2007 Kia Magentis LX Premium Road Test

(Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com)

Inside, the seat fabric is nice because it looks like your grandmother knit it for you. I like grippy fabric, and you stick to these seats like a bug on flypaper. Too bad the front seats aren't comfortable, though, having no lower back support at all; after an hour of driving, my back is sore. The rear seat is better, although the middle passenger might not agree, since that person will sit on a hard seat cushion and scrape the forehead on the ceiling of the Magentis. As for the trunk, it's impressively huge.

The two-tone gray interior looks good, and the materials used are acceptable. The steering wheel rim is made of hard rubber with an irritating texture; choosing the Leather Package wraps cowhide around the wheel and will solve this issue. The instruments are easy to read and

(Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com)

use, with the exception of some buttons on the radio which are hard to discern while driving.

Of the 28 mid-size models on the market, the Magentis is cheaper than all but one; the Chevy Malibu is less expensive. The Kia undercuts the Sonata GL by a hundred bucks. This LX Premium test car comes pretty loaded and costs $24,895. For that price, you get more features for the money than the Toyota Camry LE ($25,800), the Honda Accord DX-G automatic ($26,000) and the Ford Fusion SE automatic ($24,499). You get about the same equipment level as the Chevrolet Malibu LT with the Comfort & Convenience Package and a sunroof ($25,960) as well as the Hyundai Sonata GL with the ABS package and automatic ($24,695). The new 2007 Chrysler Sebring sedan also looks like a strong rival, at $22,995.

The 2007 Kia Magentis is good, competent transportation from point A to point B. It's roomy, fairly powerful and drives well. However, for around $25,000, there are numerous other mid-size choices on the market that I find more exciting to look at, and more entertaining to drive.

The new Magentis perfectly suits Kia's strategy: the longest list of standard equipment for the money, and a sky-high level of safety features. And I can understand that some people might prefer a more conservative, blend-in-with-the-traffic vehicle, though. Just remember where you parked when you go to the shopping mall.

(Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com)

What I like:
Equipment and safety features for the money
Spacious interior and trunk
Comfortable ride

What I don't like:
Uncomfortable front seats
Irritating steering wheel rim texture
Boring character