The Magentis is a conundrum. Its competitors trade heavily on badge so Kia has to make up ground immediately and tackle them on quality, equipment and price.

Find out how the Korean model fares in our full ten point test or click individual sections below to go straight to the information you want.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

Aimed fairly and squarely at private and fleet buyers who’d like a Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra or VW Passat but don’t fancy parting with that much money, the Magentis, unsurprisingly looks like a big ol’ saloon car. Kia’s designers have worked hard to bring the manufacturer’s repmobile into the 21st Century… A completely new design, the overhauled Magentis is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor and does look more up to date. However, we’d still say it is outshone by its rivals which have had more success at creating up-to-date looking cars. Unfortunately the Magentis still looks a tad old-fashioned.
Verdict: 6/10

2. Looks inside

The slightly old-fashioned  feel continues inside with the dash’s appearance. That isn’t helped by the cheap/bolted on feel of the CD/stereo, the smooth steering wheel also feels insubstantial. However, there is stacks of room for driver and passengers alike and although the initial reaction to the interior might be one of disappointment we got used to it and stopped noticing too much once we’d had the car for a week.
Verdict 6/10

3. Practicality

The luggage capacity has been upped to a respectable 420 litres and, should you need it, the rear seats’ backrests fold down to accommodate longer loads. As mentioned in our Looks Inside section, it’s a very roomy saloon car. If you’re after more space you might want to reconsider the sort of car you’re after rather than the manufacturer.
Verdict 7/10

4. Ride and Handling

The Magentis is perfectly competent here. More suited to motorway cruising than pounding the urban commute where its limited cornering refinement is exposed. The gap in quality between the Magentis and its more expensive rivals is more apparent in town where the car’s comfortable ride comes at the expense of poorer handling.   
Verdict 6/10

5. Performance

Buyers can choose between a 2-litre diesel engine and a 2-litre or 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine. The model we tested boasted the 2-litre diesel engine which pushes the car from 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds and can keep on pushing to a maximum speed of 125 mph – a perfectly competent performance. The petrol engine accelerates a little quicker and goes a little further while the larger diesel engine takes that performance to 0-62 mph acceleration in 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 137 mph.
Verdict 7/10

6. Running Costs

The 2-litre diesel engine we tested goes through fuel at an average of 47.1mpg. Go for the bigger diesel engine and this plummets to 30.7 mpg while the petrol option returns a slightly better 36.7mpg. Go for the 2-litre diesel and you’ll be looking at a £135 annual tax bill. The unfashionable Magentis also tends to lose its value rather swiftly.
Verdict 6/10

7. Reliability

The Magentis might not be the best car in its class but should be reliable. Buy the new model and you’ll get a three-year unlimited mileage warranty to promote piece of mind.
Verdict 7/10

8. Safety

Kia anticipate the Magentis scoring a respectable four stars in the Euro-NCAP crash-tests. Front, side and curtain airbags come as standard.
Verdict 8/10

9. Equipment

Lots for your money here as Kia try to woo motorists with a suite of goodies. All versions come with air-con, electric windows, remote central locking and powered and heated door mirrors. Upgrade to the LS model for automatic lights, trip computer, telescopic steering wheel adjustment, full climate control, heated front seats, stability and traction control and emergency brake assist. We don’t like the stereo which looks like an afterthought but this is something Kia is addressing across its whole range.
Verdict 7/10

10. X-Factor

Got to be the equipment. If you like plenty of extras for your dough the Magentis might be worth a look.
Verdict 7/10