Kia Flagship

Consider this: South Korea's Kia Motors Ltd. was bankrupt just six years ago, its fate uncertain.

Ford Motor Co., which at one time owned 10% of Kia — 20% if Mazda Motor Corp.'s 10% is included — took a look and passed. Only a takeover by Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. saved the company.

What a difference a few years can make. Kia, which roughly translates into “rising out of Asia,” once again is on the rise.

Known chiefly for low-price, entry-level vehicles, Kia leaps into the big leagues with the Amanti, its first entry into the fullsize U.S. passenger-car market. The new front-drive, 4-door sedan instantly becomes Kia's flagship with a base price of $24,995.

Kia is forecasting 15,000 Amanti sales in 2004. Kia pits Amanti against formidable competition, however: the Toyota Avalon, Buick LeSabre and Chrysler Concorde.

Kia describes Amanti as an “affordable premium sedan.” It borrows “neo-classical” styling from European marques such as Jaguar, (front end and headlamp treatment) BMW and Mercedes (rear-end treatment).

During a 200-mile-plus (322-km) road test emanating from Del Mar, CA, east into the mountains, Amanti is recognized instantly as something new and attractive.

There also is an element of surprise when those eyeballing the car discover it is a Kia. The Kia oval, incidentally, was adopted when Ford, with its familiar oval, had a relationship with the company in the 1980s.

Formed in 1994, Kia America since has sold more than 1 million vehicles in the U.S., helped largely by its 100,000-mile (160,930-km) 10-year warranty, which is carried over to the Amanti.

Kia's Amanti strategy hinges importantly on extensive contenting of standard features, including safety items, and on upgraded quality.

“Tailored” is a good word to describe the car. The engine has a high-tech cover that also reduces noise, and the spacious 15.5 cu.-ft. (0.4 cu-m) trunk is fully lined with real carpeting. Chrome handles and woodgrain finish give the interior a plush look.

Included as standard are antilock brakes, power door locks, 8-way adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar, 4-way power front passenger seat, dual automatic climate control, active front headrests, and eight supplemental restraints including full-length side-curtain airbags.

Amanti also weighs considerably more than the trio Kia uses for comparisons: 4,021 lbs. (1,824 kg), or roughly 500 lbs.-600 lbs. (227 kg-272 kg) more. But fuel economy remains acceptable: 17 mpg (14L/100 km) in city driving, 25 mpg (9.4L/100 km) on the highway.

Amanti is powered by a 3.5L DOHC 24-valve V-6 that delivers 200 hp at 5,500 rpm and produces 220 lb.-ft. (298 Nm) of torque at 3,500 rpm. It's mated to an electronically controlled, adaptive automatic 5-speed transmission. There's also a driver-operated sequential control.

Three option groups are offered. The leather package, priced at $1,805, includes leather seat trim, 2-position memory for the driver's seat and outside mirrors and 6-disc CD player. A leather-and-convenience option package is available for an extra $900 and includes a sunroof, heated front seats and auto-dimming inside mirror. Tack on $550 and you get an electronic-stability system, traction control and brake assist.

Amanti performed well during our test drive. Except for a slight transmission whine under some conditions, interior noise was almost nonexistent.

Steering and braking proved to be smooth and effortless, and power was adequate, if not overwhelming.

But then, Amanti is billed as a highway cruiser, not a performance car.

2004 Kia Amanti

Vehicle type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, 5-passenger 4-door sedan
Engine: 3.5L DOHC V-6, aluminum block/aluminum heads
Power (SAE net): 200 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 220 lb.-ft. (298 Nm) @ 3,500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 110.2 ins. (280 cm)
Overall length: 196 ins. (498 cm)
Overall width: 72.8 ins. (185 cm)
Overall height: 58.5 ins. (149 cm)
Market competition: Buick Century, Hyundai XG350, Toyota Avalon.