Test drive Kia Optima (K5) since 2010 sedan

Cardinal mantle

Prestigious class for a reasonable price
Kia Magentis (in some markets of Kia Optima) - the car is completely fresh, appeared only this year. The car has one body option, but a good set of engines: four -cylinder gasoline 1.8 and 2 liters and a six -cylinder 2.5 liter. For the Korean market, modification on compressed gas is also produced, and for an American - a machine with a four -cylinder engine of 2.4 liters. Russians offer Magentis collected in Kaliningrad with 2- and 2.5-liter engines with automatic or mechanical gearboxes.
According to the creators, the name of the car is made up of the English equivalents of words magnificent and noble. Those who are better familiar with the technique of printing or color photography than with Shakespeare's language, the word Magentis will remind, rather, of purple color (Magenta). Also a good association: after all, the purple from ancient times was considered the color of the cardinal mantle ...
From a technical point of view, everything is not so spectacular. Not so much time has passed since Korean automobile companies Hyunde and Kia together; Magentis is the first fruit of their joint efforts. The new sedan is built on the same platform as Hyunde Sonata of the fourth generation. Put these very dissimilar machines nearby - and certainly notice the same doorways and glass.
However, this is not the kinship that should be ashamed. The fourth sonata entered the market in 1999 and is a very advanced car - which costs at least the suspension. And the engines meet the modern level of technology. In a word, compared to Clarus Magentis, a huge step forward.
For acquaintance, we chose a car with a two -liter engine and an automatic gearbox. True, according to dealers' forecasts, this equipment is unlikely to be the most popular. Its price is $ 18,800, and for 21,450 you can purchase Magentis with a 2.5 -liter engine, climate control and a leather interior - it is these machines that will most likely become bestsellers. A machine with a 2.5-liter engine is offered both a mechanical gearbox and an automatic machine with the possibility of sequential switching. But even the basic car for $ 16,750 is well equipped: electric drives of locks and glasses, a pillow for the driver, air conditioning, radio.
In our car (in addition to the automatic gearbox), a pillow for a passenger, ABS, and aluminum 15-inch wheels and a compact doski player were additionally installed. The surcharge for such a set - $ 2050 - is quite moderate.
Expected surprises
The lack of noise and vibration at idle has already become the norm for a middle -class car and higher. Magentis is no exception.
The two -liter engine, albeit with high rates, will provide only an acceptable dynamics of a full -sized middle class machine, the mass of which approaches one and a half tons. When an automatic transmission is taken between him and the wheels, it becomes extremely difficult to compromise dynamics and comfort. In Magentis, the choice is made in favor of comfort. Judging by the driver’s sensations, from 136 heads of the engineering herd, at least three dozen horses were stuck in Dexron.
There, on winding paths
If you want to go dynamically and quickly, you will have to trample the gas pedal sincerely - otherwise the machine is too fast to the next gear. Having promoted above 4000 rpm, before the quiet engine begins to sing a loud and not too well -set voice, however, however, it is very cheerful to gain speed. Alas, it is the noise of the motor that makes him once again abandon intensive acceleration. And it’s a pity, because effective brakes with a well -metered effort and in time triggering ABS allow you to trust the car more. The same can be said about the suspension. It is quite in the traditions of KIA cars - tough and short -term. In a word, for European roads - the most. For ours, not quite, I would like it to be softer ... But what will happen to controllability? Truly, to make a comfortable suspension for Russian roads, not sacrificing handling, the task is not easier than choosing a decent rhyme for the word Europe. But thanks to the hard springs and stabilizers of the far stability, the Magentis turns passes almost without rolls. At low speed, the car is more inclined to demolish the front wheels and has an enviable course stability (to try sliding at speeds higher did not allow the brevity of acquaintance).
The same safe-correct character is also shown by steering. Light at low speed the steering wheel with its growth becomes harder and more acute. When driving along an almost direct highway, the steering does not tire. But when it has to twist the steering wheel more than 90 degrees, unity with the car disappears - Magentis in character closer to representatives than to sports sedans.
INNER WORLD
Of course, the salon is very spacious. Perhaps he is even more than that of Clarus, which you can’t call in any way. Moreover, the seats pretty much grew up in size and now they will come right for passengers of the most impressive complexion. An indicative fact - a passenger of medium height with comfort will be located even behind a two -meter driver. Nevertheless, the rear seat does not reach the limousine comfort - the smoothly falling rear window makes the most tall (above 185 cm) passengers to touch the ceiling with their heads or slightly slide forward along the pillow. However, this small minus for the state machine partly compensate for wide doors with comfortable handles.
There are no complaints about the assembly quality and the interior decoration of Magentis, although the color scheme could be more interesting than the gray interspersed with light gray. Yes, and skin -skinned steering wheel is appropriate not only on a six -cylinder model. Alas, this is exclusively its prerogative, like leather upholstery and wood inserts. It also has an armrest with cup holders and an integrated children's chair to order.
Under the lid of the trunk there is a lot of space, especially if you estimate, how much the full -size reserve has occupied. But the compartment itself is small in height, so the final figure is not too impressive.
Potential buyer
What is his generalized portrait? (We will leave aside government officials who want to change their shabby clarus to a new product.) Corporate clients have already made an offer - the exchange of a car with a surcharge for a new one in two years. With a three -year transfer guarantee (this is preserved for subsequent owners) KIA Magentis has a good future in the secondary market.
A large, powerful, comfortable sedan at a reasonable price will surely attract conservative customers who focus on eternal values. For them, such features of a machine as a large front overhang or the absence of rubber moldings on the bumper are not so important. With neat use and driving on even roads, they do not have serious importance.

Kia Magentis 2.0 16V (AUT)
General data: number of places - 5; equipped mass - 1320 kg; full weight - 1820 kg; maximum speed - 195 km/h; fuel supply - 65 liters; Fuel is unhealthy gasoline AI -95. Dimensions, mm: length - 4730; width - 1820; height - 1410; base - 2700; The track in front/back - 1540/1530; Road clearance - 160; trunk volume - 375 l; The turning radius is 5.3 m. Engine: in a line, four -cylinder, four valves per cylinder, distributed fuel injection, neutralizer; working volume - 1997 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 85x88 mm; compression degree - 10.1; Power - 190 kW/136 l. With. at 6000 rpm; The maximum torque is 180 N.M at 4500 rpm. Transmission: front wheel drive; gearbox - four -speed hydromechanical; Transporting numbers: I - 2.84; II - 1.53; III - 1.00; IV - 0.94; h. X. - 2.48; The main program is 4.04. Suspension: in front - independent on double transverse levers, behind - independent multi -link, reptile stabilizers in front and back. Brakes: with an amplifier, ABS and electronic distribution of brake force; In front - disk, ventilated, behind - disk. Steering: rheck with a hydraulic wrap. Tire size: 205/60R15.

+Moderate price, excellent set of standard equipment, inexpensive options, spacious comfortable interior, good stability, effective brakes, acceptable fuel consumption, long warranty period.

-The incession of an inexpensive basic modification, there is no safety molding on the contour of the car, a modest dynamics of a two -liter model with an automatic machine, a noisy engine at high speeds, a hard suspension.
Text / Anatoly Fomin
Photo / Vladimir Knyazev

Source: The magazine "Driving"