Tuesday, September 23, 2014

2015 Kia Cadenza: New Car Review

The upscale V6-powered 2015 Kia Cadenza isn't just nice "for a Kia." It's one of the best large, front-wheel-drive sedans and features restrained styling, smooth driving dynamics and many desirable components. The Cadenza also comes with Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

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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