2003 Kia Magentis SE-V6 - Luxury Ride, Economy Price"Is that a Lincoln?" Surely, I thought to myself after the 20 something guy posed the question, this is the first time a Kia has been mistaken for a Lincoln.
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
My initial instinct was to throw my withering 'what-kind-of-an-idiot-are-you' look at the misguided lad, but upon reflection, the 2003 Kia Magentis, in particular from the front, does resemble a luxury ride. That's no fluke, as was apparent when the mid-size sedan debuted in North America three years ago. Stocked with creature comforts and features typically reserved for sedans in the plus-$30,000 bracket, the Magentis immediately found favour among a cost conscious public that seems to be, albeit slowly, buying into the abilities of the Korean automaker.
For 2003, the Magentis gets an updated exterior - most notably the new hood/front grille design - and a number of interior updates that make the new model even more impressive. Yet, they've managed to keep the price below the $30,000 mark.
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
The Magentis is available in three trim levels: the four-cylinder LX; the V6-powered LX-V6; and the top-of-the-line SE-V6. The LX starts at $21,895; the LX-V6 at $25,595; and the fully loaded SE-V6 has an MSRP of $28,595.
