New Car Review of the 2004 Kia Amanti Mid-Size Sedan.

Description: Mid-Size Sedan
Base MSRP Range: $24,995
Invoice Price Range: $22,655

Kia grows up in 2004 with the introduction of a flagship vehicle measuring up to large-car stature and laced with the trappings of a premium luxury car.

The new Amanti sedan is derived from the XG350 by Hyundai, only the wheelbase has been stretched several inches and the length of the body projects for four inches longer. The exterior of Amanti, drawing on styling points of classic luxury touring sedans from Europe, looks substantial with a bold front grille in chrome and flanking articulated headlamps. Profile reveals an arching roofline rolling at rear pillars down to a rounded trunk deck.

The cabin, in a five-seat layout with cushy front buckets, puts eight-way power controls on the driver's seat plus memory settings for two different drivers. Trim streaks of faux grained hardwood decorate the space with standard hardware for comfort installed like a dual-zone climate system, Infinity 270-watt stereo and remote buttons for climate and audio systems mounted on the steering wheel.

Under the hood, Amanti packs a dual-cam 3.5-liter V6 engine that develops 195 hp through a five-speed automatic transaxle with Kia's Sportmatic shift-it-yourself mode. T

he extensive list of standard features reaches to a sunroof, eight air bags including curtain-style air bags hidden above side windows and ABS. Kia also offers as an option for Amanti an electronic stability program (ESP) with traction control.