Vehicle: 2007 Kia Magentis LX-V6 Luxury
Price as tested: CDN$27795

Performance: The Magentis is powered by 1 of 2 engines. An adequate 161hp 4-cylinder and a decent 185hp V6. While this 2.7L DOHC 24-valver with Kia’s own variable valve timing provides impressive refinement and NVH, its 185 ponies just feel average in a sea of V6 family sedan which powered up as much as 250hp. The throttle response is instant and linear. Consider its maximum torque of 182 pounds feet arrives at 4k rpm, it got plenty of low-end torque when accelerating from traffic light. On the other hand, this V6 sounds a bit rough and gusty when revving it at high rpm. Matched with this engine is the smooth shifting 5-speed Steptronic transmission. Unlike the previous unit, this one finally received decent ratios for proper highway cruising instead of relying too much on acceleration. While the high gear ratio for Kia products remained in Magentis, it no longer feel legthegic when accelerating.

Handling: Magentis basically shares the platform with our 2006 car of the year winner, Hyundai Sonata. So its a fact that this chassis has been engineered for excellent handling/ride compromise with enough bending stiffness and rigidty. Unlike the Sonata, Magentis is engineered toward more than comfort instead of handling prowess. That gives Magentis a very sublime ride quality that reminds you something of an S-Class. The suspension and springs absorb all the roughness perfectly well. Its handling, however, is a pleasant surprise. The body rolls are nicely controlled, so does understeer. Gone are the mashmellow driving feel of the outgoing Magentis, which ride like a float without any linkage to the shocks and springs. The new model combines right handling dynamics, with decent steering feedback and precision. Its dynamic stability control also provides enough active safety when the nasty happens. The suspension has done a great job for combining firmness to enthuisastic driver while enough softness to please the passengers. The best thing is Magentis has a sense of European feel, in its chassis stiffness and tactical driving feel. That’s something still missing in many of its Japanese competitors.

Brakes: Combining 4-wheel discs with standard ABS, Magentis’s brakes have to be considered as some of the best in its class. The stops are short and reassuring. Pedal feels solid and easily modulated. Best of all, its Electronic Braking Force Distribution really has done a great job by distributing the force during hard braking.

Interior: Inside the Magentis is another pleasant surprise. Gone are all the cheap and hard plastic. Everything else has been finished in high-quality materials. There are plenty of soft-touch plastic on the top of the dashboard, on the othe hand, the switchgears all have tactical feel of quality materials. The leather seats are comfortable with decent back and thigh support.

Given Magentis’s full-size sedan status, its back seat space is amazing for vehicle of its size. There are plenty of head and legrooms with room to spare.

Conclusion: The outgoing Magentis has always been considered as an also-run in the competitive family car segment, simply due to its lackluster dynamics and uninspiring styling. The new one, however, is a revelation thanks to excellent ride/handling balance, an interior that should received in day 1 and attractive exterior. If only Kia will give it a powerplant that is comparable with the rest of the industry, Magentis will shoot to the top of the segment in no time!!

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2007 KIA MAGENTIS LX-V6 LUXURY
============================================
Performance: 2/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-f0r-money: 4/5

Overall rating: 4/5