Test drive Kia Optima (Magentis) 2001 - 2003 sedan
Available luxury
Nobleness and sophistication at the optimal price. Believe your eyes!
Understanding, and most importantly, taking Magentis is quite easy. It was created for those who consider the car primarily a means of moving reliable and comfortable, who make money in the sweat of the face and are not going to lay out the extra 1020 thousand dollars for such ephemeral virtues as sports, prestige, exclusivity. What, in your imagination, has already developed an image of a boring machine with an inexpressive appearance and a weak motor? Then remember: Magentis is only two sets of rich LX and very rich SE. You will listen to music in the car, enjoy the comfort of the air conditioner, lower the glass and adjust the mirrors with buttons, in the summer day to rejoice in the sun's rays through the hatch in the roof, how to believe the brakes equipped with ABS. And also consider the two-liter 136-horsepower engine accelerates almost one and a half-ton car to 195 km/h even with an automatic machine, and a V-shaped six of 168 liters. With. It provides 214 km/h and acceleration to hundreds in less than nine seconds. Where else will you find such a cool packaged large classic sedan with a six -cylinder engine count, almost a passat, only at the price of golf? That's it and that, nowhere.
However, this is not all. The name Magentis itself is composed of English words Majestic and Genteeel, that is, noble and sophisticated. And the novelty of the KIA production program, manufactured at a joint venture Autotor in Kaliningrad, is trying his best to correspond to its name.
Not in this life!
In its crusad of the American market, Kia does not shy away. In addition to attractive prices, dealers lure customers and unprecedented guarantees. All cars of the 2001 model year, including Optim, also apply to the so -called expanded guarantee for 10 years or 160 thousand kilometers, while you are not worried about the fate of the engine or gearbox in which case they will be replaced or replaced for free. In addition, for five years, with unlimited mileage, you can completely use the services of the KIA outbound service for free. But this is only a saying. If the breakdown during the warranty period found you far from the house and the car was not repaired for 24 hours, Kia will pay for you a hotel, meals, as well as transportation costs. It is only necessary to save checks! We may not even dream of a similar level of service. At least in this life
The spacious gray salon for the most part does not cause complaints. Unless the parking brake lever slightly massages the driver's leg
The back door opens at a large corner, but the opening could be wider
Noble don
Maybe it will seem to someone that the solid three-bob Magentis is not as beautiful and noble as the sophisticated classic work of figs and Falaski, Dzagato, Pinfarines and other great Carrotzeria. But in it, of course, there is the statism and correctness of forms. Thin racks, original, reminiscent of a curved samurai sword of substetricians on the hood, geometrically correct rays of alloy discs are a completely independent appearance. At the same time, many are not unacceptable that the machine has been developed the first fruit of cooperation between KIA and Hyunde engineers after the merger of both companies based on the fourth-generation Hyunde-monation. Moreover, these cars even have the same doors. However, it is not easy to recognize related souls in them. Elegant optics, a radiator grille ennobled by chromium, a neat bumper is impressive, by the way, the car resembles a Cadillac-StS. A comparison that the creators of the car would surely be pleased. After all, the United States is a strategically important market for the company from Seoul.
How much legs grow?
In the clear and understandable questionnaire of Magentis there is one white spot in the column of anthropometric data. The fact is that the Kia overseas dealers call Magentis a direct competitor to the Toyota-Kamri and Nissan-Maxim sedans, which, according to European classification, belong to the class of E. The merchants speak quite a convincing language of numbers. Like, Magentis in space for the rear passengers even bypasses its Japanese competitors. But here is a snag of a Korean 12 cm shorter than Maxima and six Camrie. At the same time, KIA is only two centimeters longer than Volkswagen-passage, which belongs to a lower class D. In general, we are before the case when everyone is free to independently determine the class belonging of a car.
Japanese genes Inside, this, of course, is not a Cadillac, but a certain hybrid of Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Mazda of the late 80s. Let's not forget the older sister of Magentis Sonata is originating from Mitsubishi. In addition, to require aesthetic sophistication of the interior at the price of golf the right, overkill. Dniebs, of course, are criticized by deflectors from plastic different colors and dialing panels with plucked eyebrows. The steering wheel of large diameter does not cause sports associations, and the mouse color of the upholstery is not pleased.
But these are all emotions. In practice, a remark to the Magentis salon by and large only one velor of upholstery frankly synthetic. However, in order not to complain about allergies, order leather upholstery. Fortunately, it is very inexpensive.
Otherwise, there is nothing to complain about. Uniform and minimal gaps between panels, the quality of the assembly on the hard five, an excellent seat with a long pillow and a good supply of adjustments. There are no problems from the point of view of ergonomics everything in its place, with the exception of, perhaps, the rings of turning on the near light, there is enough free space above the head and in the shoulders.
That's just behind, as on most Japanese cars, with worse placement. Presses the ceiling, and the absence of recesses in the front seats a little limits the freedom of the knees. But in 95 cases out of 100 four adults in the cabin will be placed without problems.
I was pleasantly surprised by visibility. Even three head restraints on the back sofa do not conceal road information from the driver. Subtle body racks and high glass do not make you rotate once again.
Anti-linen visor truly Spartan no backlight or curtain
Three headrests an integral standard of a modern car
At the competition, the most beautiful dashboard Magentis, of course, would not have won. But everything is read perfectly, and the odometer here is digital
Using this small ring on the left steering wheel lever, the near light is not the most convenient solution
Her Majesty Balancing
If externally Kia looks like a yank, and the salon seems to be purely Japanese, then it is much more difficult to determine who Magentis is in its road habits. One, however, is not in doubt, you are driving a modern car. This sensation occurs immediately after turning the ignition key, the motor is absolutely not heard. And not only on idle. Only behind a mark of 4000 rpm of/mines the muffled baritone penetrates the salon, closer to five thousand growing into a predatory roar. If you slowly roll around the city, then there is a surreal feeling of soaring over the road so quietly in the cabin.
The Delta Magentis engine borrowed from the sonata. True, before installing it under the hood of Kia, the control system was reprogrammed by the motor. The result is already mentioned silence and a very pleasant traction in the middle range. Unlike 3-liter six, Magentis engine does not indulge in an excess of torque on the bottom. However, there are no problems with the movement of innight. At speeds of about 10 km/h, the kia rides idle with the first and second gear on. The effect of an automatic box is very convenient when choosing a picnic site, for example.
Conditioned a clear inclusion of gears. However, sharp manipulations are interfered with an uninhabited armrest under the right hand. This would come in handy by car with a machine gun, but not with mechanics. However, having reached the third gear, you can forget about the lever on it, the car goes well from 30 to 160 km/h. True, for 250 city kilometers, Majentis broke almost forty liters of the 95th, but you like to ride love and carry a checker.
In addition, on the suburban highway, appetite is noticeably reduced. At high speeds, the car holds the line perfectly, confidently working out irregularities, and the steering wheel is pleasantly heavy, so that the element of Majentis is distant crossings. Unlike racing along the mountain road. Although the transverse rolls are small, the demolition of the front axis occurs earlier than we would like. Magentis honestly warns a racing car.
Brakes are more than adequate. The large course of the pedal determines the easily dosed force and smooth work. And the disc brakes and ABS inspire confidence that is not superfluous behind the wheel of a 168-horsepower sedan. True, ABS here works a little rudely, interfering already behind the facet of blocking and forcing the car nervously twitch from side to side.
But what really did not please is the smoothness of the course. Speaking honestly, at Kia she is Nevazhnetskaya. Even small bumps and pits on the road are quite noticeable for the driver and passengers. The suspension works hard and spring, transferring to the body, although sorted, but still unpleasant shocks. The reverse and, of course, the positive side of this rigidity is the protection against breakdowns, as well as almost inconspicuous digging during acceleration and braking. In general, not the worst option for Russian road reality.
The six -cylinder delta is characterized by good power, good traction and excellent sound insulation
The climate control system is easy to control, and the music center with solid basses
In the dark, the windows button only the driver's door is illuminated
Very pleasant trifle in the niche of the trunk full -fledged reserve
Anti -crisis proposal
In my opinion, the American name of Magentis Optima is very symbolic. In fact, Kia is the best choice of people who are not trying to assert themselves at the expense of the brand of their own car. No, you will not have the solidity of the Mercedes-Benz, BMW sports, and the sophistication of Audi. You will have an affordable luxury of Kia, and with the money saved, you can pull the perignon house until the end of your life, biting with black French truffles.
The trunk of Magentis is quite modest only 375 liters. And his form is far from perfect. The tumors of the rear wheel arches conceal the useful volume
From this angle, Kia is easy to confuse with classmates, for example with Mitsubishi Galant
What is how much?
The price is probably the most pronounced dignity of Magentis. A sedan with a 2-liter 136-horsepower engine, electric glass and mirrors, air conditioning, fog lights and ABS you can purchase for $ 17,800. The cost of Magentis with a V-shaped six, climate control, a radio with a CD player and six speakers, a traction control system, and alloy disks starts from a 20 thousand mark. Perhaps, only a leather interior and an automatic transmission of Tipronik with the possibility of manual gearboxes developed in cooperation with engineers of Porsche did not get here. But even in this performance, Magentis will remain cheaper than the basic version of the passat. At the same time, let's not forget that a three -year -old factory warranty applies to all Kaliningrad Kia.
Equipment
Abs
Four airbags
Climate control
Electric package
Fog lights
central locking
Alloy wheels
Radio with CD
Antibux. system
Price, $ 21,150
Kia Magentis v6 2.5
common data
Body
5-seater sedan
Equipped mass, kg
1500
Complete mass, kg
2000
Length x width x height, mm
4730 x 1820 x 1410
Base, mm
2700
Front/back, mm track
1540/1530
Maximum speed, km/h
214
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, with
8.8
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
8.6/12.3
Fuel supply, l
65 (AI-95)
Engine
Location
Front transversely
Design
6-cylinder, V-shaped,
with two camshafts in the heads of cylinders,
with distributed fuel injection
The number of valves per cylinder
four
Cylinder diameter X piston stroke, mm
84 x 75
Working volume, SMZ
2494
Compression ratio
10: 1
Power, L.S. (kW) at rpm
168/600
Torque, kgsm (nm) at rpm
23.2 (230)/4000
Chassis
Transmission
front -wheel drive
Transmission
Mechanical, 5-speed
Transport numbers:
I; II; III; IV; Z.Kh.
3.46.83; 1.95; 1.3; 0.94; 0.78; 3.46
Suspension:
front
Independent, at the racks of McEfson,
transverse levers,
the reptile stabilizer
behind
independent, multi -link,
the reptile stabilizer
Steering
rack with an amplifier of a variable performance
Brakes
front
Disk ventilated
behind
discs, abs
The size of the tires
205/60 R15
PER
Available price, rich equipment, good build quality, excellent sound insulation, powerful engine
AGAINST
Boring interior
insufficient range of steering adjustments,
low prestige of the brand
Mikhail Medvedev, photo Maxim Goncharov
Source: Magazine "Limousine" [06/01]
