A little bigger and much more upscale, the Cadenza is Kia’s first attempt at
keeping that customer who wants to move up from moving out of a Kia store and
into somebody else’s entry level luxury sedan. So the first question is, how
did they do?
After spending a day rolling around the hills outside of San
Diego, the short verdict is not bad. The Cadenza is a sharp looking car with the distinctive
front grille and lamp treatment made a bit more distinctive. A sharp profile
with well-placed lines and an athletic looking stance give way to a fairly
Audi-esque looking rear complete with oval dual exhaust ports.
High marks
on fit and finish inside
Inside, the Cadenza gets high marks on fit and finish as
well as materials. A 10-way power driver’s seat with heating and cooling and
six-way passenger seat with just heating come with the car. The rear seats are
also heated. Legroom is more than ample, especially in the rear when they put
that extra two inches they stretched the platform.
The dash is well laid out, logical, and Kia’s UVO e-services system is among the best
in the business. It takes connecting you to the car to a new level. It also
comes with a 10-year free subscription and smartphone app. The fully loaded
Cadenza I spent the day in also included a spectacular Infinity sound system
and panoramic sunroof.
Under the
hood and the drive feel
Under the hood the Cadenza
gets Kia’s 3.3-liter 6-cylinder that cranks out 293 horses. Married up to Kia’s
6-speed automatic, it moved the sedan through the hills quite briskly. Paddle
shifters are included with every model and give you a bit more of the sports
sedan feel. Jumping onto the freeway is done without laboring the engine and
passing on a two-lane road when safe is done with confidence that the engine has
more to give if you need it.
The ride is generally solid and confident due to a great set
of suspension components, although hitting a number of potholes can be a bit
jarring. Steering is light, with minimal road feel, but the Cadenza never felt
hinky on curves. Braking was solid and confident.
Pricing
and gas costs
One of the great things about the Cadenza is that as I said
you get bang for your buck, especially when it comes to safety. Distronic
cruise control, blind spot warning, lane departure control and a number of
other safety systems usually found in cars costing more are in the Cadenza.
Kia starts the Cadenza at $35,100 pretty well loaded. Add
technology and luxury packages and you get to $41,100-plus destination. It is
without a doubt a lot of car for the money. Fuel mileage figures: 19 city, 28
highway. In my day in the Kia with combined freeway and rural driving, we
averaged 22 mpg. The Cadenza uses regular unleaded gas.
An overall
impressive drive
The Cadenza is an impressive effort by Kia. In eight hours
or so of driving it, I came away with almost the same thought I had when I
drove its cousin the Hyundai Azera: a solid effort to create a better than you
would expect car. It’s one that should keep the Kia buyer that wants more, in a
Kia showroom. How will it do against the Maximas, Avalons, Taurus’ and Impalas
of the automotive jungle? Ah…that my friends is the $41,100 question!
Get more reviews, news about cars and the people who drive
them, interviews and tips on how to get more out of your driving experience all
on Drivetime with Vinnie Richichi and
Rob Pratte Saturday mornings 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA. Also
listen to Vinnie on The Vinnie and Cook Show Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan.
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