Everywhere
you look, the 2015 Cadenza impresses. It has physical presence, with crisp,
mature lines courtesy of Kia
honcho and former Audi design boss Peter Schreyer. Inside, the materials are
classy, giving the rival Toyota Avalon, for example, a real run for its money.
Standard features are plentiful, including an Infinity audio system and an
8-inch touchscreen. Throw in appealing options such as xenon headlights and
adaptive cruise control, and you have a whole lot of car for under $40,000.
What's New for 2015?
Changes
for 2015 include the availability of the Technology package on Premium models,
as well as a panoramic sunroof. Limited models will gain a new grille design
along with new standard features such as Flex Steer, a surround-view monitor
and rear cross-traffic alert.
What We Like
Lots
of standard luxuries; grown-up styling inside and out; roomy cabin; comfortable
yet capable on the road; excellent touchscreen interface
What We Don't
Big-league
pricing; V6 engine could use more low-end oomph; LED map lights remind us of
bad fluorescent office lighting
How Much?
$35,700-$44,600
Fuel Economy
The
front-wheel-drive Cadenza is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 290 horsepower.
The only available transmission is a 6-speed automatic. The Environmental
Protection Agency estimates the Cadenza's fuel economy at 19 miles per gallon
in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, good for 22 mpg combined.
Standard Features & Options
The Premium ($35,700) includes 18-in
wheels, an 8-in touchscreen navigation system, UVO voice recognition software,
Bluetooth, a 550-watt Infinity 12-speaker audio system, a rearview camera,
leather upholstery, and heated front seats with power adjustments for both the
driver and passenger. Also standard are heated power mirrors, auto-leveling
headlights, push-button starting, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate
control and fog lights.
The Limited ($44,600) includes all the
Premium trim's standard and optional equipment, leaving no major options.
Standard equipment includes a surround-view monitor, a rear-seat center-armrest
USB charging port and cupholders, premium trim for the headliner, pillars, sun
visors and rear parcel shelf, a panoramic glass sunroof, a power rear sunshade,
active HID headlights, 19-in alloy wheels, Advanced Smart Cruise Control, a
lane-departure warning system, a blind spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic
alert, a power tilt-telescopic steering wheel, an upgraded thin-film-transistor
gauge cluster, an electronic parking brake, Nappa leather seating, a12-way
power driver's seat with extendable thigh support, heated and ventilated front
seats, heated rear seats (outboard positions only) and a heated steering wheel.
Many
of the Limited's features can be added to the Premium package by ordering the
Technology package (blind spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert,
Advanced Smart Cruise Control, electronic parking brake and 19-in wheels) and
the Luxury package (HID adaptive headlights, a panoramic sunroof, Nappa leather
seats, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a
power tilt-telescopic steering wheel and a power rear sunshade.
Safety
The
Cadenza comes standard with anti-lock brakes, stability control and eight
airbags (front, front-side, rear-side and full-length side-curtain). The
Technology package adds a blind spot monitoring system, a lane-departure
warning system and water-repellent glass.
As
of this writing, the Cadenza had not been crash-tested by either the government
or the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Behind the Wheel
Settle
into the driver's seat of the 2015 Kia
Cadenza, and it immediately feels like a trusty companion. Whereas most other
large, front-wheel-drive sedans feel, well, large, the Cadenza wraps around you
with a driver-centric control panel and attractive, deep-set gauges. We also
prefer the Limited trim (or upgraded Luxury package on the Premium) due to its
7-in LCD driver information display, which makes the base gauge cluster seem
plain by comparison. There's nothing gaudy or over the top in here, though. On
the contrary, the Cadenza's interior styling reminds us (dare we say it) of a
BMW in the way it whispers "driver's car" with subtle cues.
The
Cadenza's main controls are logically laid out -- not always a given in a
premium sedan -- and we're thoroughly impressed with the 8-in touchscreen,
which follows in the iPad's footsteps with friendly icons and a high-resolution
display. As for build quality, time will tell, of course, but our initial
impression is that Kia
has raised its game to new heights. The materials look and feel upscale, and
the dash-mounted analog clock only adds to the effect.
On
the road, the Cadenza is dynamically neck and neck with established players
such as the Avalon and the Chrysler 300. The Cadenza's sophisticated suspension
lends it remarkable poise for a large car, and it smooths out rough pavement
with minimal road noise as a premium sedan should. We wouldn't mind more punch
off the line from the V6 -- the Avalon reigns supreme in this category -- but
otherwise, the Cadenza's driving demeanor is hard to fault. Cars like this are
typically more about the ride than the drive, but the big Kia lets you enjoy
both. 
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