The interior of the Kia Cadenza Limited is tasteful and well appointed.FAST FACTS
- Model: 2017 Kia Cadenza Limited - Exterior color: Granite Brown - Interior color: Black and white - Engine: 3.3-liter V6 - Horsepower: 290 - Transmission: Eight-speed automatic - Fuel economy: 28 mpg highway, 20 mpg city - Local Dealers: Kia of Chattanooga, Kia of Cleveland - Price (as tested): $45,290
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The first generation of any car, truck or SUV is merely a prototype to work out the kinks. We try not to judge any vehicle until an automaker's designers and engineers have had at least one crack at going back to the drawing board.
A good example of evolutionary excellence is the new Kia Cadenza, a full-size luxury sedan that few people seem to know about. When Kia decided to bring the Cadenza to the United States in 2013, it was the first luxury car available here from the Korean car maker. Now, there's also the larger, rear-drive Kia K900 sedan.
For 2017, the Cadenza has been given a clean-sheet redesign, and the fruits of this redo are apparent in the car's details. For example, the Cadenza has the quietest power-window motors and one of the most elegant key fobs we've ever sampled. These may not be the first things on anybody's check list, but they are nonetheless good examples of a slavish attention to detail. On the other hand, the Cadenza's horn is in the soprano range when it should be a tenor. Just saying.
The 2017 Cadenza also has the largest panoramic sunroof we've ever seen on a sedan, perfect for scenic drives around the Tennessee Valley. If you could magically remove the glass it would be dang near a convertible. Meanwhile, the Cadenza's body lines are spot on, from its Tiger Nose grille to its button-cute derriere, this car is sharp.
The Cadenza comes in three trim levels, Premium, Technology and Limited. Our Granite Brown tester comes in top-of-the-line Limited trim. Move the Cadenza into the sun and the deep brown metallic paint looks like it's been sprinkled with star dust.
Prices for the Cadenza range from $31,990 for a Premium model, to $45,290 for our feature-packed Limited. The Cadenza is fairly thirsty, averaging 28 mpg highway and 20 mpg city, according to the government.
Selection is modest, as most area Kia dealerships report only a couple of these models on the ground. Most seem to be premium-trim models.
STYLING AND FEATURES
The Kia shares a segment with the Lexus ES350, the Lincoln MKZ and the Buick Lacrosse. All are classy sedans, as their size allows for the full expression of the sedan form. Nothing, in other words, looks clipped or tucked. To our eyes, the Cadenza is the best looking of the bunch, perhaps because it derives from the design pen of Peter Schreyer, formerly of Audi.
It's as if the Cadenza has been bench-marked to the best design bits of other brands. The concave grille is bracketed by swept headlamps outlined by LED lights that zig and zag. A prominent shoulder line offers a hint of Volvo and the split spoke wheels look derivative of Infiniti's top-shelf rims. Meanwhile, the corners have been sculpted with Jaguar sensibilities. The interior looks like a BMW 5-series dressed up in tuxedo tones. The form-fitting seats, front and back, exude luxury; with the front buckets both heated and chilled.
Our Limited tester has almost every creature comfort imaginable, including a Harman Kardon premium audio system, an 8-inch touch screen to channel the graphically brilliant navigation system, Nappa leather seats, a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and all the latest safety-tech features.
Back seat leg room is generous, and the power rear window shade marks the Cadenza as a member of the luxury club. Meanwhile, the Cadenza greets its owner with automatically unfolding side mirrors. It looks like a puppy raising its ears.
All Cadenzas carry Kia's gold-standard 100,000-mile power-train warranty.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Cadenzas are powered by a 3.3-liter V-6 engine rated at 290 horsepower. That's plenty of power to channel through a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
Steering is light, which is conducive to a relaxed driving experience. In fact, the Cadenza's driving dynamics are similar to the soft-sprung Lexus ES350, which also places comfort ahead of raw performance. Most customers of full-size cars are looking for a plush driving experience, and the Cadenza delivers.
In commuter driving around Chattanooga, the Cadenza was an oasis from the stresses of the workday. Our only complaint is that it takes the memory seats several seconds to re-adjust after every start.
BOTTOM LINE
Even though big SUVs have pirated sales from the full-size sedan market, there are still those who value the comfort and maneuverability of a car. Stylistically, the Cadenza is a terrific example of the automaker's art, and well worth a test drive if you are in the market for a spacious, broad-shouldered car.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.