Thursday, June 25, 2015

2015 Kia K900: A Bargain in the Luxury Class

Dollars are easy to spend but tough to earn. If you're hoping to buy a German luxury sedan or a Cadillac, an $85,000 price tag isn't out of the question. That's a lot of overtime. There is, however, a solution to the problem.

Kia and Hyundai, both based in South Korea, are still little known in many areas of the U.S. Both have been offering quality vehicles at prices that make European, Japanese and American manufacturers blanch. When Kia began selling vehicles in the U.S. in 1994, some of its products had serious quality-control problems. Those days have passed, however, and the Korean firm is now focusing on what Americans expect. This week's test car is Kia's entry into the upper reaches of the market. After driving the Kia K900 for hundreds of miles, this reporter predicts that the new Kia will represent an American breakthrough for this Asian industry giant.

Outside, the Kia K900 isn't much to look at, its square lines, sunroof, folding mirrors and somewhat quirky styling detracting from its more attractively designed sheet metal. Inside is where things get interesting. Leather bucket seats (heated and cooled) welcome you, and wood graces the dash. The comfortable twin front buckets are divided by a utilitarian console. If you order the $6,000 VIP package, you receive advanced cruise control, power locks, a 12-inch electronic instrument panel, a mediocre heads-up display, a surround view monitor, power reclining rear seats, adjustable headrests and a number of other small items.

Up front (and in back, too), you get more airbags than you can imagine. UVO, the Kia version of General Motors' OnStar system, is standard. Also standard are rear cameras with a cross traffic alert, a tilt/telescope steering column and wheel, a navigation system (it's s-l-o-w), and front and rear floor mats. This $66,400-out-the-door vehicle ($59,500 base) also is equipped with stability and traction control, a blind spot detection system, a lane departure warning system, a temporary spare tire, a huge trunk and much, much more. (Air conditioning, fog lights, antilock disc brakes on all four wheels and rain-sensing windshield wipers are standard, too.)

Before going further, you need to know about the Kia warranty, which the company claims is the best in the business (except, perhaps, for Mitsubishi). You get 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain protection, six years or 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage, and five years or 60,000 miles of roadside assistance. There's nothing wrong with finding out about the warranty after you've bought the car, but with other auto firms now cutting warranties, it's a powerful reason to think about purchasing a Kia.

Mechanical bits and pieces are covered by the warranty, in addition to numerous other items. Collision damage, of course, isn't covered.

Under the hood you'll find a quiet 5.0 liter V-8 mated to an eight-speed transmission. It's almost as smooth as a BMW. It makes 420 horsepower, pushing this heavy 4,555-pound vehicle from zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds. Sixty to zero braking was measured at 125 feet, long for the class. The U-turn circle was noted to be 37 feet, an outstanding figure. A six-cylinder engine is also available, a power plant that is more than adequate. In EPA testing using high-test gas, the K900 returned 15 city and 23 highway miles per gallon. Noted by this reporter was 13 in the city and 19 on freeways.

Turning to the sound system, you'll find a 900-watt unit with 18 speakers and a subwoofer. It also includes AM/FM/CDs/Satellite and Bluetooth with USB plus everything needed for hands-free cellular operation. Despite the unit's power rating, it's mediocre at best, especially in fringe reception areas.

Handling was just as one would expect from a heavy vehicle meant to carry five people in comfort. Don't dive into corners at excessive speed or purposely slide on wet streets. The tires squeal and the car leans over. It's not excessive, but remember that this vehicle is meant for luxury, not performance. Ride, the opposite of handling, was smooth and came without the slightest protest from a full passenger cabin. It's a mixture of German and Japanese suspension ideas, neither of which meets German car standards. Nonetheless, you'll never complain about the smooth ride.

Overall Kia's K900 is a fine car at a bargain price. It has a few weak spots but no major flaws. The K900, with either the V-6 or V-8, is a decent vehicle with a fine warranty that makes it well worth buying.

Zane Binder has been testing cars and bikes for more than 30 years. A former reporter, editor and bureau chief at The Press of Atlantic City, he saw the industries' heartbeat during a stint at Subaru of America. Later he toiled as the auto and bike tester for King Features Syndicate (Hearst Newspapers) and DBR Media. In his spare time, he authored two auto repair guides and one about personal finance.



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