Kia Magentis
Ratings
2 stars
Summary
Not recommended. This old-school saloon is spacious and well equipped, but it lacks the quality and dynamics that European buyers expect.
Review
We should feel a bit sorry for Kia UK - we don't imagine that the company is any keener to sell the Magentis than British buyers are to purchase it. This kind of big, cheap saloon is very popular in some parts of the world, including Kia's Korean home market and the United States, but in quality-conscious Europe it feels like a fish out of water.
The slabby styling is inoffensively bland, to the point where Magentis owners will frequently find themselves losing their cars in car parks. But it's the interior that wins most attention, albeit for the wrong reasons: the design looks very dated and the materials are very cheap-looking (and cheap-feeling). Despite serious external dimensions, interior space is barely average, although at least the boot is nice and spacious.
Dynamics are similarly bland. The Magentis is completely lacking in any kind of driving excitement, with vague, feel-free steering, a crashy ride and poor grip levels. Motorway cruising is loud and unrefined, too. It feels at least ten years off the pace of European rivals.
At least buyers have plenty of engines to chose between, with the slightly coarse 2.0 litre petrol and 2.0 litre diesel options being by far the more sensible choices. The range-topping 2.7 litre V6 possesses a surprisingly nice engine, it's also seen in the top-spec Hyundai Coupe, but it also carries a seriously steep pricetag considering the savage depreciation that all versions of the Magentis are victims of.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
2 star
If you asked a particularly unimaginative computer to design a car we imagine the finished product would look like the Magentis.
Handling
1 star
The Magentis is utterly uninterested in anything other than the most gentle progress. Dynamically inept to an almost comical degree.
Comfort
2 star
The driving position is poor, ride quality is choppy over rougher roads and lots of noise gets into the cabin at cruising seeds.
Quality & Reliability
2 star
The interior is full of the sort of plastics that feel like they were ordered from the same company that supplies packaging to fast food restaurants.
Performance
3 star
2.0 litre petrol and diesel engines both sound coarse but provide reasonable urge. 2.7 litre V6 is a sweet-spinning unit that gives the Magentis an unnecessary turn of speed.
Roominess
3 star
Front seat occupants have plenty of space but the Magentis lacks legroom in the back. At least the boot is nice and big.
Running Costs
2 star
Respectable fuel economy and servicing costs - but completely offset by the horrendous depreciation. Buying a new Magentis is akin to withdrawing your life savings in twenties and using them to fire a barbeque.
Value for money
3 star
Even the basic versions have reasonable standard equipment, while the full-spec V6 is packed with toys. We still can't recommend it, though.
