Kia Magentis Review
Published: 25th February 2004
Kia Magentis
How It Drove - Performance
The new 2.0 litre engine is a welcome addition to the Magentis range which also includes a 2.5 litre DOHC 166 bhp V6 engine. The 2.0 litre engine produces 134 bhp which enables the Magentis to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 11.5 seconds and continue to a top speed of 129 mph.
Around town the Magentis performed well, the 5-speed gearbox was smooth and the power steering well-weighted. On the open road progress is steady but not exciting and the Magentis has adequate mid-range power to eat up the miles on longer cross country journey's.
The Motorway is where you notice what an excellent cruiser the Magentis is with its impressive ride quality. With the introduction of the new Magentis Kia, have also reduced interior noise at 60 mph.
How It Drove - Ride/Handling
The overall ride of the Magentis is good and it absorbed speed bumps and pot holes comfortably. The power steering with RPM sensing was well-weighted although when pushed harder on country 'B' roads it did become vague and the car rolled through the bends with little finesse.
The Magentis has disc brakes all round and their performance has been improved with the use of an 8-inch and 9-inch tandem brake booster allied to an advanced 4-channel, 4 sensor ABS system with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution).
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