In reference to the video I taped on the Amanti, I meant to mention that the dash reminded me of the one found in the 1992-96 Honda Prelude instead of the Avalon; (Friday was a long day...). There are other clues for the inspiration for the Amanti's control panel. The power seat controls, located on the door panels, look like they were stripped from a Mercedes. The top of the centre-stack of the dashboard is flat, very much like that of an Infiniti Q or M. Otherwise, the ergonomics are quite good. All buttons are simple to use and consult. The Amanti is equipped with auto up/down windows at all four corners.

The front seats are comfy and soft, however the power adjustable lumbar support remains too pronounced even when completely backed off. The rear seat is the place to be. It is very soft, comfortable, almost snugly and even has individual heated controls. Legroom for the front passengers is very generous but again, the rear passengers are treated to limo-like dimensions. If I compare the interior proportions of the Amanti with a Lincoln Town Car, I find that the Kia has marginally more front legroom and less than a centimetre handicap in rear legroom. The trunk on the other hand is smaller. The Town Car is, after all, nearly 50 cm longer.

Technical

The Amanti's list of characteristics is quite simple. There is one engine: a DOHC 3.5L V6 that puts out 200 hp at 5 500 rpm and 220 lb/ft of torque at 3 500 rpm. One transmission: an electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode called Steptronic. The Amanti has speed-sensitive power steering, 4-wheel disc brakes and a fully independent suspension.

On the road

The 3.5L V6 works very hard to lug the 1 855 kg car around town. With only 200 hp and 220 lbs of torque, it musters all the gusto it can when the go pedal is firmly depressed. Acceleration is brisk in first and second gear, however it tapers off quickly and becomes almost sluggish. The direct consequence for simply driving the Amanti is an aggravating non-stop thirst for fuel. Try as I might, by either driving gently or by cruising at no more than 110 km/h on the highway, I could not keep the onboard computer's indicated fuel consumption below 16L per 100 km. After returning the car, I calculated an average utilization of 17L of petrol per 100km.

The 5-speed automatic transmission, same for both 2004 and 2005, is of no help when it comes to moving forward. It is lazy and seemingly gets easily confused: an American-style stop will, at times, allow the transmission to remain in third gear instead of second. On a few occasions, I attempted a passing manoeuvre on the highway where the slushbox would downshift from fifth to third properly. Then, in the upshift, the fourth gear would not properly engage, slip, and then connect. This car must not be rushed.

The brakes were another let down. Pedal feel is disconnected and response is delayed. Even as the pressure is progressively increased, stopping distances are long and disconcerting. Steering is very light and over-assisted; perfect for this type of vehicle and for its target clientele. It does weigh up a little as speed rises but it never provides sufficient feedback or precision.