2017 Kia Cadenza Review

2017 Kia Cadenza Review

From its hot-selling breadbox on wheels, the Soul, to a chart-topping performance in the latest J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, Kia is a brand on the move.

It’s hard to believe how far this South Korean automaker has come since its U.S. debut back in 1994. The firm’s inaugural models in America were the Sephia sedan and Sportage utility vehicle, products that were, to be polite, cruder than a Howard Stern broadcast. But what a difference 22 years can make. Today, their slogan “The Power to Surprise” rings truer than ever.

Old enough to purchase booze but far more responsible than some puerile frat boy, Kia is continuing its push to offer more and better products. Appropriately, this youthful brand’s Cadenza sedan has been totally retooled for 2017, riding on a stronger, lighter, more rigid architecture, gaining advanced new technology that drivers are sure to love, all while offering more refinement than ever.

Reaching Higher

The new Cadenza is intended to be an aspirational product for customers that want a little something more than what the Optima offers but aren’t quite sold on the brand’s larger – and rear-wheel-drive – K900. Kia designers and engineers targeted rivals like the Chevrolet Impala, Toyota Avalon, Chrysler 300 and even the Lexus ES 350 when creating this car.

2017 Kia Cadenza Review

And dimensionally the 2017 Cadenza fits right in with this respected crowd. Its wheelbase, width and overall length are within an inch or two of these competing sedans. Aside from foundational digits, it’s also styled to play well in this segment.

Company representatives are keen to trumpet the car’s design, highlighting its “tiger nose” front-end and straight-line simplicity. This overall visual cleanliness is appreciated, though it’s still rather generic looking, with a profile that could belong to a Fusion, 200 or even Sonata. Likewise, the grille is rather nondescript. In short, the Cadenza’s bodywork could have wowed but it leaves us wanting; a little more razzmatazz would have gone a long way.

Luxury Lifestyle

But guess what? Customers shopping in this segment aren’t interested in flashy design; clean, handsome and understated are the adjectives that count and they’re exactly what this Kia delivers. Additionally, it’s important to remember that, as with people, it’s what inside that counts.

2017 Kia Cadenza Review

Neither does the Cadenza disappoint here, either. Its interior is truly premium and would not look – or feel – out of place in a vehicle wearing Lexus or Acura badges, that’s how well designed and built it is. How things have changed since the mid ‘90s!

The Cadenza’s cabin is extremely spacious, offering just shy of 108 cubic feet of passenger volume, supposedly a best-in-class figure. In real-world terms this means there’s ample room for front-row passengers and even more for riders confined to steerage. This car’s backseat is simply huge, with acres of sprawlin’ space! Likewise, the trunk is generously portioned, offering 16 cubic feet.

2017 Kia Cadenza Review

But it’s not just room that sets this interior apart, oh no. The materials are unexpectedly rich, with high-quality plastics, richly quilted leather and sturdy switchgear found throughout. It’s also host to plenty of advanced technology.

Tech This Out!

Kia’s third-generation UVO infotainment system is included at no extra charge, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for even broader market appeal. Beyond these niceties, there’s more standard equipment than can be listed, but a few highlights include leather seats, dual zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, keyless entry with push-button start and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Given the Cadenza’s rich feature content, it’s no surprise there are some luxury-grade options on the menu as well. You can snag an electrically opening and closing trunk, a panoramic sunroof and power-folding exterior mirrors. For audiophiles there’s even a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, which comes with the firm’s advanced Quantum Logic Surround and ClariFi technologies for a top-shelf listening experience.

Power to the People

Unlike some rivals, just one powertrain is offered in the 2017 Cadenza. Fortunately, it’s a solid piece of engineering.

This car is hauled around by a 3.3-liter V6 that’s rated at 290 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. The engine has been revised for reduced emissions and better fuel economy than before, something that’s always a top priority. Accordingly, this Kia is estimated to return 20 miles per gallon in urban driving and 28 on the highway. These figures ought to result in a combined score of 23 MPG.

2017 Kia Cadenza Review

To both prove its longevity and avoid going bankrupt from repair costs since the company still costs a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, this powerplant was extensively tested. Supposedly, engineers ran it on the dynamometer for 41 days straight at maximum RPM and load, a punishing test that simulated some 100,000 miles’ worth of driving in barely more than a month.

Keeping things simple, the Cadenza is only offered in front-wheel drive; sorry Subaru fans. Helping make the most of its available power is a newly designed eight-speed automatic transmission that was completely developed in house by Kia.

The Drive

Matching its luxury-car interior, the Cadenza is suitably refined when you put it in motion. The ride is smooth and composed, at least on Virginia’s impeccable countryside pavement, though this car is also unexpectedly quiet. The use of laminated glass for the windshield and front doors plus the inclusion of expanded foam in the A-pillars and a full underbody pan help keep uncouth ruckus far from passengers.

2017 Kia Cadenza Review

Give it the spurs and the Cadenza moves ahead with verve, though its engine needs some revs on the clock before it starts pulling in earnest. Low-RPM torque is a little lacking, a deficiency even a super-resourceful transmission can’t entirely make up for. Once tachometer needle hits about 5,000 the Cadenza surges ahead with performance-car vigor.

Speaking of that eight-ratio gearbox, it’s pretty much faultless. Shifts are promptly executed exactly when they need to be; there’s absolutely nothing to complain about here, in fact maybe Kia should think about selling this transmission to rivals, it’s that good.

2017 Kia Cadenza Review

The brakes are fine, so adequate in fact I don’t remember anything about them. The Cadenza’s steering is likewise forgettable; it neither triumphs nor transgresses, which is class appropriate as nobody in the market for a premium front-wheel-drive sedan like this is cross-shopping a Miata. In short, this Kia drives just fine, doing everything you’d expect and nearly nothing you don’t. It’s an ideal foil to an Avalon or something from Buick.

The Verdict: 2017 Kia Cadenza Review

The 2017 Kia Cadenza offers a surfeit of laudable attributes. It’s well built, feature laden and refined, giving rival models a run for their money.

On the subject of cash, this car should start around $32,000 for a base Premium model. A range-topping Limited variant is expected to go for roughly 44 large, though official pricing has not been revealed. Look for that information a little closer to launch, which will be this fall.

2017 Kia Cadenza Review

To date, the company has only sold about 28,000 examples of the Cadenza since it launched back in the 2014 model year. Obviously, they’re looking to significantly increase that figure with this new model, which, like the overall appeal of this car should be no surprise at all.

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