KIA MAGENTIS 2.0 LS 4dr (2006)

The Kia Magentis - less than impressive

I'd heard good things about Kia and I like the look of them so I decided to go for it and get myself a Magentis. At first I was quite impressed - the engines seemed pretty powerful, it's packed full of equipment and it has plenty of room both in the leg- and boot department. But it isn't until I really got to know my Kia Magentis I realised that it isn't actually that great a car.

It might just be me but I really don't like how this car drives, or how it feels on the road. The handling feels very non-specific, as if your command is only really half listened-to by the car. Similarly the gear changes are awkward because the stick insists on springing around rather than allowing you to smoothly change from one gear to another.

These sound like minor niggles but unfortunately they really get to you after a while and you find yourself regretting not spending a little more and buying something European. The car just feels a bit tacky and charmless and I will probably end up trading it in a lot sooner than I'd expected.