This past week, I drove
our 2014 Kia Cadenza through my old
stomping grounds to pick up a friend for some much-needed dude time. As he slid
into the passenger seat, his first comment was "This is a Kia?"
Indeed, the Cadenza is very much a Kia. Despite many people's preconceived
notions that Kia is merely an
economy brand, the Cadenza delivers top-shelf amenities one would expect from a
luxury automaker such as Lexus or Acura. Still, a negative stigma remains in
some folks' minds, but it seems to me that Kia's time has come.
Pretty
on the Outside
The exterior of the Kia is nothing short of
beautiful, and the contrast between the snow-white pearl paint job and the
black grille really makes it stand out. It looks aggressive yet refined sitting
on the 19-inch chrome wheels. The Cadenza resembles
something out of a hip-hop video, except for the fact that (wait for it) it's a
Kia. In all honesty, I could totally picture Rick Ross gripping the wood grain
of the steering wheel. While disarming the security system at night, the Kia illuminates its perimeter
approach lighting, which is quite a sight to behold. The feature is simple yet
impressive and really makes a statement of elegance and refinement that's not
what some would have anticipated from a Kia.
Likewise
Pretty on the Inside
The interior of the Cadenza is as attractive as
the exterior, with buttery-soft leather seats that are both heated and
ventilated. The wood-grain-accented steering wheel has a heating option as
well, perfect for cold winter mornings when gripping the steering wheel is
highly uncomfortable. There's a rear sunshade for the warmer seasons, which is
an especially awesome feature in sunnier locales such as Atlanta. The wood trim
that adorns the interior is classy while still giving a contemporary feel. Even
the contrast of the outside is mirrored on the inside by the white seats with
black carpets.
UVO
How We Do
Surprisingly enough, the
infotainment and navigation systems are remarkably easy to use. In comparison
to the Honda infotainment system, I found that UVO infotainment and navigation
worked far better and was much more forgiving. Canceling the route could have
been easier, as this requires accessing additional menus, but with a little bit
of experience, it becomes pretty easy. Even the dual-zone climate control
worked well and staved off complaints of excessive air conditioning from my
tropically adapted girlfriend.
No
Thump
I'm well aware that most
stock audio systems are fairly lackluster, but after all the pleasant surprises
the Cadenza provided, the
omission of significant low-end sound was kind of a disappointment. The sound
is clear, but even with bass turned all the way up, there was no real thump
while listening to my favorite tracks. I guess that's not what Kia was going for, but with the
number of speakers prominently placed throughout the car, I expected much more
from the Cadenza. If you don't like speakers knocking while you cruise down the
street, then this audio system is probably right up your alley.
The
Drive
The Kia Cadenza did not
disappoint when it came time to get behind the wheel. The 3.3-liter V6 supplied
ample power and acceleration for passing on the highway while still remaining
refined and smooth on local streets. The suspension wasn't too soft and was
nimble enough for precise maneuvering. In addition, the Cadenza felt confident at high
speeds while still being easy to drive at lower velocities. I thoroughly
enjoyed this dichotomy, as the Cadenza is great to cruise around in but also a
lot of fun once you open up the throttle on the interstate.
Hard
to Give Up
After tooling around
town in the Cadenza for two weeks, I have to say that I will be saddened to
finally relinquish my keys and say goodbye to the lovely white Kia. It has
sufficiently impressed me at virtually every turn, and it will be tough to
transition into a press car that isn't the Cadenza. I will miss the luxurious
interior and the muscular yet refined engine; I will miss the way the
headlights illuminate when turning the Cadenza on late at night and the
pleasant chime that welcomes the driver when entering; and, of course, I will
miss the questions from the uninitiated. "This is a Kia?" Yes, it is.
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