The Kia Magentis comes with a 16 valve two-litre four cylinder engine delivering 101 kW and 184 Nm through five speed manual or four-speed auto transmissions, or with a frisky 2,5 litre V6 offering a purposeful 123 kW and 230 Nm. This model is available, unfortunately, only with the auto gearbox.
For the price they’re selling the car at the designers have gone to a fair amount of trouble to allow the Magentis to be taken seriously as a luxury saloon. Electric windows and mirrors, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, traction control, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, cruise control, a radio/CD/tape combination with very classy Infiniti speakers, one touch automatic climate control and leather seats are all standard in the V6 model. Those who can only afford the four cylinder model will have to settle for seats which are manually adjustable, and an ordinary aircon instead of the climate control. They’ll have to do without the cruise control, as well. All versions come with alloy wheels, ABS brakes with EBD as well as dual front and side airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters.
I drove both versions of the Magentis during the launch near Dullstroom. The two-litre version with the auto transmission felt a little sluggish off the line at these altitudes, but once it gathered momentum the Kia coped well. The V6 was different kettle of fish, giving lively enough performance for what is after all a budget family saloon.
Build quality feels great — the Korean company has advanced in leaps and bounds in this area, and the Magentis has a well-planted European feel.
Pricing of the Kia Magentis starts at R189 995 for the 2,0 manual, with the two litre auto version costs R10 000 more. The flagship 2,5 auto will sill set you back R219 995 inclusive of VAT. All models come with a three year/100 000 km warranty and a three year unlimited distance roadside assistance plan.