Although I have whined slightly about suspension noise, I want to impress upon you the smoothness of its ride. Like surfing on the proverbial cloud, very little disruption jostles occupants or invades the cabin unless heavy acceleration is demanded. Within a single block, my nine-year old commented from the rear seat on how smooth the Amanti is.

When the need to takeoff in a hurry comes, the 3.5-liter V6 has no qualms about letting everyone know it's there. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

But just because it's smooth doesn't mean it's boring. When the need to takeoff in a hurry comes, the 3.5-liter V6 has no qualms about letting everyone know it's there. Noise generated by the big V6 is less harmonious than that of an Acura TL, for instance, but it's still less raucous than some other manufacturers' best.

When the 4,000+ pound Kia is tossed into a challenging corner it sways, yaws and drifts like the Queen Mary. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

But being best at one specific attribute wasn't necessarily Kia's engineer's objective. It's more about balance. Since the days of horse and carriage, engineers have been attempting to solve the ride vs. handling dilemma. Generally speaking, chassis dynamics are engineered to either emphasize ride comfort or handling. Striking the perfect harmony in this dichotomy is like finding the Holy Grail of autodom. I can tell you without doubt that the Grail is not sitting on a shelf in some engineer's office at Kia. Nope.

The fine ride of the Amanti comes at a cost, and that cost is handling. When the 4,000+ pound Kia is tossed into a challenging corner it sways, yaws and drifts like the Queen Mary. Okay, that's a healthy dose of literary licence, but you get the idea. The Amanti is not a light-on-its-tires sport coupe. Hard turns in are accompanied by significant body roll and substantial plough; and panic braking is accompanied by a dramatic nosedive. But this has to be expected in a low- to mid-priced luxury sedan that chooses first and foremost to treat its occupants to the utmost in ride comfort.