Test drive Kia Optima (Magentis) 2001 - 2003 sedan
No 5 minutes noble
Korean automakers continue to expose world markets to a degree of new products. Rather, the manufacturer, - after the Daewoo Motor fell into timekeeping, only the Hyundai company remained in the ranks with the Kia Motors subordinate to it. Only in Russia for the period from mid -spring to the middle of the fall of this year, as many as eight new models will appear! You can read about two of them in this room. We are talking about the middle class sedan Kia Magentis and the Hyundai Terracan large SUV. Magentis has a rather curious story. The car is the first fruit of the joint work of Hyundai and Kia engineers. It was created in a recordly short time - a year and a half - and cost a very moderate amount - $ 200 million. In fairness, it must be said that it was not designed from scratch: Magentis was based on the Hyundai Sonata IV model, which, in turn, was based on the 1992 Mitsubishi Galant.
An interesting metamorphosis occurred - after all, the predecessor of the machine, Clarus, was an adapted to the Korean conditions of Mazda 626. No less quickly the car was lit throughout the world: first in North America and Australia, then in Europe, and last spring its assembly began in Kaliningrad.
Russian buyers Magentis are offered with one of two Sonatovo engines: a four-cylinder volume of two liters and a 2.5-liter V6. The latter can aggregate with a Sport H-Matic sequential automaton, which is a variety of the famous Tiptronic Porsche Development. A car with a two -liter engine and an automatic transmission of a simpler design fell into our hands. From the pre-equipment we found the mentioned machine, three airbags, a CD player, electric drives of mirrors and cast discs, which ultimately increased the price of a machine by $ 2300 compared to the base. What does the base mean? And here's what: ABS, driver pillow, air conditioning and electric windows are included in the list of standard equipment.
Koreans do not make a secret from the fact that the car was created under the American market. True, it is called there democratic - Kia Optima, which means optimal. Mindful of the traditionally attractive ratio of price-quality inherent in all Korean machines, such a name can be recognized as successful and meaningful. But Magentis comes from the shredded English words Magnificent and Genteel. One more magnificent: magnificent and noble, and at the same time. Sounds like a sugary appeal to the owner of a certain aristocratic title. Let's try to get acquainted with the newly made nobleman better. And the appearance of the car is really noble! The body of good proportions is distinguished by elegant, rapid outlines. In the profile, the car almost does not get individuality, but in front and behind it is absolutely recognizable. There are no creative revelations here, but the already encountered stylistic techniques are processed very conscientiously. A chopped back with rectangular lanterns resembles either Chevrolet Corsica or Lincoln Continental - in general, an overseas medium -sized sedan of the end of the end of eight -year -sixth. 
The nasal part deftly beat the motives of the current Cadillac Deville, I would even say that the Koreans surpassed the original. Large angular headlights, a spectacular front spoiler and a protruding chrome radiator cladding are not just sympathetic by separately, they also form an attractively beautiful composition, from which it is not easy to take your eyes off. And the fact that for world automobile design is a small step, for KIA it became a huge step forward. Supporting the feeling of threshold inside is much more difficult. There are evidence of honest attempts such as remote control of the trunk lock or microlifts of an ashtray and a cup holder cover. However, the overall impression develops immediately after you see a combination of the modest gray plastic of the front panel and an ingenuously black dashboard. At the same time, I did not find frank mistakes in terms of ergonomics. Wide front seats are equipped with good lateral support, the number of driver’s adjustments reaches four. The steering column is adjustable in height. The presence is commendable
blowing the front side glasses, as well as the PDD system, turning off the front passenger pillow in case of its absence. Sitting from behind is just as convenient and spacious, but only together - three will feel crowded in the shoulders. If five tall man is in the car, then the knees of the rear passengers will be back to the backs of the front seats. Excellent smoothness and magnificent sound insulation are the trump cards of the car. This is what Magentis is not inferior to classmates of elite brands, costing completely different money. Under the wheels of the car, the Shcherbati asphalt of St. Petersburg roads turns into the perfect surface of European tracks, and three times damned railway crossings cause only a measured swaying of the body. The suspension does not graze in front of the pits: neither breakdowns, nor concussions - in the worst case, a tangible, but smooth, careful push. Magentis behaves well at high speeds: he reliably holds the line, does not swing on irregularities and does not shy away from side to side. And you can talk in the car in an undertone - neither the whistle of air, nor the noise of the tires, nor the sound of the motor will beg you.
Comfortable setting of a car affects dynamics and controllability. With calm driving, the automatic box shifts the gears very gently, barely noticeable. By the way, the electronic unit controlling it is equipped with an adaptive algorithm that allows you to adjust the work of the box to the nature of the driving. If you press the gas pedal to the polish, then the moment of transition to the highest gear is transferred from 2000-2300 to 5500-6000 rpm, providing vigorous acceleration. However, the adaptation process takes some time, and if you moved in a traffic for a long time, it will not work to shoot sharply at the neighboring row: before you make a breakthrough, the machine will think for a few moments, and the situation may already have time to change. The same goes for control. In standard terms of claims at least: moderately sensitive steering wheel, a good reactive effort. In tense turns, Magentis is prone to easy demolition of the front axle, and for discharge of gas goes into a smooth, predictable skid. Normal front -wheel drive habits. However, it is at such moments that the driver and the car violates a powerful hydraulic wiper, and sometimes it has to act by the steering wheel to the touch. The amplifier is actually strong: so, at low speeds, the steering wheel hardens in a turn, and the car writes an arc without the help of a person. It is not dangerous, but it does not inspire sports exploits. Kia Magentis seems to be able to cope with the duties of a representative car. Unless, of course, to the car for $ 20,000 not to make excessive requirements. With its appearance, running qualities and sizes, it can fit into the tastes of people of middle and older ages. So the car has prospects to come to the Russian court.
Source: Wheel magazine [No. 50/2001]
