2009 KIA Amanti
Introduction In its homeland of South Korea, it is a Town Car of sorts -- perpetually painted black with tinted windows, ferrying VIPs around Seoul. A spacious, luxurious cabin is of prime importance, as is a wafting ride of relaxed serenity.
In terms of size, the Amanti slots in between midsize sedans like the Toyota Camry and full-size sedans like the Ford Taurus. Fans of old-school Buicks will certainly enjoy the Amanti's soft and quiet ride.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2009 Kia Amanti is a large sedan available in one trim level. Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, automatic headlights, heated mirrors, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, tilt steering column, eight-way driver and four-way passenger power seats, auto-dimming mirrors, and an eight-speaker stereo with CD player, auxiliary audio jack and USB audio jack.
The Leather package adds leather upholstery, driver memory functions, heated front seats, and a nine-speaker Infinity stereo with six-CD changer. The Premium package adds 17-inch chrome-plated alloy wheels (available as a stand-alone option), black interior trim and power-adjustable pedals. A sunroof is also optional.
Safety
Antilock disc brakes, active front head restraints, front seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags are standard on the 2009 Kia Amanti. The Electronic Stability Control package bundles stability and traction control systems with a brake assist feature.
In crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Amanti was awarded the top score of "Good" in the frontal-offset and side-impact tests.
Driving Impressions
Like most vehicles in its class, the 2009 Kia Amanti is tuned to provide a smooth, quiet ride with maximum isolation from the road. It's also as fun to drive as a Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade float. But the Amanti's got some legs. The 264-hp V6 boasts a broad power band, and the transmission's quick downshifts assure that the power is always on tap for merging onto fast-moving freeways or quick passes on two-lane roads.
Awards and Accolades
Each year independent journalists and experts in the automotive industry recognize outstanding vehicles in areas such as design, safety and overall reliability. You can use these awards as a guide in the decision-making process.
Motor Trend reports Amanti roomy, rich in amenities and heavy on value
Cars.com reports Amanti Best Bang for the Buck
Road & Track reports Amanti has notable improvements in power, cosmetic exterior changes and an impressive list of standard features
High on value and long on standard features, according to Motor Trend magazine.
A lot of car for the money, according to Road & Track
Motor Trend reports huge gains in quality ratings and rising resale values for Kia
Car And Driver reports Amanti tops the rankings for features and amenities 
