It was always hard to look at the old Kia Magentis as a serious contender to Japanese 2.0-litre models, or even its fraternal twin the Hyundai Sonata.

In fact, it was hard to look at the car at all after its mid-life facelift, when it gained a wonky quad-headlamp layout that made it look severely cross-eyed from the front.

It's almost as if Kia let parent company Hyundai style the car, but the latter, worried that a good-looking Magentis would steal sales from its own Sonata, botched the job on purpose. The result was literally not pretty.

The Magentis borrowed most of its oily bits from the previous-generation Sonata so it was actually a pretty decent drive, but proof that looks do matter to local buyers can be found in the relative popularity of the two cars.

While the Sonata was by far the best-selling medium sedan in Singapore during its heyday, you could drive around for days without spotting a single Magentis.

This will soon change though, for the new Magentis has just been launched in Europe and the first right-hand drive cars are due to hit local showrooms in mid-April.

It's still a close relative of the Sonata-the latest model launched last year, of course-but this time, Kia was given free reign to make changes to the cars' shared platform.

The Sonata's complex double wishbone front suspension system has been ditched in favour of MacPherson struts, saving 20kg in the process, while the entire bodyshell is different.

The Magentis is slightly more compact overall than the Sonata, and while its styling is not going to quicken anyone's pulse, it is at least well-resolved and a whole lot easier on the eye than its predecessor's.

Clean, unfussy lines are the order of the day, with the steeply-raked rear windscreen and short bootlid giving a hint of sportiness to the rear end.

The 2.0-litre engine under the hood is effectively a downsized version of the highly-rated 2.4-litre unit that debuted in the Sonata and it serves up 144bhp and 189Nm of torque, numbers which are about par for the class. A 2.7-litre V6 Magentis is also available in some markets but this model is unlikely to be sold here.

DRIVING IT

The majority of buyers are unlikely to find the 2.0-litre engine lacking in any way. It idles in near silence, goes about its business in hushed tones and manages to maintain its composure even when it's being revved mercilessly. Acceleration from a standstill is pretty decent, too.

Most of the time you seldom find yourself wishing for extra verve, and it's only when trying to pull off sudden overtaking manoeuvres that the engine and four-speed automatic transmission can be caught off-guard. A five-speed auto would have been nice to have but it's unfortunately only available on the 2.7.

Still, shifting up and down the gears using the manual '+/-' mode proves good fun, especially since the Magentis goes round corners surprisingly well. Well enough, in fact, to put a smile on a keen driver's face.

Large Korean sedans have never been the sharpest handling cars around, but this time Kia has managed to strike an impressive balance between comfort and control.

You can feel the effects of the lighter front suspension right away-the car is noticeably more nimble and more eager to point its nose into a corner than the Sonata. The steering transmits good road feel too, making it easy to hustle the car through bends with confidence.

Crucially, the tidy handling hasn't come at the expense of a supple ride. The Magentis is slightly firmer sprung than the Sonata so it picks up some road imperfections around town (although this could be due to the test car's low-profile 17-inch tyres), but it smothers big bumps just as effectively.

Overall refinement is excellent. Engine and wind noise are kept well under control even when cruising flat-out, so conversations can be held without occupants having to raise their voices.

INSIDE IT

The uncluttered exterior styling is carried over to the cabin, which looks modern without relying on attention-grabbing design or trim that might go out of fashion in a couple of years.

The left-hand drive European-spec cars that CarBuyer tested were predominantly black inside, but we're told that lighter upholstery and plastics will feature on local cars.

Aside from a couple of bits that clearly look like they were built to a price, there's no questioning the quality of the materials used or the way everything is screwed together. Particularly striking are the white-blue backlit instrument dials with their red needles, which look suitably upmarket.

There's no shortage of space, either. Passengers in the rear can really stretch out even if those in front have their seats pushed all the way back, and there's also plenty of shoulder room so having three abreast behind over long distances is a realistic proposition.

The boot isn't all that big given the car's size though, and the slope of the rear windscreen means that the opening aperture is restricted. Larger items need to be slotted, rather than dropped, in.

On the plus side, the levers that control the folding rear seats are well-positioned just inside the boot so you won't throw your back out just trying to reach them.

Dollars and Sense

No one knows exactly how much the Magentis will cost but expect the usual aggressive Kia pricing to apply. Only this time, goodies won't be sacrificed just to keep costs down.

On the standard equipment list will be automatic headlamps and wipers, an electric driver's seat, digital climate control, an integrated stereo with steering wheel remote controls, a factory-fitted alarm system and a driver's airbag.

That's an impressive list of features by any standard, and the killer blow is that the car is likely to cost comfortably less than $65,000 at today's COE prices. Clearly, Kia has cottoned on to the idea that value doesn't just mean a bargain price.

VERDICT

The Magentis has always played its 'big 2.0-litre sedan for the price of a 1.6 one' card well, and this impressive new model continues that tradition but with one key difference-it now stands direct comparison with the established names in the Category B (above 1,600cc) market too.

Well-built, dynamically accomplished and loaded with standard equipment, the new Magentis deserves a place on any car buyer's shortlist. Its stiffest competition is likely to come once again from within the family as the Sonata, which has hitherto been available only as a 2.4, now comes with the same 2.0-litre engine.

This time though, the Magentis hasn't been saddled with an unfair handicap right from the start. For Kia, things have never looked better.


NEED TO KNOW
Model Kia Magentis 2.0
Engine 1,998cc, 16V in-line 4
Maximum power 144bhp at 6,000rpm
Maximum torque 189Nm at 4,250rpm
Gearbox 4-speed automatic
Top speed 195km/h
0-100km/h 11.2 seconds
Price To be announced
Warranty 3 years/100,000km
Contact Cycle & Carriage Kia, 6471-0002

SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN
Hyundai Sonata 2.0 $72,000 with COE
Looks more imposing than the Magentis, but the Sonata's extra size and weight mean that it won't keep keen drivers as entertained. It's also more expensive, but the huge boot and excellent ride comfort are plusses.

Toyota Camry 2.0 $86,988 with COE
Best-seller in this class and for good reason too. The Camry is completely undemanding to drive, with smooth-acting controls and a responsive yet economical engine. New model due in the second half of this year.