Driving
The Kia is available with 2.0-litre or 2.7-litre V6 petrol engines, but we prefer the 2.0-litre turbodiesel. There's a fair amount of diesel clatter at idle, but once on the move it delivers power progressively, and at cruising speeds is impressive refined. It serves up its power in a progressive manner too. So it's a shame the Kia's clutch action is snappy which, combined with a less-than-slick gearbox, makes smooth progress difficult. What's more, dynamically the Magentis feels flimsy. It rolls through corners, and this increased body movement means it works its front tyres much harder. There's also a lot of dive when braking, and the middle pedal is soft under-foot too. The steering is light and vague, and never inspires confidence. Unfortunately, the soft dynamic set-up doesn't translate into a decent ride quality either, because while the Kia is cushioned over smooth surfaces, the dampers don't control suspension movement. As a result, it can become crashy over imperfections, while kickback through the wheel is a problem. Still, stability control is standard.
See also:
Starting the engine
CAUTION
Always wear appropriate shoes when
operating your vehicle. Unsuitable
shoes (high heels, ski boots,etc.) may
interfere with your ability to use the
brake and accelerator pedal, and the
c ...
In case of an emergency while driving
If the engine stalls at a crossroad
or crossing
If the engine stalls at a crossroad or
crossing, set the shift lever in the N
(Neutral) position and then push the vehicle
to a safe place.
If you ...
Fifth Gear Kia Magentis review
Although Kia has proved its ability to create appealing small cars, the
Korean brand still struggles when it comes to producing bigger vehicles - a
point borne out by the Magentis.
It's not that ...


