warranty: five-year/60,000 mile, bumper-to-bumper coverage and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain plan.

In the Amanti, the roll just keeps chugging along, and Kia keeps doing the same thing: Offering everything you’d want, for less.

Eat your heart out, Wal-Mart.

As Kia’s first foray into the large sedan segment, the Amanti makes no bones about who its sights are set on. Looking for a less-expensive alternative to the Toyota Avalon, Buick LeSabre, Ford Crown Victoria or Kia’s cousin, the Hyundai XG350? See the Kia. And the Amanti is completely its own ride. This is no rebadged XG350.

The Amanti sits on the Equis platform (not sold on these shores) and is actually larger than the XG in all dimensions.

But like Hyundai’s amazing value packed XG350, the Amanti offers loads of luxury, class-leading amenities, a spacious interior, unique exterior styling – and a great value.

How great? How does less than $25,000 sound?

If that sounds like your buying a china set at Dollar Store, look again. From the elegant (if not unusual) exterior to the hardly tacky interior, the Amanti deserves a spot on your must-sit list.

From the street, if the Amanti looks familiar, it’s because you’ve probably seen it before. The Amanti is an odd mix of Jaguar, Mercedes and Lincoln-like styling. Separate, round headlights mold into an upright grille that flow back to refined sheetmetal and an unusual back end. From the driver’s or passenger’s seat, there are things you just wouldn’t expect in a Kia, such as a 270-watt Infinity sound system (a first in a Kia), one-touch up-and-down windows and a trip computer. That’s not all.

Available with four doors and in one trim level, the equipment list incl udes 67 standard items including: 16-inch alloy wheels, a full-size spare, dual-zone climate control, a CD player, eight-way power driver seat and four-way power passenger seat, wood grain and steering-wheel mounted controls for the audio and cruise system.

But don’t think they’ve scrimped on size. Kia says the front seats offer more head and leg room than any other full-size sedan. The backseat offers more headroom than most competitors, and the trunk is downright spacious. Mostly, it’s a comfortable ride for all on board.

Don’t think they’ve scrimped on safety. The Amanti rolls in with eight standard air bags that offer crash protection for everyone involved, including full-length side curtain air bags to protect all occupants. The Amanti even has active front headrests that move up and forward in the event of a rear collision and an anti-lock-out system that keeps the doors from being locked while the key is still in the ignition. Standard four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with optional traction control and stability control systems are also included.

OK. So what’s the catch? There are just a few.

The Amanti is not the most powerful vehicle you’ve ever owned. Pushed by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, it cruises in at 200 horsepower. Not exactly fire-breathing stuff. Our early test found it a bit sluggish and a little soft on the corners. It feels like a big car and rides like one.

A five-speed automatic helps out performance. The transmission even includes a manual-shift mode with an indicator on the instrument panel. It’s tuned to provide a smooth, quiet ride with good noise isolation from the road and, in that way, it succeeds.

Fit and finish can be debated forever. No matter how hard Kia tries, it’s still not a Toyota or a Honda. Pieces fit together; they just don’t have the same level of quality as other large sedans we’ve driven.

Also, there is no multidisc CD changer. And 17-inch wheels might look better than 16s.

But the Amanti isn’t priced with those vehicles – which makes its overall score really soar.

On the whole, the Amanti may not be the most powerful car in its class. It may not be the car with the most cachet. But it’s funny what a long list of standard equipment, average build quality and a low price will do to change a few opinions.

This is more than a start.

2004 Kia Amanti

Rating: 3.5

High gear: Space, size and price make Kia’s first foray into the large sedan market a winner out of the gate. Standard features are plentiful. Space is abundant. If you like unique styling, it might be the best value in the business.

Low gear: With one engine and one trim level, mixing and matching is not possible. The engine is smaller than the competition, and the fit and finish of materials don’t quite measure up.

Vehicle type: Front-wheel-drive, front-engine, four-door, five-passenger sedan

Key competition: Toyota Avalon, Buick LeSabre, Ford Crown Victoria

Base engine: 200 horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6

Torque: 217 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed automatic transmission

Standard safety equipment: Four-wheel anti-lock brakes, front and seat-mounted side air bags, active front headrests that move up and forward in rear-end collisions

Wheelbase: 110.2 inches

Length: 196 inches

MPG rating: 19 city/32 highway

Manufactured: Korea

Warranty: Basic warranty is five years/60,000 miles

Base price: $24,995

Price as tested (including options, destination and delivery): $25,745