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Kia Magentis

We hit the road in Koreans’ dramatic new Mondeo rival. Is it good enough to worry the class leaders?

Kia Magentis

By Tristan Young

May 2010

  • Rating:

Meet the handsome Kia that’s aiming to shake up the family car market! Just as the Cee’d gave the Ford Focus a fright, this all-new saloon is aiming to hit the Mondeo hard.

The pin-sharp model arrives next year, and will replace the current, staid Magentis.

Billed as a revolution, it may carry the Optima name.

Auto Express was given early access to the latest large family car at one of Kia’s top-secret test facilities in South Korea. So, is it really a viable alternative to the Mondeo, as well as the Vauxhall Insignia and next Volkswagen Passat?

It certainly scores on style.

The newcomer represents an even bigger leap forward than the Cee’d, shrugging off the dull, anonymous appearance of its predecessor in favour of crisp edges and neat details –  like those sleek headlights. Completing the look is a coupé-style roofline.  

The saloon comes in at just over 4.8 metres in length – squarely in Insignia and Mondeo territory, and 45mm longer than the outgoing car. That doesn’t sound much, but as the wheels have moved closer to the corners, there’s now lots of space inside.

Want to sit a six-foot-tall passenger behind a six-foot-tall driver? No problem – neither legroom nor headroom is an issue. Interior quality is easily a match for the current crop of family saloons, and as ever with Kia, the newcomer is likely to offer much more equipment than mainstream rivals, while also beating them on price.

All this should equate to £21,000 for a flagship model, with the range starting at about £15,500.

We only got to drive the US-market specification 200bhp 2.4-litre automatic, but UK buyers are set to be offered a choice of two diesel engines: a 2.0-litre – possibly producing as much as 180bhp – or a lower-powered 1.7-litre unit. British models will feature the same super-smooth six-speed automatic gearbox in the petrol 2.4 we drove or a six-speed manual.

While official economy and CO2 emissions figures have yet to be released, the diesels are expected to offer impressive efficiency. Eco fans will also be pleased to hear a petrol-electric hybrid version is pencilled in for later in the Kia’s life.

The big question is whether the driving experience will match that of European class leaders? Comfort is first rate, although at motorway speeds there’s a fair amount of wind and tyre noise. Kia engineers were keen to tell us that this would be improved before UK deliveries begin.

The Magentis’s body control through corners is impressive, as is steering feedback, but the weight of the power-steering changes oddly as you turn the wheel away from straight ahead.

Assuming Kia uses the next 18 months well, and fettles the new family car for the UK’s roads, this high-quality, high-spec and spacious package could really worry the key players in the repmobile establishment.

Rival: Ford Mondeo
Still the benchmark family car, the Mondeo excels in every area, particularly driver appeal and cabin space. The big problem is its price – the cheapest diesel costs £18,295

For an alternative review of the latest Kia Magentis visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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10 Comments

stunning looks!

I can't belive what I see.. can Koreans design that well?
I mean.. I always buy cars which drive well so chassis, tires and drivers seat have to be perfect, that's why I choose Golf or A4, and Alfa sometimes because VW doesn't have style. But Alfa doesn't have reliability (well lately models are somehow fine).

Now it looks like I will wait for some serious new Magentis reviews just to see if it's drivers car - no body roll? --> I m buying this shit! Main attraction here is inside-out looks, it's like a dream I had as a teenager.

By hubabuba on 1 June, 2010, 9:51am

stunning looks!

I can't belive what I see.. can Koreans design that well?
I mean.. I always buy cars which drive well so chassis, tires and drivers seat have to be perfect, that's why I choose Golf or A4, and Alfa sometimes because VW doesn't have style. But Alfa doesn't have reliability (well lately models are somehow fine).

Now it looks like I will wait for some serious new Magentis reviews just to see if it's drivers car - no body roll? --> I m buying this shit! Main attraction here is inside-out looks, it's like a dream I had as a teenager.

By hubabuba on 1 June, 2010, 9:53am

No!!!!!

What is with the awkward C-pillar? That dash is horrendous too, they have copied Saab. This won't drive as well as the Mondeo cause it's about a generation behind. Kia are getting there but not just yet.

By aplads on 1 June, 2010, 11:03am

looks brilliant

i bet this model will have a lot of potential buyers just for its good looks i agree itsnt a match in terms of quality and driving fun compared to rivals but who cares, it looks decent inside and out.

By tatarramazan on 1 June, 2010, 12:07pm

it looks a bit like the jag XF at the rear.

By koupekid on 1 June, 2010, 12:17pm

Nearly

Not a bad overall shape - but ruined by general fussiness. Please lose those appalling wheels too! I agree that the dash is pretty dreadful - but if it drives well and offers the Kia warranty, it will certainly gain market share. I reckon the lower models with less bling might be better looking.

By pajbse on 1 June, 2010, 7:44pm

What have you done to the photos?

They all look like the shadows have been over-lightened in post-production and it's ruined the way the light plays on the surfaces.
I hope the poor 'shopping is also the cause of the interior appearing that colour. If not, then the Koreans still haven't learned to avoid swathing the dash in plastic the colour and texture of an elephant's ar$e.
And I share others' views about the aftermarket-style alloys. The overall external design is reminiscent of Mazdas and Lexuses (Lexi?) and the wheels need to be classier.

By snappyuk on 1 June, 2010, 9:00pm

A key battle in the fight against badge snobbery?

I long for the day when badge snobbery is nothing but a memory. It's ridiculous. I have even been guilty of it myself. When recently looking for a 7 seater I tried them all including the Carens. The Kia was my favourite overall but I listended to others and bought a Toyota which I don't like. That'll teach me. I hope this very nice looking motor will go a long way to doing away with snobbery.

By jcrowley012 on 1 June, 2010, 10:19pm

Optima'l' Kia...

Very stylish, I hope it drives as well as it looks...

One word on the interior though: Fussy!!! If Kia are considering keeping this interior for the European market, they'd better be supplying a Kia branded mini handbrush to clean all those knobs, switches and dials, coz they're gonna be major dust magnets.. lol

By sgtgrash on 2 June, 2010, 3:53am

WOW... but

I must admit, these guys are designing some really nice looking cars! The front end is a big tick for me, but then it tends to go a bit all over the place!!! drop the silly "volvo" style alloys, the rear lights look like they are from "ford " Galaxy/S-Max) but fixed on an angle, and the C-pillar chrome strip.. well what is that all about?? why not have wrapped around window frame instead! very fussy interior as well!

like I said, wow, with a big BUT!!!!!!!

By taaudi on 30 September, 2010, 9:37am

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FIRST OPINION

    It’s a tribute to how far Kia has come that family buyers will want this new model for its looks alone. Add a seven-year warranty, a long list of kit and good economy and CO2 figures, and the new Magentis could prove much more successful in terms of sales. If the firm improves the steering and refinement, this model could be a genuine alternative to mass-market company cars.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £21,000 (est)
    Engine: 2.4-litre 4cyl petrol
    Power: 200bhp
    Transmission: Six-speed auto, front-wheel drive
    0-62mph: 7.9 seconds (est)
    Top speed: 135mph (est)
    Economy: 38mpg (est)
    CO2: 175g/km (est)
    Equipment: Sat-nav, stability control, air-con, electric windows, keyless start, lane keeping assist
    On sale: Early 2011
     
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