There has perhaps been a long-standing notion that as far away as luxury vehicles are concerned, Kia isn't in the same club as Lexus and some of the others. The unveiling of this year's full-size sedan from them packs quite a punch in the luxury category, with an expertly crafted cabin, and very comfortable space to spend time in during a commute. It is equipped with the absolute most awesome in the tech department to boot, and assure that you pull up to your destination withs a high dose of swank and stye. From a black tie affair to your highly-anticipated date night of the week, the Cadenza was designed to provide you the swanky medium to cruise in while you mull over your dining or entertainment options for the night.
This is an all-new release for the year, and has gone through a complete re-design from front to back. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are two of the features that the gadget obsessed will get excited about: CarPlay is the slickest app out there to access all of your goodies on your smartphone at a minimal distraction level to the driver. You can toggle between recently used apps without fisrt having to hit the "home button" on CarPlay's newest version, a subtle change to its function that will help you navigate safer in the long run. A 3.3-liter V-6 engine has been successfully tinkered with to provide better fuel economy, and the vehicle operates with a new and efficient 8-speed automatic transmission.
Some of the features that you get with this luxurious new Kia lift are as follows:
- Proximity approach lighting
- 12-speaker Harman-Kardon audio system
- 8.0" touch screen infotainment center with full navigation
- Panoramic sunroof
The bottom line on the engine is that it may not be as overwhelmingly fast as some of the competition, but it is more than able to meet the needs of any commuter finding themselves in a familiarly pressed-for-time situation. Driving with the 8-speed automatic transmission feels fairly effortless, and while in Sport mode, shifts are more-than-noticeable. The smart mode that governs the entire process (if the driver wishes) switches constantly through the Eco, Comfort, and Sport settings to give you a balanced blend of fuel usage, response, and overall performance.
Fuel economy is one of the main things on many minds as there may be an uptick in prices this summer, and it is reported that the Cadenza falls behind those in its category from Buick, Toyota, and Nissan. For the St. Louis commuter that is looking to get to work or take the little ones to school in style, you are still going to notice a drastic difference from vehicles on the lot just a few years ago. 570 miles is the approximate distance you can cover while gleaning from its 18.5-gallon tank, and the overall handling capacity will make those happy that are seeking a full-size sedan for the squad.
Many drivers have claimed that the Cadenza is for the laid-back, and lead foots may not be 100% happy with the tiny elements of resistance you can experience when really trying to leave the stop light in the dust. But this is overall one classy choice for the price, and you're going to want to keep your golf clubs and best-pressed suit aboard at all times: the finer things in life are likely to collide with your cruising on a daily basis.
