2019 Kia Cadenza

The Cadenza pokes the territories of some well-established vehicles such as the Chevrolet Impala, the Ford Taurus and the Chrysler 300. All of them are powered by V6 engines producing almost similar power figures. While all these cars are quite close on performance, the Cadenza is certainly the most premium and loaded offering in the segment. Let's have a better look at the Cadenza and see how it fares against the competition.

The Cadenza is offered in three trims – Premium, Technology and Limited. All trims are powered by the same engine and are also mated to the same gearbox. Each trim just builds on top of the other with more features and if you think that the base trim is out of the question, then you're highly mistaken. The Kia Cadenza flaunts one of the best-loaded base trims in a lineup. Come to the top trim and you'll be surprised with all the goodies. It is really luxurious and with some class-leading features, it also challenges the more premium and expensive European cars.

We’d Recommend:

For this price bracket, we would recommend the top-end trim as it flaunts the best feature-list in the competition. So much so, that even the more expensive Europeans get overpowered by the Cadenza's class-leading equipment list.

“While not as quick as its rivals, the Cadenza's V-6 engine is extremely refined and competent. The transmission could be more civilized, but the Smart driving mode makes the most of the powertrain's capabilities.” – Car and Driver

The Cadenza is powered by a 3.3L, V6 engine that lets loose 290 horses at 6,400 rpm and throws a force of 253 lbs-ft at 5,200 rpm on the crank. While the engine is adequately powerful for the car, there is no hint of eagerness from the engine. The power delivery is more gradual than instant but it sure is smooth and refined. It is an effortless cruiser.

This engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The gearbox is tuned towards efficiency because it likes to be at a higher gear at low RPMs. Also, at full throttle, it is a bit reluctant to downshift and passing maneuvers may take a little more time than you would expect. Still, it’s a fairly decent gearbox and gets its job done well enough.

When compared to the other engines in the competition, the Cadenza is competently powered. Only the Chevrolet Impala is a little more powerful than the others in the lot. Kia and Chrysler have 8-speed automatics whereas the Impala and Taurus come with 6-speed automatic gearboxes.

Acceleration

The Cadenza accelerates to 60 mph from a standstill in 6.8 seconds which is the slowest in the competition here. Keep the accelerator floored for a few more seconds and you'll clear the quarter-mile mark in 14.5 seconds.

There is certainly no hint of sportiness from the car. Acceleration is gradual and it takes considerable time to build up its pace. However, this car is not about outright acceleration. It was meant to bring much more luxury to an affordable price bracket, and indeed it does. Apart from that, it also offers the best in class ride quality.

Evidently, the Cadenza is the slowest in the competition. As it turns out, Ford Taurus lunges to the first position here which is followed by the Chrysler 300 and the Chevrolet Impala respectively. As mentioned earlier, the Cadenza is inclined more towards a comfortable ride as compared to the others.

Ride and Handling

The Cadenza intends to be a comfortable cruiser and that it does very well. It has a very good ride quality, perhaps not the best in the segment, but still plenty well. The cabin is hushed and all noises have been insulated pretty well indeed. It soaks up undulations on the road very well too.

A comfortable ride quality means compromised handling and the Cadenza lives up to that. There is a considerable amount of body roll around the corners if you push it a little hard. Also, undulations on the road cause the body to lean and rock to the side more than in other large sedans.

The steering, like in most Kias is mostly numb. It is light and easy to operate at low speeds but does not weigh up adequately at higher speeds. Also, the steering seems to be totally disconnected from the road and doesn't give any feedback to the driver. It’s typically a Kia and if you are a laid back driver, you wouldn’t complain at all. However, it’s certainly not meant for the enthusiast in you.

Braking

The Kia Cadenza does have good brakes. It decelerates from 60 mph to a standstill in just 115 ft which is pretty impressive for the segment. In fact, the Cadenza has the least braking distance in the competition here. Considering that it doesn't pack the punch you would expect from a V6, its braking performance comes as a surprise to us.

The brake pedal is adequately communicative and responds well to inputs on the pedal. There is good biting force and the braking remains predictable too. The suspension setup is adequately stiffened that further makes sure that the front end doesn't dive under hard braking applications.

As stated above, the Cadenza overpowers this lot clearly due to its lighter weight as compared to the rivals. If the numbers are to be believed, the Chevrolet should perform better than the rest considering that it has the bigger brakes and the lightest kerb weight in this comparison. However, the abrupt braking feedback is what drags the Impala's performance to the third position. The Chrysler 300 slides in between the Cadenza and the Impala, thus, leaving the Taurus behind especially because it is the heaviest contender here.

Kia's focus towards a calm and composed ride quality is not just limited to its performance and handling dynamics, but also its mileage too. A respectable figure of 20 MPG in the city from a V6 unit is just impressive. So, much so, that it outshines most of the rivals here. Take the Cadenza to the highway and this figure further escalates to 27 MPG and the overall mileage also takes a bump to 23 MPG - again, the best in class.

The Cadenza emerges as a crown-bearer here, hands down. Though its highway figures are slightly less than that of the Chrysler 300, the overall mileage just lines up head-to-head with it, thanks to the better city mileage from Cadenza.  The Impala follows the Chrysler closely, thus, leaving the Taurus at the last.

“The Cadenza's classy, well-built cabin provides the same luxuries as its rivals and then some. Outward visibility is good, too. A high-quality, elegant interior pulls cues from class-above manufacturers.” – Car and Driver

Design

The interiors too carry over the same premium feel with an understated elegance. The cabin has been laid out simplistically, nothing much fancy really, but the moment you are inside the cabin, you know it’s a premium car. The wood-like trim on the dashboard and accents of stitching all around give it a rich feeling. Material quality is very nice and fit and finish levels are top-notch too. There are a few hard plastic panels here and there but you won't really spot them unless you go all "Indiana Jones" on it.

An 8-inch infotainment screen takes center place on the dashboard flanked by the AC vents on either side. The climate controls and the audio controls are neatly stacked in two bands of switches. The center console area with the gear lever and several other controls look sleek as well.

The steering particularly feels very good to hold. It can also be heated and the digital screen in the instrument cluster in between the two analog dials is one of the coolest in the class. The aesthetic sense that went into designing the cabin is very pleasing. It is classy and certainly a notch above its segment.

Seating and Comfort

Kia seems to be overwhelmed with their attempt in highlighting the "Comfort" forte of their luxury sedan. For instance, the front seats are a little too cushioned for long drives. You will love them once you sit on them, but, this feeling slowly fades away and discomfort takes control in its place. Space is not an issue, its just that you won't be able to spend hours here on the front seats. The softer suspension setup and the under-sized bolsters on the seat translate to a distorted ride quality. However, the standard heated functions and 12-way adjustability on the front seats surely ease this discomfort up to quite an extent.

Surprisingly, the rear seats are bang on point. They are aptly cushioned and there's loads of legroom and shoulder room all around. Three people can easily fit in, however, the middle passenger might get a little uncomfy on long drives due to the hard cushion. The transmission tunnel also takes away some comfort too, but that's really not distressing. The hard cushion for the middle passenger, on the other hand, is. Apart from this, we barely have any complaints with the rear-seat comfort of the Cadenza.

Again on paper, Cadenza does not have the best interior dimensions but Kia has cleverly integrated a lot of space inside. That said, the Impala trumps all of the competitors here in this department. Not by a wide margin, though. All of these cars are equally matched in terms of passenger volume. The Cadenza stacks up at the last of this comparison just behind the Chrysler 300.

Infotainment System

The infotainment system in the Cadenza is pretty good for its standards. The base trim comes fitted with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system mated to an 8-speaker audio system. The other two trims feature a more premium 8.0-inch unit which is miles ahead of the one in the base variant. Further sweetening the deal is the 12-speaker audio unit by Harman Kardon (as shown below) that sounds phenomenal. The base and treble strike a perfect balance and certainly elevate the sense of luxury inside.

It comes loaded with lots of standard features but the system is sometimes slow to respond to inputs. Navigation through the menus can also get confusing at times. The interface is not the most fluid one either and gets laggy at times but it won't really drive you out of the car. 

But that’s just a matter of time and other than the fact that we would have liked a faster response time, the system is pretty nice with good graphics and features. It also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which makes things all the more convenient. However, the navigation system is not very efficient every time in identifying all the streets properly. That said, some highlighted features in the infotainment are:

• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Bluetooth music streaming with voice recognition
• Satellite Radio and Navigation

Cargo Capacity

Kia seems to be completely disinterested in this department. With a volume of 16.0 cu.ft, the Cadenza is the least spacious vehicle in terms of luggage carrying capacity. Further spoiling the mood, the rear row cannot be folded down in case you want more space. You just have to do with the 16.0 cu.ft of space only. As a consolation though, the rear armrest folds down to give a see-through passway only to accommodate a ski or a fishing rod through it, but that's about it.

If it makes you feel any better, the Cadenza has a flat-trunk floor with just one hump in the middle and the boot opens wide and high too. Loading/unloading won't cause any distress to you. Furthermore, the power-operated tailgate is icing on the cake.

It couldn't be more evident that Cadenza sits at the last of this competition. Ford Taurus overpowers this department clearly with a lot more space than the others. The Impala follows next while the Chrysler 300 barely manages to inch ahead of the Cadenza.

Interior Features

• Navigation and smartphone integration
• 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen interface
• 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Electric steering column adjustment
• Interior mood lighting
• Blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert
• Powered rear sunshade
• Manual rear door shades
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• 12-way driver’s seat with seat cushion extension
• Automatic high beams
• Head-up display
• Wireless smartphone charging
• Electric parking brake
• Nappa leather upholstery
• 360-degree exterior camera views
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane-keeping assist feature
• Paddle Shifters

“Thoughtful touches give the 2019 Kia Cadenza an upscale look, and while its styling doesn’t excite as much as the Stinger, many would confuse this Korean sedan for a German if the badge was removed.” – The Car Connection

Design

The Kia Cadenza is a very premium looking sedan. It has a certain poise and elegance to it which really makes it look like it belongs to a segment above. The designers have kept it simple, yet elegant. The concave grille reminds you of Maserati and the Z-shaped LED DRLs give it a distinctive look. The quad LED fog lamps add some zing to the otherwise simple and neat, but very elegant front fascia.

Come over to the sides and the neatness continues. There are bold creases across the length of the car and just beautifully contoured wheel arches that further accentuate the curves of the car. The 19-inch gloss wheels look absolutely stunning and contribute a lot towards the premium look of the Cadenza

The rear continues to be flush and neat. The LDR DRLs have been imitated at the rear as well with a chrome band joining the two tail lamp units. The sloping roofline gives a nice silhouette and the dual exhausts on either side conclude the look.

Exterior Dimensions

If you go through the data in the table, you might feel that the Cadenza is an odd one out here. However, do not get fooled by the numbers. Kia has very cleverly used this space to their benefit and once inside the cabin, you won't feel confined at all. However, on the outside, the Cadenza surely feels dwarfed in the segment. It may be smaller than the rivals but it gets the job done, thanks to its long wheelbase.

When pitted against the competition, the Cadenza stacks up at the end of this comparison. However, its 112.4-inch long wheelbase is more than the Impala in spite of being smaller in length and width from the latter. The Chrysler 300 emerges as the unmatched champion here with the longest wheelbase of the lot. If the wheelbase is neglected, then the Taurus trumps all other vehicles. It has a better road presence than rivals.

Exterior Features

• Unique Vertical Design Front Grille
• Body-Color Heated Power Mirrors w/ LED Turn Signal Indicators
• Panoramic Sunroof w/ Power Sunshade
• Solar Control Glass
• Sound-Absorbing Front Windshield and Front Door Windows
• Projector Beam Headlights with Auto-Leveling
• LED Headlights
• LED Front Fog Lights
• LED Rear Combination Lamps
• Integrated Dual Exhaust w/ Chrome Surround
• 19" Alloy Wheels, Dark Satin Finish

The Kia Cadenza comes loaded with plenty of safety features. In fact, it is perhaps the best-loaded vehicle in terms of safety-tech in the entire segment. The Cadenza has not been tested by NHTSA as of yet but IIHS has rated the 2018 model of this car and it carries over pretty much unchanged to the year 2019. In that respect, it scored very well by IIHS receiving ‘Good’ rating is almost every criterion.

• Dual Front Advanced Airbags
• Dual Front and Rear Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Full-Length Side Curtain Airbags
• Driver's Knee Airbag
• 3-Point Seat Belts for All Seating Positions
• Front Seat-Belt Pretensioners
• Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
• Rear Child-Safety Door Locks
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD)
• Brake Assist System (BAS)
• Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
• High-line Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Side-Impact Door Beams
• Front and Rear Crumple Zones
• Impact-Sensing Auto Door Unlock

Kia Cadenza vs Chevrolet Impala

The Chevrolet Impala has a little more power and torque than the Cadenza but that does not make much difference in the real world. What the Cadenza does much better than the Impala is in its ride quality and premium feel that the cabin gives. The Impala is also not the most enthusiastic handler but neither is the Cadenza. The Impala however just cannot match the premium-ness of the Cadenza. Yes, the Impala has a little more performance than the Cadenza but the latter is a much better value for money for what it offers.

Kia Cadenza vs Ford Taurus

Very close on paper, Ford Taurus is the better performer of the two. It comes with an all-wheel-drive system and handles better than the Cadenza. That said, the Taurus is really let down by its interiors. It does not have any sense of occasion and the all-black theme does not help it either. The Cadenza also has a better sense of style. And talking about style, the Taurus does not match up to the level of premium-ness in the Cadenza. At the same price point, choosing between these cars depends on what you want. If performance is your priority, Ford Taurus is a good choice, but for everything else, it’s the Cadenza.

Kia Cadenza vs Chrysler 300

The Chrysler 300 is a luxurious sedan, still not quite as modern as the Cadenza. It looks elegant but it seems like it belongs to the older generation. The interiors are well-appointed but lack the aesthetics of the Cadenza. Yes, it has good ride quality and a quiet cabin but so does the Cadenza. Also, it’s not so great in terms of handling or performance either. Being more expensive than the Cadenza, it does not make much sense to buy the 300. The Cadenza would be a much better car to live with.

The Kia Cadenza is an extremely good car for what it is. It looks very stylish, it has great interiors which are loaded with technology and garnished with great materials all over. The ride quality is very nice and it’s an effortless cruiser. Yes, it’s not the fastest and performance is not really its forte but it will do most other things much better than its competitors.

The Cadenza makes for a great daily driver and it really feels premium and special. Considering the price at which it is being offered, it also makes great value for money. No other car in this segment offers a complete package as good as the Kia Cadenza.

FAQs

Does the Cadenza come with a warranty?

The 2019 Kia Cadenza is backed up with a respectable 5 year/60,000 mile warranty. For more information, head over to the features tab at the beginning of this page.

It doesn't break down much, does it?

Kia(s) have been one of the most reliable vehicles to walk out of Korea. They are refined and robust at the same time. They can munch thousands of miles, considering you get them checked up regularly at fixed intervals.

Can Cadenza manage snowy areas?

The Cadenza comes equipped with tons of technology onboard that ensures it is favorable to be driven even in adverse weather conditions. Some of its features like the Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance, and Traction Control system keep an eye on the road for you and ensure, whether snowy or not, there's enough grip under the rubber.

What other options can I consider?

Apart from the ones mentioned above, Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, Genesis G70, and Lexus IS300 are a few other vehicles that fall in the same price bracket and are worthy of being considered against the Kia Cadenza.