What's New for 2016
For
2016, the Kia K900 gains a standard V6 engine, relegating the previously
standard V8 to the options list. There are also slight revisions to the grille
and rear styling, while the features list swells further with the availability of
a hands-free trunk opener and automatic emergency braking.
Introduction
The
2016 Kia K900 is a large, limo-like
luxury sedan fit for a king. Well, King James that is. As in LeBron James, the
Cleveland Cavalier, and not the 17th-century British monarch who probably
would've preferred a Bentley anyway. Of course, LeBron is paid to rep the K900,
but he apparently actually drives one, and if quasi-regal endorsements count as
a reason to buy a car, well this range-topping Kia certainly gets the job done.
However,
the main reason to ponder the K900 is its value. Yes, an as-new MSRP of
$50,000-$60,000 for a car made by the same folks who bring you the Rio may seem
as shocking as LeBron suddenly declaring his intention to play for the Knicks.
But in return for this high-for-a-Kia price, the K900 compensates
with a wealth of standard equipment and interior room. No other similarly
priced luxury sedan can match it for those qualities, and similarly sized and
equipped flagship sedans are vastly more expensive (as in you could buy a
well-equipped entry-level luxury sedan with the difference). Plus, as we
discovered during our long-term K900 test, it is a supremely comfortable and
quiet car that isolates its passengers from the rigors of any commute or road
trip.
Alas,
there are reasons why getting a K900 rather than any of those pricier luxury
sedans isn't a slam dunk. There is, of course, the badge. Kia has come a long way in this
world and every one of its less expensive products is competitive and appealing
in its own right. But the K900 is playing on a different court, one with
all-stars from Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and others. And besides the
obvious differences in brand perception, each of those brands provides superior
performance, driving dynamics, interior quality, feature content and overall
refinement. Take it around the block or just sit in the driver seat and it
shouldn't take long to understand why the K900 costs less.
But
how much less are those differences really worth? How much better is an Audi
A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS 460 or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, or even their
respective lesser A6, 5 Series, GS and E-Class siblings that are more similarly
priced to the K900? That's ultimately the question you'll have to answer, but
we think any budget-savvy luxury shopper would be wise to at least consider the
2016 Kia K900. Besides, it's not every day that you get to drive the same car
as a king. Well, sort of.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The
2016 Kia K900 is a full-size
luxury sedan that seats five. It is available in Premium V6, Luxury V6 and
Luxury V8 trim levels.
Standard
equipment on the Premium V6 includes 18-inch wheels, power-folding and
auto-dimming mirrors, automatic xenon headlights, LED fog- and running lights,
automatic wipers, a panoramic sunroof, front and rearview cameras, front and
rear parking sensors, a hands-free power trunk lid and keyless ignition and
entry.
Inside
you get three-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery and interior
trim, eight-way power front seats (with four-way driver power lumbar), heated
and ventilated front seats, driver memory functions, a power
tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, heated outboard rear seats and a power
rear sunshade. Tech equipment includes a rear USB charging port, Bluetooth
phone and audio connectivity, a 9.2-inch central infotainment display (with
console-mounted knob and button controls), a navigation system and a 14-speaker
sound system with a CD player, HD and satellite radios, an auxiliary audio
jack, a front USB port and a media player interface.
The
Luxury V6 adds an upgraded gear shifter (with steering wheel paddle shifters),
upgraded leather upholstery, wood interior trim and a heated steering wheel
with wood trim.
Besides
its bigger engine, the Luxury V8 adds 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, a
surround-view parking camera system, a credit-card-sized key fob and an
upgraded instrument/gauge display. Blind-spot warning, rear-cross traffic alert
and a lane departure warning system are also standard.
The
Luxury V6 trim can be equipped with a VIP package that adds the V8's
surround-view parking camera and safety warning systems along with adaptive
cruise control, an automatic emergency braking system, a head-up display,
additional front seat adjustments (12-way driver, 10-way passenger), four-way
passenger lumbar and a simulated suede headliner. It also bundles the Rear Seat
VIP package of power-reclining 60/40-split rear seats with ventilation,
adjustable lumbar and airplane-style folding sleeper headrests.
The
Luxury V8's VIP Plus package includes all that plus soft-close doors, quilted
leather upholstery, wood seatback trim and a "chauffeur" switch on
the front passenger seat that allows the driver to easily slide it forward for
added rear seat legroom.
Powertrains and Performance
The
2016 Kia K900 comes standard
with a 3.8-liter V6 that produces 311 horsepower and 293 pound-feet of torque.
As on every K900, an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive are standard.
All-wheel drive is not available. The EPA estimates that it will return 20 mpg
combined (17 city/26 highway).
The
Luxury V8 gets a 5.0-liter V8 good for 420 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque.
Rear-drive and an eight-speed automatic are again standard. The EPA estimates
the K900 V8 will return 18 mpg combined (15/23). During an Edmunds long-term
test of a K900 with this engine, we matched the EPA's figure with 18.1 mpg over
the course of 20,000 miles. In our performance testing, we timed the K900 from
zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds. It's certainly a respectable time, but similarly sized
and V8-equipped flagship luxury sedans are notably quicker.
Safety
Every
2016 K900 comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control,
front and rear side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, and front and
rear parking cameras. Blind-spot, rear cross traffic and lane departure warning
systems are standard on the Luxury V8 and optional on the Luxury V6. A forward
collision mitigation system with automatic emergency braking is optional on
both Luxury trims.
In
Edmunds brake testing, a V8-powered K900 came to a stop from 60 mph in 126
feet. This is longer than average for a large luxury sedan.
Interior Design and Special Features
On
the whole, the 2016 Kia K900
comes tantalizingly close to matching the quality and features of the German
luxury sedans it has in its sights. The interior design is pleasingly up to
date with a large 9.2-inch infotainment display mounted in the middle of the
dash and cues indicative of luxury brands. Options provide even more comforts,
including soft-close doors and reclining rear seats.
Upon
closer inspection, though, the K900 comes up short compared with established
luxury sedans. Even though the Kia's available wood interior trim is genuine,
its heavily lacquered and glittered finish gives it the look and feel of
plastic. And while the infotainment controller is similar to BMW's iDrive
interface, its complicated and unintuitive menus can be a source of
frustration. The numerous buttons scattered throughout the cabin also feel a
bit less substantial than we'd expect. Notably absent from the options list are
amenities like a rear entertainment system, redundant audio controls for
backseat passengers and seatback trays.
Getting
past these missteps is easy, however, when you consider the K900's long list of
standard equipment and its comfortable accommodations. Spending an entire day
touring the highways and byways is easy and fatigue-free for four full-size
adults thanks to well-shaped seats that are heated and ventilated. Further
helping to click off the miles is the powerful Lexicon sound system that offers
impressive performance, regardless of your taste in music.
Cargo
capacity for the K900 maxes out at 15.9 cubic feet, which is about average for
the class.
Driving Impressions
Neither
of the 2016 Kia K900's
available engines will blow you away with a rush of power. For the respective
six-cylinder and eight-cylinder classes of elite luxury sedans, the K900 is
below par in terms of acceleration. That said, acceleration is certainly
sufficient.
At
cruising speed, the K900's cabin is nearly devoid of wind and road noise. It's
one of the quietest cars we've tested recently. The ride quality is
comfortable, too, and most bumps and ruts are absorbed with ease. On choppy
pavement, however, the ride is a little on the busy side compared to other
large luxury sedans and it is prone to some nautical-like flout over big
undulations. That just doesn't happen in rival luxury sedans, which are also
usually available with an adaptive suspension that adds further comfort and
control to the ride.
Such
a suspension would also help shore up the K900's handling. As it is, the K900
perpetually feels heavy and ponderous. Pricier rivals do a much better job of
hiding their size for the driver while still delivering a limo-like cruising
experience for passengers.
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