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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