Inside, there's plenty of room for five adults. The ultra-wide front doors open 80 degrees, creating easy, unimpeded access to the seats. On the other hand, their long reach makes them harder to close once you've sat down.
The dashboard design is modern though far from striking. Yet, the controls are readily accessible and easy to manipulate, especially those for the power-adjustable seats. Similar to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, these buttons are found in the upper door panel and their layout is shaped like an actual seat. Talk about user-friendliness!
The Amanti Luxury shines in the rear passenger comfort department. Seat cushion height is adequate, while legroom and foot room is very generous. What's more, the rear seat is heated and passengers get their own climate control switches. Reclining seatbacks are probably the only thing missing here.
The huge trunk in the back is a significant asset. While it may not be the largest in its class, this boot offers a tall, wide opening for easy loading. On top of that, the flat rear beltline provides good rearward visibility, which isn't the case of the Buick Lucerne with its raised posterior.
A pleasant tourer
Compared to the first Amantis sold in Canada, the current model (updated last year) is way more advanced. Approximately 250-kilogram lighter, it boasts a more powerful 3.8-liter V6 that can keep up with the engine of any Avalon or Taurus.
As a result, the 2009 Kia Amanti smoothly accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in barely 9 seconds. Torque steer poses no major problem and the 5-speed Steptronic automatic transmission proves to be a flexible operator.
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| Producing 264 horsepower, the 3.8L V6 teams up with a 5-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. |
The dashboard design is modern though far from striking. Yet, the controls are readily accessible and easy to manipulate, especially those for the power-adjustable seats. Similar to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, these buttons are found in the upper door panel and their layout is shaped like an actual seat. Talk about user-friendliness!
The Amanti Luxury shines in the rear passenger comfort department. Seat cushion height is adequate, while legroom and foot room is very generous. What's more, the rear seat is heated and passengers get their own climate control switches. Reclining seatbacks are probably the only thing missing here.
The huge trunk in the back is a significant asset. While it may not be the largest in its class, this boot offers a tall, wide opening for easy loading. On top of that, the flat rear beltline provides good rearward visibility, which isn't the case of the Buick Lucerne with its raised posterior.
A pleasant tourer
Compared to the first Amantis sold in Canada, the current model (updated last year) is way more advanced. Approximately 250-kilogram lighter, it boasts a more powerful 3.8-liter V6 that can keep up with the engine of any Avalon or Taurus.
As a result, the 2009 Kia Amanti smoothly accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in barely 9 seconds. Torque steer poses no major problem and the 5-speed Steptronic automatic transmission proves to be a flexible operator.
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| The front bucket seats are large yet relatively snug. |