In grade school there was always that one kid who couldn’t help himself from looking at his neighbor’s papers during exams. He was bright enough, and studied enough to be conversant with the subject, but he lacked the confidence to trust his instincts and knowledge. So, when presented with the opportunity to see what everyone else was writing on their papers, he couldn’t help but look.

Today, Kia is that kid. The Korean automaker is a growing player in the North American market because it offers reasonably priced vehicles that have a content level equal to or better than its comparably priced competition. Sure, they’re somewhat derivative and lacking in overall coordination – that’s what you get from seeing what others are up to instead of concentrating on your own work – but they meet the needs of a significant segment of the market.

Which brings us to the Amanti, Kia’s luxury sedan, though “near-luxury” might be a better description of the market this car is aimed at. Following the famous stair-step approach, Kia has added the Amanti so buyers will be able to move upmarket without leaving the fold. This is a big step for the Korean automaker, so it’s not surprising to see that it has decided to see what others have done before committing its answers to steel, rubber and glass. Too bad it took classes at the community college and concentrated on education programs for seniors (the age group, not the class).

There’s no other way to explain the Amanti’s weird amalgam of design and dynamic influences. The instrument panel is a near-clone of the one found in the previous generation Lincoln Town Car, down to the “information center” screen and broad, flat “I-beam” design. (Thankfully, the Amanti has a better looking analog gauge cluster than the Lincoln.) The handling replicates the best of the old Detroit tradition: a soft boulevard ride, tons of understeer, light and indirect steering with little feel, and haphazard wheel control. On smooth, straight roads it’s like floating on a magic carpet. On anything less civilized or more challenging, it’s like riding that carpet as it goes through the spin cycle.

The exterior is another schizophrenic’s delight. From the rear, it looks as though the clay model started to sag and no one noticed. The roofline has a rounded D-pillar that is a cross between the first generation front-drive Lincoln Continental and the old LH-based Chrysler New Yorker. Oh, and the D-pillar trim is faux carbon fiber, an incongruous touch if ever there was one. Up front, the headlights have the spacing and slant of the previous Mercedes E-Class, but a size and shape closer to Jaguar’s S-Type.

Then there’s the grille. It is an egg-crate device that stands tall and proud, and dominates the front end. Everyone who sees the car comments on it – none complimentarily – while mentioning that it looks strangely familiar. Some say it looks like the l grille on the new Chrysler 300. Others say it reminds them a 1973 Ford Torino. That is until you say the magic words: Studebaker Hawk. Suddenly eyes open wide, and light bulbs go off (figuratively) above their heads. And then come the inevitable words: “But it looked a lot better on the Studebaker.” Yes, it did.

It’s obvious Kia’s Amanti should keep its eyes on its own work, or start hanging around the (younger) advanced placement students if it’s intent on copying the work of others.

Notes: The equipment list includes a 3.5-liter twin cam V6, five-speed automatic, dual A-arm from and multi-link rear suspensions, rack and pinion steering, ABS, six airbags, dual-zone climate control, an eight-way power driver’s and four-way power passenger’s seat for $24,995. Adding the sunroof, heated front seats, auto-dimming inside mirror with Homelink, leather seating, two-position memory for the driver’s seat and outside mirrors, Infinity AM/FM/cassette/6-disc CD player, trip monitor, first aid kit and destination charges raise the price to $28,260.