The South Koreans have always done their best to beat the Japanese at their own game.
Everything from pop culture to building construction, consumer electronics to cars, the South Koreans want to do it better than their historical arch-rivals.
And cheaper, too.
The recently updated Kia Magentis is the latest example of Korean one-upmanship.
For less than the price of a 1.6-litre Toyota Corolla Altis, you get a 2-litre Korean saloon with the works, which include an unusually powerful engine.
Indeed, 164bhp from a 2-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder is not to be scoffed at.
The Kia’s high horsepower on paper is not obvious on the road, though.
Acceleration feels steady rather than speedy, whether moving off from the lights or overtaking on the move.
And there seems to be more noise than effect at high revs where the car develops its peak output.
You won’t want to push the engine hard, anyway, because its smooth nature gets rough around the edges when stretched.
The suspension and steering, too, go a little pear-shaped when pressured to do more than the usual, like corner quickly or cruise over rough roads.
In other words, the Magentis is meant for moderate motoring.
Loads of space and thoughtful amenities make the Magentis very comfy.
Inside the cabin, a refreshed Cerato Forte-inspired design has extended the Magentis’ sell-by date.
Although the interior plastics are still a lot closer to economy class than business class, the overall presentation is generally agreeable.
More importantly for the bargain-hunting businessman, leather trim is thrown in, the space is good and the standard equipment is generous.
The list includes dual airbags, a motorised seat for the driver, digital climate control, automatic headlights (no xenon, though) and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
The centrepiece of the Magentis cockpit is a factory-fitted Infinity hi-fi system, with no less than 10 speakers, including a thumping subwoofer.
Styling-wise, the revised Magentis again has a touch of Cerato Forte, while new bumpers have increased the body length slightly.
The build quality is decent, with the doors, for example, closing more solidly than those on the Forte.
But the Magentis’ basic shape remains unchanged and is as generic as they come.
The whole car, in fact, is decidedly generic.
It gets the job done for the businessman on a $60,000 budget – no more, no less, with neither fun nor flair anywhere.
Magentis is calling, but don’t expect it to sing for you.
2009 Kia Magentis 2.0 (A)
ENGINE 1998cc, 16-valves, inline-4
MAX POWER 164bhp at 6200rpm
MAX TORQUE 197Nm at 4600rpm
GEARBOX 4-speed automatic
0-100KM/H 11.1 seconds
TOP SPEED 200km/h
CONSUMPTION 12.8km/L
PRICE INCL. COE $58,999
