2005 Kia Amanti (Video Clip)

American, Korean style

Article by Matt St-Pierre (Auto123.com),

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Saturday, May 07, 2005

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* Click HERE to see a video on the Kia Amanti *

American, Korean style

Not too long ago, many automotive specialists had predicted the end of the big American-style car. For a short while, it seemed as though this was the case. However, big cars like the Ford Crown Victoria (fleet only) / Mercury Grand Marquis never really went away. Likewise, other cars such as the Toyota Avalon kept on getting bigger. A couple of years ago, the Koreans decided to introduce their version of the "American car". The Kia Amanti landed on the shores of North America for the first time in 2004. This car was meant to showcase the know-how of the Korean maker and created to be a low cost alternative to the Buicks, Fords and Chryslers. It seems as though many manufacturers are getting back in the race of the full-size car. The Kia however, has one decidingly important advantage: price.

The Amanti is only delivered in one trim level: fully loaded. The retail price is of $35,995.

Exterior styling

Depending on how aware of the car business the person looking at the Amanti is, it may or may not be obvious that Kia borrowed heavily from existing cars when the time came to draft the shape of the company's flagship. Squarely from the front, the Amanti is a spitting image of the Jaguar S-Type; the headlight design is very similar and t

he grille is slightly larger. From the side towards the rear, the shape of the C-pillar is reminiscent of the present-day Lincoln Town Car. Together, with chrome accents and 16" alloy wheels, the Amanti is not unattractive. Perhaps its biggest shortcoming is that it still looks very much like a Korean-made automobile.

The Amanti is a large car. Its wheelbase is comparable to the Ford Five-Hundred and 2005 Chevrolet Impala and its overall length is close to that of the Chrysler 300. Amongst the list of standard features of the Amanti we find high-intensity discharge headlamps with integrated fog lights and reverse dipping outside mirrors to help with parking.

The paint application of our Pearl White tester was exemplary, as good as or better than most cars in and above its price range. Body panel assembly was also very decent as gaps were even all around.

Interior styling

It seems as though the design budget was big, however the execution finances were much more limited. The plastics are partly of reasonable quality and partially of a discounted nature. The grey materials would benefit by being black; it would add some depth and richness to an otherwise well thought-out cabin. Thankfully it is available, although only if the exterior color is Black Orchid or Carbon Grey. On the other hand, the woodgrain trim is actually tasteful, contrary to many other Korean vehicles.