Every automaker wants a flagship model; they crave a range-topping sedan the way husky children lust after Little Debbie Swiss Rolls.
It’s debatable whether either party actually needs what they desire, but for better or worse it seems they typically get what they want.
South Korean car company Hyundai has been on an unstoppable product push for the last decade while simultaneously improving their vehicles at a breakneck pace. It’s amazing how far they’ve come, especially when one looks at the Genesis and Equus sedans: credible luxury cars that sell for less than lavish prices. But Hyundai’s corporate sibling, Kia, has largely been left out to dry, especially since the anodyne Amanti was discontinued in North America a number of years ago.
But Kia just launched a new range-topping model called the Cadenza, a fraternal twin of the Hyundai Azera. This large front-wheel-drive sedan sits atop the brand’s ever-growing – and improving – lineup. On paper it delivers a convincing luxury argument but does it really have what it takes to compete in the premium segment? You’re about to find out because the 2013 Kia Cadenza is the subject of this week’s AutoGuide Five-Point Inspection.
It wasn’t long ago when Kias were considered the automotive industry’s facial tissue; they were something you’d use once and throw away like a snot-soaked Kleenex. But that’s no longer the case; Kia builds some truly impressive and stylish vehicles, the latest of which is the Cadenza.
Smooth surfaces, subtle details and a lack of excess ornamentation make the car appear clean and classy. This is no coincidence; a few years ago the company poached Peter Schreyer, Audi’s former design honcho. There are worse companies to steal talent from. The only questionable feature is the brand’s signature “Tiger Nose” grille, which doesn’t seem to work quite as well on such a large car. The taller opening loses a bit of its elegance.
From a design perspective the Cadenza fits the bill as Kia’s flagship model – for now at least. Who knows if or when the company could introduce something even nicer? This car has the power to surprise just sitting in your driveway.
Matching its upscale exterior is an equally elegant interior. The Cadenza’ cockpit is every bit as graceful and well built as its body. Cover the Kia logo on the airbag cover and most people would probably think the car was something from Lexus or Acura. Yes, it’s that good.
Thankfully there’s substance to back up all of that design charm. Customers are treated to a laundry list of standard equipment including a 12-speaker Infinity sound system, voice-activated navigation with an eight-inch display as well as push-button start. Dual-zone climate control, tiller-mounted paddle shifters and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror are also included at no extra charge.
Behind the Cadenza’s “Tiger Nose” face sits a thoroughly modern powerplant that’s ready to deliver a torrent of smooth performance as dictated by the terminal portion of the driver’s right-most load-bearing appendage (read: foot).
All Cadenzas sold in America feature a muscular 3.3-liter V6 engine. With an aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts it delivers a fuel-efficient wallop. Peak output is 293 horsepower with 255 lb-ft of torque. That’s plenty of beans to deliver more-than-acceptable, though not neck-snapping performance.
A “Sportmatic” six-speed slushbox handles gear-related duties. It’s a supremely slick transmission that slurs between ratios like a drunkard mangling the lyrics of Don’t Stop Believin’. Saving even more money at the pump, Cadenzas are setup to burn run-of-the-mill 87-octane regular-grade gasoline. Add it all up and the car is rated at 19 miles per gallon around town and 28 on the highway.
Space is another one of the Cadenza’s virtues. Out back, as is way out back it offers up nearly 16 cubic-feet of cargo space. That’s a few cubes shy of the new Chevy Impala, though it’s essentially identical to the Toyota Avalon. In short, there’s plenty of luggage space in the car’s boot.
Rear-seat passengers are also treated to generous space as well. There are nearly 37 inches of rear seat leg room. That’s about an inch less than what’s provided in a Ford Taurus. It’s enough for family, friends and even people you don’t necessarily like.
Beyond the niceties mentioned in Point No. 2, the 2013 Kia Cadenza offers numerous other high-end features. Advanced driver-assistance systems like blind-spot detection and lane-departure warning are available, as is “Advanced Smart Cruise Control,” ASCC for short. This is Kia’s name for adaptive cruise control technology. In traffic it’s capable of completely stopping the car and restarting it again.
A power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and electrically operated rear-window shade are also extra-cost add-ons, as is a seven-inch LCD display in the instrument cluster. But there aren’t that many options because, in typical South Korean fashion, the base Cadenza comes extremely well equipped. Base price for the car is a hair less than $36,000.
Thinking about buying a new car? Interested in the Cadenza?
Visit AutoGuide’s new car buying section here. If you want, you can skip to Kia.