2014 Kia Cadenza Limited: What's It Like to Live With?
Read the latest updates in our long-term road test of the 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited as our editors live with this car for a year.
What do you want to know about?
- Introduction
- The Problem With the Push-Button Parking Brake
- Back Seat Review
- Useful Trunk Features
- Auto Hold Feature of our 2014 Kia Cadenza Long-Term Test Car
- Fuel Economy Update for December
- An Optical Illusion in the Touchscreen, Maybe
- Adaptive (Curve-Following) Front Lighting System
- Performance Testing
- Clear, Concise Gauges
- Smooth V6 Engine
- Good Adaptive Cruise Control
- Well-Designed Storage Spaces
- Looks Like A Lexus?
- Upscale Interior
- Fuel Economy Update for January
- Help When You Need It
- Fancy Wheels
- Fuel Economy Update For February
- Uncomfortable Seat Belt
- My Top Three Reasons To Buy a Cadenza
- Responsive Transmission Pairs Well With the V6
- Big Panoramic Sunroof
- Handling and Ride Comfort
- Crisp Looking Screen and Map Graphics
- Huge Wheels = Firm Ride?
- Project Car
- Fuel Economy Update for March
- A Comfort
- Shopping Comparison: Genesis vs. Cadenza
- Trunk Full of Dishes
- IIHS Crash Test
- Fuel Economy Update for April
- I Need a Cooled Steering Wheel
- Distracting Adaptive Headlights
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Time For Maintenance
- Cooled Steering Wheel, Part 2
- Fuel Economy Update for May
- Infotainment and Lawyers
- 7,500-Mile Service
- Looks Like an Expensive Car
- Soft, But Capable Suspension
- Non-Chrome Wheel Recall
- Fuel Economy Update for June
- Pricing and the Competition
- Number One Sedan for Tall Drivers
- We've Cleared 10,000 Miles
- Road Trip Impressions
- About Adaptive Cruise Control
- Is $43,200 Too Expensive?
- Wind Noise
- The Seats Don't Fit Me
- Fuel Economy Update for July
- Trunk Lid Hit Me in the Head
- Parking Brake Bliss
- Off to College
- And Away We Go
- Even Granddad Is Impressed
- Very Adaptive
- Adjustable Knee Support VIDEO
- Extremely Comfortable
- Fuel Economy Update for August
- Overdue for Service
- Smart Seats
- Changing Public Opinion
- Back Seat Comfort
- Trunk Release Button But...
- Fuel Economy Update for September
- "Art" Car
- What Others Are S
- Stink Removal
- 15,000-Mile Service
- Handy Trip Info
- High-Tech Features
- Digital Dashboard Start-Up Show
- Easy-to-Use Navigation System
- Berkeley Road Trip, Part 1
- Berkeley Road Trip, Part 2
- Fuel Economy Update for October
- Las Vegas Road Trip
- 20,000-Mile Mark
- Road Trip to the Track
- I Dig the LED Lighting
- Fuel Economy Update for November
- Wrap-Up
Introduction
Kia's got a reputation with American shoppers, one that generally rings the "low price" and "great warranty" bells. That worked when the company was new to the scene, but now it wants to take a big step forward with cars that compete in higher price categories while still delivering huge value.
The all-new 2014 Kia Cadenza is a major step in that direction. It's a big four-door sedan packed with luxury touches and high-tech features. With a $36,000 base, it's easily the most expensive car the brand has ever sold in the U.S. But can it compete against long-entrenched luxury brands with well-known names and desirable reputations? We've got 12 months to find out just that.
What We Got
Kia has decided to avoid the traditional luxury play of oodles of options with the 2014 Cadenza. Instead, it's offering the car in two trims with minimal options. A Premium Cadenza starts at $35,900 and gets a 293-horsepower 3.3-liter V6, six-speed automatic transmission, voice-activated navigation with 8-inch display, back-up sensors, 19-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, heated leather 10-way power driver seat (four-way power passenger seat), stainless-steel illuminated door scuff plate, push-button start and more.
Kia loaned us a Limited model, which starts at $43,200. It adds chromed-out 19-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel, blind spot monitor, panoramic sunroof, HID headlights, LED foglights, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning system, 7-inch TFT display in the dash, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, powered rear sunshade, Napa leather, extendable thigh support and cooled seats.
The only actual option our test car has is the $50 cargo net, which makes this a $43,250 Kia Cadenza.
Why We Got It
The full-size sedan segment is shrinking. Midsize sedans have gotten bigger and bigger, and buyers wanting that traditional "big car feel" have mostly moved to SUVs. It's a shame, too, because the current crop of full-sizers is better than it's ever been. The new Toyota Avalon is powerful, comfortable, good-looking and maybe the best-driving Toyota available. And then there's the all-new 2014 Chevy Impala, a car that sucker-punched the entire segment by transforming from a rental queen into something truly desirable. Of course, there's also the Hyundai Azera, which is closely related to our all-new Cadenza. They even have the same engine.
It's a competitive field, but Kia's hoping that it can build some separation from the group with standout styling, a deep feature set and a price that is competitive, not cheap. But jumping that $40,000 barrier in a Kia is still a risky move. In our Cadenza First Drive we said: "The 2014 Kia Cadenza surprised us with an elegant combination of driving dynamics, build quality and easy-to-use tech features. But it won't do that for anyone who can't see beyond the badge."
Now we've got 12 months and 20,000 miles to see beyond the badge and if this 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited really can live up to its promises and its price tag.
Best MPG: 23.6
Worst MPG: 23.6
Average MPG: 23.6
The manufacturer provided this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
Like most new cars these days, our 2014 Kia Cadenza uses an electronic parking brake switch. They're the favored method these days as they tend to take up less space compared to a level or pedal in the footwell.
Although some on our staff loathe them, I don't mind them a bit, as long as they work logically. And by that I mean you push the button in to engage the brake and pull it out to release the brake, in other words, just like you would do with a pedal.
Seems easy enough, but every manufacturer seems to have its own idea for how it should work. In the Cadenza, you pull the switch up to engage it and push it in to release.
Normally, I would say that this is something that I would get used to over time, but I drove the Cadenza for five days straight and it never became second nature. Maybe after five months that would change.
Ultimately, I would prefer if it worked like our old Lexus GS. Put the car in Park and the emergency brake engages. Put it in drive and it automatically releases. Never had a problem getting used to that system.
Recently, I went to lunch with a few co-workers from other departments within Edmunds. We were five in total so three lucky men got to sit in the back seat of our 2014 Kia Cadenza.
Naturally, I asked for a back seat review. Here is what they had to say:
- While there was plenty of leg room available, hip room was cramped with three adults across.
- The back headliner is scooped out to provide additional headroom for the two side passengers but the middle seat lacks space. Despite this, all felt they had to bend their heads to keep from bumping on the top.
- Plenty of cool air was reaching them as the rear of the car has back-seat vents.
Here are some official specs on the back seat of the Kia Cadenza:
Rear Hip Room: 54.7 in.
Rear Head Room: 37.3 in.
Rear Leg Room: 36.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 56.5 in.
Our 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited has standard heated rear seats, but they don't fold forward to augment trunk space. I recently bought a tree trimmer from the home improvement store, and while 15.9 cubic feet is generous, I was grateful to find the armrest pass-through. I probably could have wedged the eight-foot pole in the interior, but this trap door was easier.
Also, the $50 optional cargo net came in handy when I recently bought some fire wood. Don't laugh. This is how city slickers often get their wood: from the grocery store and bound neatly in shrink-wrapped plastic.
The last time I saw a feature like this was on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. On the Mercedes, a quick jab of its brake pedal at a stop light engages the brakes and allows the driver to remove his foot from the pedal. Handy at those really long lights.
The way Kia does it, however, is with a button adjacent to the parking-brake button (shown in this blog entry). After pressing the button, an indicator lights in the instrument panel: White=ready, and Green=engaged. The next time the car comes to a stop, the brakes fully engage automatically. When the light traffic signal turns green, simply press the throttle normally and the Cadenza releases the brakes and the car gently pulls away.
Fine, call me lazy for it, but I like being able to relax both of my feet on the floor of the car while I wait for the traffic light. Also, when this system is active, the parking brake automatically engages when the vehicle is put in Park.
Our 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited is rated by the EPA to earn 22 mpg Combined (19 City/28 Highway). The first fuel entry was on Dec. 2, 2013, so this month's report is also its running total.
Total Miles Driven: 1,198.3
Total Gallons Used: 60.1
Lifetime Average MPG: 19.9
Despite those discouraging numbers, we have a decent shot of achieving the EPA's 22 mpg combined figure because two (with about 300 miles each) of the five fill-ups thus far showed 23.2 and 23.6 mpg. There was one lead-footed average-killing fill up that produced 16.3 mpg. Stay tuned.
Worst Fill MPG: 16.3
Best Fill MPG: 23.6
Average Lifetime MPG: 19.9
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City / 28 Highway)
Best Range: 367.9 miles
Current Odometer: 1,946 miles
Our 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited has a pretty nifty touchscreen audio unit. In fact, the clean graphics remind me of our long-gone 2009 Nissan GT-R. The reason for this post, however, is that while looking at the screen, it appears the dots in the background subtly dance or move to the music. It was my intention to show you this little trick, that is, until I reviewed the video.
After watching the video, I'm baffled. Relative to the text in front of the dots, the dots don't appear to move at all. To be sure, I went back out to the car and watched the dots again. I'd swear they move. Is this some sort of optical illusion? Has anybody else with a Cadenza witnessed the dancing dots? Please say you've seen the dancing dots.
Here are two videos trying to document the dots. I'm puzzled.
Our 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited has AFLS or Adaptive Front Lighting System as standard equipment. Like our long-term Mazda CX-5, the headlamps do a very good job of following the steering input for bends in the road.
Sorry, my daughter hams it up a bit too much, and it wasn't as foggy a day as it was when I recorded the Mazda, but you get the idea. Pretty neat tech for not that much money.
293 horsepower. Front-wheel drive. 3,700 pounds. Automatic. Our long term 2014 Kia Cadenza was made for long-distance cruising or trips straight up the 15 to Vegas. It was not made for the track.
But we took it there anyways. For science.
Drive Type: Front engine, front-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed automatic
Engine Type: Naturally aspirated, direct-injected V6
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 3,342 / 204
Redline (rpm): 6,750
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 293 @ 6,400
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 255 @ 5,200
Brake Type (front): Ventilated discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Brake Type (rear): Solid discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Suspension Type(front): Double wishbone, independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, stabilizer bar.
Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): P245/40R19 (94V) M+S
Tire Size (rear): P245/40R19 (94V) M+S
Tire Brand: Hankook
Tire Model: Optima H426
Tire Type: All season
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,770
Test Results:
Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.7 (2.9 w/ TC on)
0-45 (sec): 4.6 (4.8 w/ TC on)
0-60 (sec): 6.7 (6.8 w/ TC on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 6.4 (6.5 w/ TC on)
0-75 (sec): 9.8 (10.0 w/ TC on)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 14.9 @ 94.9 (15.0 @ 95.2 w/ TC on)
Braking
30-0 (ft): 31
60-0 (ft): 122
Handling
Slalom (mph): 62.0
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.82 (0.80 w/ESC on)
Db @ Idle: 37.2
Db @ Full Throttle: 72.6
Db @ 70-mph cruise: 64
RPM @ 70: 2,100
Comments:
Acceleration: Even with traction control left on, it allows a little bit of wheelspin from a dead stop. Shutting traction control off and getting it just right only nets a tenth of a second, so it's hardly worth it. Also, while there's a manual shift mode and the transmission still auto-upshifts and these don't seem any different from Drive. All the shifts are smooth and relatively quick regardless of mode.
Braking: The first stop was eight feet shorter than the fourth and last stop. While the pedal remained quite firm, the distance fade was noticeable. Modest dive, but always straight. I wouldn't say these were good brakes, just adequate for a family sedan.
Handling:
Slalom: Steering is quick (ratio) and more responsive than I would've imagined for this car. It turns in confidently, rolls quite a lot, but begins to pendulum with each successive cone. ESC is calibrated to react late in the process and so it is rather heavy-handed with its brake application(s). Still, go about the slalom with minimal upset to the chassis and minimize steering input, and it is a confident handler, but certainly not a benchmark by any means.
Skidpad: Disabling ESC here only improves the max grip by a small margin. I could 'steer' the car with the throttle, pointing it in or out of the circle at will, but leaving ESC/Trac on earned practically the same level of grip and it merely drove around with the throttle managing progress. Steering actually feels rather good, with enough information and not too much weight to muddy the experience.
One thing I like about the 2014 Kia Cadenza is its simplicity. For a car with such a long list of features, it's not overwhelming in the least. A good example of this is the gauge cluster.
As you can see, it's a pretty basic design. Some consider it too boring for a luxury car, much like the setup in our Cadillac ATS. But I like it for a few reasons.
One, it's easy to read at a glance in all types of lighting conditions. Two, all the basic info is there, but if you want to add miles to empty, a trip meter or various other kinds of auxiliary information, it can be done, and done easily. And finally, it matches the general styling aesthetic of the rest of the car. Most of the other controls are similar in their simplicity. One of the reasons the gauges seem so plain in our ATS is the fact that the rest of the controls are anything but plain and simple.
Overall, I think the general design of the Cadenza's interior leans toward usability over flash. And for a sedan like this, that's the right kind of theme.
The 3.3-liter V6 engine in our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited is rated at 293 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. While that power rating isn't exactly thrilling in comparison to our long-term Corvette or SLP Panther Camaro, it does deliver really smooth acceleration.
When you mash the gas pedal for a passing maneuver on the highway, the Cadenza downshifts smoothly and gets up to speed just the way you'd expect a V6-powered full-size sedan to do. And from a stop in city traffic, the acceleration is immediate and steady.
With that said, these impressions are based on me being the car's only passenger over the weekend. I'm curious to see how the Cadenza performs on long, uphill grades or when it's loaded down with more cargo.
Last night on my commute home I activated the adaptive cruise control in our 2014 Kia Cadenza and discovered that's it's a truly useful feature, even in L.A traffic.
The problem many of these systems have is an inability to deal realistically with traffic. You know, the real world, where people change lanes, cut you off and diminish your space cushion. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Cadenza's system — in medium traffic, anyway — is able to cope with such realities. It doesn't jam on the brakes when someone steals your space cushion and it accelerates quickly enough when the gaps increase again. The distance to the car in front is highly adjustable as well.
I'm yet to discover if this system is capable of taking the Cadenza to a full stop and then bringing it back to speed, a situation which different manufacturers handle differently. I'll report back when I discover how it responds in heavy traffic.
Accessible storage space isn't always a given in modern cars, even high-priced luxury models. Our $100K+ Tesla doesn't have anything more than a big flat space on the floor to put things down once you get in.
As you can see, the 2014 Kia Cadenza has a handy space just in front of the shifter. It's not a huge compartment but there's enough room to toss a wallet, a cellphone and some keys. The proximity of the USB port also makes it handy for phone charging. This kind of thing is hardly ground breaking, but it does make our Cadenza seem that much easier to live with.
And once you're under way, it's a car that doesn't do anything annoying in terms of how it works. Everything is where you expect to find it and generally works as you expect it to. In many ways, that's more luxurious than fancy features you never use or can't find.
He was eyeing the big Korean sedan like it was a naked Kim Kardashian sitting there in front of the hotel. Then, as the valet dropped the keys in my hand, he couldn't resist.
"That's a Kia?" he said.
"It is," I responded.
"It looks like a Lexus," he said.
"I guess that's a good thing?"
"You bet."
So there you have it. The Kia Cadenza looks like a Lexus.
To put it simply, the 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited's interior is a nice place to spend time.
Two areas in particular stand out for me: The leather seats and the headliner.
The seats feel a level above the Kia's pay grade due to the supple leather covering. Not only do these hides help give the car a quality feel, but the soft leather keeps you from sliding around the way you do in many of the more slippery leather seats out there.
Look up (maybe not while driving), put your hand on the ceiling and you'll realize the headliner is of a soft Alcantara-ish or suede-like material, a definite rarity at the Cadenza Limited's $43,250 price point. Looks nice, feels nice.
We added over 1,500 miles to our 201 Kia Cadenza's odometer in January. Our MPG numbers have started to improve slowly with a lifetime average that's climbed from 19.9 to 21.1 mpg. Our best range improved too, from 367 to 390 miles.
While we're closing in on the EPA's combined rating of 22 mpg, with our best fill to date at 24.8 mpg, we've not yet hit the 28-mpg highway rating.
Looks like we need to get the Cadenza out for some dedicated highway miles.
Worst Fill MPG: 16.3
Best Fill MPG: 24.8
Average Lifetime MPG: 21.1
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway)
Best Range: 390.2 miles
Current Odometer: 22,585 miles
I pair my phone to just about every new car I get in and it's not always obvious how to do it. Our 2014 Kia Cadenza is actually quite easy to figure out, but Kia knows that everyone has a different level of comfort with such things so it displays the phone number to its customer assistance program right on the screen.
Why is this worth noting? For one, it's just plain smart. You have customers who might be having trouble pairing a phone so why not give them an easy out if they get frustrated? They already have their phone in their hand.
It's also worth noting because while many, if not all, manufacturers have customer assistance lines, but if you don't have the number handy they don't do much good. I would have never thought to call Kia to get help pairing a phone, but when the number is right there on the screen it becomes a viable option. Not groundbreaking stuff here, but it is smart design.
These 19-inch alloy wheels with chrome finish on our 2014 Kia Cadenza are too busy for me. I certainly wouldn't want to hand-wash them.
What do you think of the style?
February was a fairly quiet month for our 2014 Kia Cadenza as we added only about 900 miles. Our lifetime fuel economy dropped a little, as well.
For the month, we averaged 18.8 mpg, and it's fair to assume that average is because of a lot of city driving. Lifetime, we're now at 20.5 mpg, which is less than last month's 21.1. And yes, we're still below the EPA's combined estimate of 22 mpg. Clearly, our Cadenza could stand a couple of road trips to Vegas to stretch its legs. And really, there's not much else in our fleet right now that would do a better job of it, don't you think?
Worst Fill MPG: 16.3
Best Fill MPG: 24.8
Average Lifetime MPG: 20.5
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway Combined)
Best Range: 390 miles
Current Odometer: 4,444 miles
I find the seat belt fastener in our 2014 Kia Cadenza to be uncomfortable. I have the same problem with our Kia Forte.
There is too much hard plastic around the buckle and it's thick. I find myself constantly trying to adjust it as it digs into my body.
Maybe it's because I'm short and I have to move the seat very forward. It sits wrong on me.
Any other Kia owners have a problem with seat belt comfort?
Perhaps you're shopping for a large sedan. There are a lot of solid cars to choose from, including the Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera and Toyota Avalon. After spending some time with our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza, I've come up with three top attributes where I think it holds the most appeal.
Exterior styling. Maybe you like it or maybe you don't, but the Kia Cadenza does stand out in the large sedan segment. It has a fairly distinctive look, particularly because of its aggressively shaped headlights and grille.
Premium interior. Our Cadenza's interior is classy. The leather and interior plastics are of high quality, and the overall design looks modern without looking overly done. As expected, the back seat and trunk are roomy, too.
Kia packs in the features. Just about all the top features for a large sedan come standard on the Cadenza. You can't even get a Cadenza without navigation, for instance. Our test car, being the Limited, has even more. If you like fully loaded cars and don't want the hassle of shopping around for a car with just the right option packages, the Cadenza will work out well.
Previously, Travis Langness wrote about our 2014 Kia Cadenza's smooth V6 engine. To add to his comments, I also think Kia has done a nice job programming the six-speed automatic transmission.
The most noticeable aspect to me is that the transmission downshifts properly when you press down on the gas pedal. There's no delay or rush to sixth gear as soon as possible like you can get on some other cars. In their defense, those automakers are just looking to get the best mpg possible. And if you look at our underwhelming Cadenza's fuel economy so far, you might argue that these qualities should be implemented here, too.
But for me a large front-wheel-drive sedan should be about effortless power. Our Cadenza's got that. It moves smartly from a stop and revs and downshifts willingly. It even has paddle shifts on the steering wheel. The paddle shifter's downshifts aren't perfectly rev-matched, but they're not completely herky-jerky, either. Overall, our Kia Cadenza's V6 and six-speed auto suit the car nicely.
Our 2014 Kia Cadenza is full of features to impress your passengers. The dual-pane panoramic sunroof is one that my two young children happen to enjoy quite a bit when they are sitting in back.
Only the front sunroof opens (if you want to be technical, I guess you could call it the moonroof) but the combination does cover nearly the complete length of the roof, which makes it fun for rear passengers. The sunroof shades are nice, too, as they open smoothly and match the simulated-suede material of the headliner.
The downside to all this is the sunroof (it is an option) cuts into available headroom. I'm 5-foot 10-inches, and I don't have a problem, but I could see where drivers taller than 6 feet might take issue.
In its news releases supplied to automotive reviewers, Kia says its 2014 Cadenza "promises to appeal to shoppers who want both comfort and performance from a premium-level sedan." For the most part, I think Kia has been successful in that promise.
We've already noted in previous updates that the Cadenza has a strong V6, so I thought I'd focus more on the car's handling and ride comfort. First of all, though, you do have to check your expectations. This is a large, heavy sedan, and you'll feel it the first time you drive through a turn with a respectable amount of speed. There's a real sense of mass with the car (more than you'd get with a midsize, like an Optima), and the steering can feel heavy and not very communicative. But for this class of car, I'd say the Kia Cadenza is still one of the better handling models. It's not overly soft. You can have some confidence with how you drive it.
There is a small trade-off for this. Overall, the Cadenza has a comfortable ride, and it handles dips and bumps with ease. But there is a firmness to the suspension that can show up when you drive over sharper impacts like potholes or expansion joints. It's not off-putting necessarily, but if you're expecting traditional large-sedan levels of comfy as you drive down a rutted street, you won't get it here.
I'd love the opportunity to drive our Cadenza back-to-back with a new Chevrolet Impala or Chrysler 300 as I suspect they also offer a similar, balanced mix of handling capabilities and ride comfort. For now, though, our Cadenza seems pretty good to me.
One feature I happen to like (of the many) on our 2014 Kia Cadenza is its 8-inch touchscreen display. It comes standard on every Cadenza.
In particular, I think the navigation map is well done and seems upscale in its presentation. The screen and color choices clearly show streets and names when you're zoomed in. Also, there's just the right amount of detail. There's not too much to be jumbled nor is there not enough to be useful. Two other bonuses are the displayed speed limit for the road you're on and an easy to find button to change map orientation.
As for the actual navigation system's operation, I've only used it once. But for that one time, I was able to use voice commands to easily enter the address. And yes, it got me where I needed to go.
I spent a weekend with our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited, and as I expected, it has an expansive interior, plenty of amenities and solid acceleration courtesy of its direct-injected 3.3-liter V6 engine. It also has a pretty firm ride over the ruts and seams on the city streets and highways in Southern California, an issue that Brent hit upon in an earlier update (http://www.edmunds.com/kia/cadenza/2014/long-term-road-test/2014-kia-cadenza-handling-and-ride-comfort.html).
In fairness, we don't have great roads here in spite of the clement weather. So a lot of cars ride too stiffly for my taste. Still, with our Cadenza Limited, there's little doubt that its borderline outlandish wheel/tire package plays some role in my mild discomfort.
This was the scene when I returned to a parking lot on Sunday morning. (Yes, yes, I'm parked in a red-curbed loading zone. Ordinarily, this would be a no-go of course, but on Sunday mornings, the prohibition on parking in a red zone is suspended in this particular parking lot so I'm in the clear with the LAPD in this regard.)
Parked behind the big Kia is a 2001-'03 Lexus LS 430, and the difference in alloy wheel surface area and sidewall thickness is striking. I didn't take the time to check the tire size on the Lexus, so I'm unsure whether these are 225/60R16 tires or 225/55R17s (I'm leaning toward 16s), both of which were available with a chrome-plated wheel option during these years.
Either way, they look positively puny side by side with our Kia Cadenza Limited's zillion-spoke 19-inch wheels and 245/40R19 94V Hankook Optima H426 tires.
If I decided to buy a Cadenza, I'd have to go with the Premium model (which we've tested as well), which has 18-inch wheels. Alternatively, I'd get a Toyota Avalon or Chevy Impala, which might give you the impression I'm getting old. And I'm OK with that, because I'm of the mind that large, front-wheel-drive cars should give priority to ride comfort over wheel fashion.
I've been bugging my boss to let me do an Edmunds project car for years, but my pleas have fallen of deaf ears. That was until I made a fatal mistake.
I said, "I don't even care what car it is, I'll do anything."
Ooops.
Welcome to the first installment of Project Cadenza. The goal here is to develop a show car to grace the SEMA floor this November in Las Vegas. That means I've got six months to get this done. Fortunately, I've been given an unlimited budget, so the sky's the limit.
Concept one is shown above. I call it the CaStancedA. It's been dropped to the ground (poorly) with all of the negative camber. I also had to go with a rear wing because...ummm...you know...downforce? Whatever, the kids will love it.
Here we have the second concept. I call it the CaDonkZa. That's right, I donked this beast. In my extensive Google image search for Donks I kept seeing graphics on cars for candy and breakfast cereals, so I figured I'd join in with a more mature alternative.
Then there's CrushDenza, the monster truck. Probably not feasible, so I didn't spend as much time in Photoshop on this one. But hey, maybe it'll appeal to some untapped Kia demographic?
My favorite is the ClimbDenza, built expressly for the Pike's Peak hill climb. Admittedly, I'm more interested in getting all the free swag from my proposed sponsors.
The easiest concept by far would be the Kia Credenza.
So there are my initial concepts. Which one do you think I should use? Are there any you'd suggest? You know the drill, leave a comment.
We added 1,000 miles to our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza in the month of March. That came out to four tankfuls of 87-octane fuel. During that time we averaged 20.4 miles per gallon, which is how most months are averaging with our Cadenza. This left our overall numbers pretty much unchanged.
We're running less than two miles off the EPA combined estimate of 22 mpg. Now that spring has arrived, you can count on a few road trips to improve these numbers.
Worst Fill MPG: 16.3
Best Fill MPG: 24.8
Average Lifetime MPG: 20.6
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway Combined)
Best Range: 390.2 miles
Current Odometer: 5,442 miles
Did you ever have one of those days when everything just seems blah? You feel blah, the weather is blah. You end up at the office way too late, and still somehow the traffic is worse than blah.
I had one of those days recently. Fortunately, I had signed out the 2014 Kia Cadenza for the evening. This is a very comfortable sedan. Power comes easily. The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth. The interior is roomy and the perforated Nappa leather driver seat sits well.
The insulation keeps much of the road noise out of the cabin, so I put on some relaxing music. I popped on the seat heaters and the heated steering wheel. Even though it is never really cold in southern California, there is still something about the warmth of the heated steering wheel that I find very comforting.
Overall, this is a very mature and pleasant car to drive.
I'm sometimes guilty of making broad assumptions. "The 2014 Kia Cadenza is just like a Hyundai Genesis sedan," I said to myself. This is somewhat true on a superficial level. Both cars are roughly the same size and represent the luxury offerings from their respective brands. There is also a higher-end car above each (the Hyundai Equus and the Kia K900). The Kia Cadenza and the Hyundai Genesis cost roughly the same too. The 2014 Kia Cadenza starts at $35,900 and the 2014 Hyundai Genesis starts at $36,120. But despite these similarities, there are some differences too.
For starters, the Kia Cadenza is front-wheel drive, while the Hyundai Genesis is rear-wheel drive. Also, the $220 price difference on the Genesis buys you a larger V6 (3.8L vs. 3.3L in the Cadenza) with 333 horsepower (40 more than the Cadenza). The Genesis has an 8-speed transmission while the Cadenza makes due with a 6-speed. The Cadenza has a 1 MPG edge in combined fuel economy, but the Genesis has a slightly larger fuel tank, so it would potentially have more range. The Genesis has a control knob interface, while the Cadenza uses buttons and a touchscreen.
Standard navigation and rain-sensing wipers are a couple of items that favor the Cadenza. Beyond that, these two cars are very comparably equipped. From this point on, it really comes down to styling. The Cadenza looks more stylish and modern to me, but if we were talking about the 2015 Hyundai Genesis, I would prefer that over both the Cadenza and the 2014 Genesis.
I mentioned earlier that I made broad assumptions. I asked our analysts for the models that people cross-shopped against the Cadenza. The Genesis didn't even make the cut. What follows may surprise you:
Top three cross-shopped models for Cadenza in March 2014:
1. Acura MDX
2. Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
3. BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo
Top three cross-shopped for the Cadenza in Q1 2014:
1. Volkswagen Passat
2. Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
3. Tesla Model S
Top 3 reverse cross-shopped models (People that started on another car and looked at the Cadenza) for March 2014:
1. BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo
2. Hyundai Azera
3. Kia K900
Top 3 reverse cross-shopped models for Cadenza in Q1 2014:
1. Kia K900
2. Hyundai Azera
3. Kia Forte
Clearly, these cars are all over the map. Our business analytics team suspects that the Edmunds long-term fleet lineup has influenced the results. The Cadenza is still new, so these results should sort themselves out over time.
What would you choose? Cadenza or Genesis?
I finally broke down and bought a new set of grown-up "everyday" dishes yesterday, but I was a little dismayed to find that each of the 32 pieces were separate, none of them packed in a box.
Even though the porcelain pieces were individually wrapped, I was concerned about the four large shopping bags rattling around in the trunk of our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza.
No fear, the bags, plus a few additional items, fit snuggly in the Cadenza's well-finished 15.9 cubic-foot trunk.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded Top Safety Pick 2013 status to the 2014 Kia Cadenza after it received "Good" ratings in all four categories (moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint) but the award doesn't necessarily carry over to 2014.
As an early-introduction 2014 model, the Kia qualifies for the 2013 Top Safety Pick but may not meet the tougher criteria for 2014 Top Safety Pick.
For 2014, the IIHS adds the new small overlap front crash test which duplicates what would happen if the car crashed into a pole on the driver's side.
During the month of April, we added 1,300 miles to the odometer on our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza. The Kia used 67 gallons 87-octane fuel during that time and the average lifetime MPG moved down just a bit, from 20.6 to 20.4 mpg. Here are the rest of the numbers on the Cadenza.
Worst Fill MPG: 16.3
Best Fill MPG: 24.8
Average Lifetime MPG: 20.4
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway Combined)
Best Range: 390.2 miles
Current Odometer: 6,791 miles.
I had our 2014 Kia Cadenza parked in my front driveway. It was unexpectedly hot when I left for work and the morning sun had been beating down on the car. The inside was stifling.
Our Kia Cadenza has heated and cooled seats. While I'm not really one to use the seat coolers, I tried them out. They always seem a little weird to me so I only kept them on a few minutes. Cooled seats are a strange sensation.
Right above the seat cool/heat button is the heated steering wheel button. I love to use the heated steering wheel when the weather is chilly. Besides being comfortably warm, it's also soothing after a day of typing and mousing. But the sun had made the steering wheel so hot to the touch, it made me wish for a cooled steering wheel.
Is there even such a thing?
How do you deal with your car in the hot summer months?
One of the standard features in our 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited is the Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS). If you're not familiar with adaptive headlights, you're not alone. Adaptive lights are primarily found in luxury cars, and although they've been on the market for a bit over 10 years, they are still new to many people, like me for example.
According to the Kia Web site, AFLS on the Cadenza "helps improve cornering visibility by moving the headlight beam into upcoming turns."
Driving the Cadenza after dark on my normal canyon drive home, the light beams were projecting front and center, and occasionally to the left, then to the right, performing as intended.
But the headlights were distracting me, adding little to my drive. Perhaps they will grow on me if I spend more time with them, but for now, I think I prefer fixed headlights. While driving with quick twists and turns, the lights moved in ways I wasn't accustomed to, and more than once I caught myself paying attention to them instead of the drive.
Am I living in the past by preferring standard headlights, or do adaptive headlights simply take getting used to?
As we edge closer to self-driving cars, it's interesting to see how different manufacturers design the adaptive cruise control systems. That feature in the 2014 Kia Cadenza is more refined than any I've driven. If I could learn to trust it (I can't stop hovering my foot over the brake) it would cut stress and make my congested commuter a lot easier.
Here's how it works.
Using the steering wheel controls, I set the speed I want to go, say 65 mph. If a car in front of me is going slower, the radar system detects its presence and adjusts my speed to follow at a safe distance. And, by the way, Kia seems to allow a closer following distance than other manufacturers. This is nice for cities like Los Angeles where gaps in traffic inspire blind rage in other drivers. They expect you to be right on the bumper of the car in front of you.
Now here's where it gets interesting. If the car in front of you slows all the way down to zero, how does the system handle this? And what happens when traffic starts moving again?
Again, with my foot hovering over the brake, I let the adaptive cruise control system slow me all the way down to a stop. If this stop was momentary, the car would then automatically speed back up to my pre-set speed. But if the stop was longer than about 3 seconds, a rather poorly worded message would appear reading, "Available to resume acceleration control." The true meaning was carried by a picture of a foot stepping on the accelerator. In other words, the adaptive cruise control feature didn't disengage, but it was asking for an input from the human driver before it would continue.
After experimenting with the system I realized that, in stop-and-go traffic, I could drive the 25 miles of freeway to the office without touching the brake at all. I might need to dab the gas every once in a while to wake it back up. But other than that, all I needed to do was steer.
But the biggest problem remains disengaging the human driver. After years of driving I'm pretty well conditioned to hit the brake when traffic is stopping in front of me, a logical response. Now, the car will do that for me.
We just passed the 7,500-mile mark in our 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited, which means it's time to take the sedan in for its first scheduled service at the dealer, as noted by the maintenance reminder on the instrument panel.
What exactly will the first service entail?
See the photo of the owner's manual for what checks will be performed beyond an oil change and tire rotation.
I second Donna's desire for a cooled steering wheel in our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza.
During the same stretch of 100-degree days, I came out from the movies, grabbed the steering wheel and "yikes, that's hot!"
The problem rests solely with the upper wood portion. The leather on the majority of the wheel reacts just fine to high temps.
Personally, I've never been a big fan of the whole leather/wood two-tone combo wheel thing anyway. I like to have a uniform texture, plus the wood is a little too showy for my sensibilities (if I have any).
Now that I realize how hot it gets, I like the wood even less. Just give me leather. Or even better, Alcantara. That last one is highly unlikely in a Cadenza.
Thanks to a day-trip to Palm Springs, about 220 miles round trip, we added a total of 1,634 miles to our 2014 Kia Cadenza in May.
Due in part to a lot of highway driving, the lifetime MPG nudged up a little from 20.4 to 20.5 MPG. This is still below the 22 combined MPG observed by the EPA. Here are the rest of the numbers on the Cadenza.
Worst Fill MPG: 16.3
Best Fill MPG: 24.8
Average Lifetime MPG: 20.5
EPA MPG Rating: 22 combined (19 City/28 Highway)
Best Range: 390.2 miles
Current Odometer: 8,424 miles
Loving our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza. This is a great looking sedan with satisfying performance, extreme levels of comfort and an impressive list of luxury features. It has also proven to be dead reliable.
But there is one thing about this sedan that annoys.
And that one thing is this disclaimer screen.
It appears every time you start the Cadenza's engine. And to rid it from your life you have to press "Agree". But it'll be back. Spend the day running errands in the Cadenza and you'll press "Agree" when you leave the house, again after the ATM stop, again when you leave Home Depot, and...you get the idea.
I just wrote about this same annoyance in our long-term 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. Both cars use the same infotainment system and both brands obviously fear the same lawyers.
A digital wrench and ominous countdown clock displayed on startup meant that our 2014 Kia Cadenza was due for its first service. At 7,500 miles, the Cadenza receives standard low-mileage maintenance items like an oil change and tire rotation. It was time for service, but we had more pressing reasons for a dealer visit.
We've had several problems with the Kia. First, the fuel tank neck was not securely attached to the car's body, which in addition to being a fairly significant mechanical problem, consistently triggered fuel pumps to shut off early. Also, a member of our video team reported that the Cadenza entered its limp mode as he drove around town. The problem was solved using the tried and true "turning it off and on again" method, but it needed to be addressed. I grabbed the keys for the weekend and brought it to Kia of Cerritos.
I met with my service advisor, Nick, at 2:45 p.m. and explained what I needed. He appeared baffled at the lack of bolts securing the fuel tank neck and concluded it might have been an oversight at the assembly plant. He would also check for error codes relating to the car's limp mode activating. He promised to call back before 5:30, and I was on my way.
At 4:30, Nick contacted me with updates. Service was done but, disappointingly, there were no error codes to explain the Cadenza's earlier limp-mode failure. I was told the techs attempted to recreate the problem to no avail. If the problem manifested itself again, we were to take it to the nearest dealer immediately to diagnose the problem. Four big bolts now rendered the fuel tank neck immobile. The bolts aren't pretty, but they are correct.
Our sedan was only out of service for a few hours while most of our needs were met. The service was free thanks to Kia's complimentary three-year/37,500-mile maintenance plan for the Cadenza.
If there were no badges or other clues to tip them off to its brand, the average car buyer would probably think our 2014 Kia Cadenza was a high-end German or Japanese luxury sedan.
And who could blame them? Other than a tad too much chrome for my tastes, our Cadenza has clean, handsome styling that looks good from any angle. There's nothing gimmicky about it either. No unnecessary scoops, trim pieces or otherwise odd looking extras that detract from the overall design.
That same restraint continues on the inside. It's a classic setup with large, analog dials, simple controls and high quality materials. Nothing takes a manual to figure out and yet it has all the high-end features you could want.
Not a bad package if you can get past the Kia badge.
There's nothing remotely sporty about the 2014 Kia Cadenza. Its suspension is tuned for comfort above else, and that's a good thing. There are plenty of sport sedans in this category already. Kia didn't need to add another.
Instead, the Cadenza has a soft, compliant setup that soaks up big hits without a shiver, all while gripping the road with enough tension to keep it from feeling like a balloon-tired cruiser from 1985. It's a well-tuned compromise that makes the car enjoyable to drive at a moderate pace.
Just for kicks, I entered a freeway off-ramp a little hotter than normal to see how it would handle it. Turns out there's more grip and stability that you might think. It leaned over quite a bit, but eventually the Cadenza settled down enough to maintain its line with a little help from the stability control system.
I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't get out of sorts. I think most owners would be surprised, too. The Cadenza feels so forgiving over rough pavement that you would hardly believe it can corner as well as it does.
Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of shiny chrome wheels, but in the case of our 2014 Kia Cadenza, buying the bling was the right choice.
Kia issued a recall for the 2014 Cadenza with 19-inch non-chrome wheels, which means our car, although outfitted with optional 19 inchers, is definitely not included in the round-up.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the wheels on the affected Cadenzas "may fracture from impacts such as large, deep potholes." If that happens, the wheel could separate from the tire, causing a crash.
Our shiny-shod Kia rolls on.
We added on about 1,400 miles to our 2014 Kia Cadenza during the month of June. Nobody went on any big trips last month, so we accumulated those miles just commuting around Southern California.
For the month, we averaged 21.7 mpg.
That's a little better than our lifetime average of 20.6 mpg and very close to the EPA's estimate for combined driving of 22 mpg. Our best tank of gas, however, still occurred way back in January with 24.8 mpg. I'd like to see one of us be able to have a fill-up that equals the EPA's highway mileage estimate of 28 mpg.
Worst Fill MPG: 16.3
Best Fill MPG: 24.8
Average Lifetime MPG: 20.6
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway Combined)
Best Range: 390.2 miles
Current Odometer: 9,818 miles
You can't buy a cheap 2014 Kia Cadenza. By that I mean the most basic Cadenza, the Premium trim level with no options, has an MSRP of $35,900. In contrast, the least expensive 2014 Chevrolet Impala starts with an MSRP of $27,735.
But Kia also decks out this "base" Cadenza with plenty of features. Even navigation is standard, for instance. While this could be a turnoff for a car shopper desiring a large sedan with no frills, it also means the more typical shopper will have to do a little homework to see how the Cadenza compares apples-to-apples against the competition.
Using the Edmunds Web site, I pulled up the Cadenza and two other large sedans for comparison. It's not possible to equip them exactly the same, but I started with the Cadenza and then priced out the other two to be as similar as possible. All the pricing you see below was for early July 2014 in the Santa Monica, Calif. area. (That's where our offices are located.) I included destination fees but not any potential incentive discounts.
2014 Kia Cadenza — Premium trim level with the optional Luxury package: MSRP = $39,050. Edmunds True Market Value (TMV) = $35,589.
2014 Chevrolet Impala — LTZ trim level with the optional MyLink Radio With Navigation and the Comfort and Convenience packages: MSRP = $39,245. Edmunds TMV = $36,845
2014 Toyota Avalon — Limited trim level with no options: MSRP = $40,710. Edmunds TMV = $37,458
The upshot is when you get these three cars similarly equipped they end up being priced pretty close together, with the Cadenza getting the nod for being the least expensive to purchase.
Of course, these are just pricing estimates that require negotiating to obtain. But Edmunds also offers its Price Promise program, where we connect car shoppers with dealers offering an up-front, no-haggle price that's right around — or even better — than TMV.
If the NBA's Tim Duncan reads our long-term vehicle updates (surely he does!) then this 6-foot 11-inch two-time MVP award winner will certainly be interested to know that the 2014 Kia Cadenza earned the top position in Edmunds' recently published Top Ten Sedans for Tall Drivers.
That Top Ten list is based on the average measurements for front legroom, headroom and hiproom. There are various caveats that you can read about in the article, but the bottom line is that the Cadenza came out on top.
As I'm, well, just a little bit shorter than Tim, I can't really comment on how comfortable our Cadenza is for tall drivers in real-world driving. I certainly find the driver seat to be comfortable and roomy, which relates to us wee normal folk. Of course, Tim's more than welcome to come to the Edmunds offices and check out our long-term for himself.
We're now at the halfway mark for a long-term test of our 2014 Kia Cadenza. For almost every vehicle in our fleet, we aim to rack up at least 20,000 miles in a one-year stay. We started our Cadenza test back in December 2013, so we're a little behind schedule so far.
That said, our Cadenza has been rock-solid and earned plenty of favorable comments.
The Cadenza has been to the dealer just once so far. That was for the scheduled 7,500-mile service, which included the standard oil change and tire rotation. Nothing else has broken or gone awry.
Ten thousand miles in I'm enjoying having the Cadenza in our long-term fleet. It's comfortable, sharp looking and relaxing to drive.
For the Fourth of July holiday, I packed up my family (wife and two small children) for a 600-mile round-trip road trip. The crossover SUVs in Edmunds' long-term fleet weren't available, but I figured the 2014 Kia Cadenza would work out fine given that it has the space and comfort to be a trusty long-distance companion.
Packing up our gear was easy enough. Now that my kids are ages three and six, I don't have to bring as much baby stuff anymore (no stroller, no portable crib, for example), and that makes it easier to use a sedan rather than a crossover or minivan. The Cadenza's trunk, at 15.9 cubic feet of luggage capacity, isn't as big as what you can get from a few other large sedans, such as a Chevy Impala or Ford Taurus. But at least for my trip it was big enough. The trunk opening is large and I was able to fit a medium-sized suitcase, two small suitcases, a couple of duffel bags and a variety of smaller items.
I really liked having the Cadenza for this trip. The front seats are very comfortable. The suspension also provides a nice ride quality over dips and bumps (though, as previously noted, it'd probably be even better with the smaller available 18-inch wheels). It's also quiet and stable. The nice-sounding 12-speaker Infinity audio system is another bonus for long drives and keeping you entertained. My occasionally whiny kids in the back notwithstanding, I came away from this road trip feeling this is a car you can just sit back, relax and pile on the miles.
I tallied my overall fuel economy. For the 600-mile trip, which was probably about 90 percent highway driving (approximately 70 mph, with the air-conditioning on) the Cadenza averaged 26 mpg. That seems entirely reasonable to me given that the EPA's highway estimate is 28 mpg.
Adaptive cruise control is a technology that not too long ago was restricted to flagship-type vehicles like our Mercedes CL65, but now, is trickling down to cars like the Ford Fusion, Jeep Cherokee and our 2014 Kia Cadenza. The systems themselves differ between manufacturers and some are certainly better than others in regards to functionality and additional features. The Cadenza's is one of the better ones.
It will bring the car down to a complete stop if needed without input from the driver (others will at some point alert you to take over and brake), but doesn't go so far as to start back up again without the driver pressing Resume (Mercedes' Distronic Plus and others do this, including in stop-and-go traffic).
The Cadenza's system also does a good job of recognizing the speed of the car ahead and reacting accordingly. Here are two scenarios where this is important. First, a faster car passes you on the left and you quickly pull in behind it. A lesser ACC system will simply detect the car ahead initially, freak out and hit the brakes because it's deemed you to be too close. A better system like the Cadenza's will recognize that the car ahead is moving faster than you and although presently too close, won't be for long. Perhaps it backs off the gas a little, but certainly won't drop anchor.
The second scenario involves a slower car ahead. If the system detects a vehicle in the distance that is moving much slower than you are, it will start to gradually decelerate instead of waiting to suddenly drop anchor. This is better for smooth driving, although it can be annoying when on a multi-lane freeway, as the car begins to slow itself down long before you'd normally even think about changing lanes to pass. This requires extra thought on your part to anticipate when that car will be detected (something ACC is supposed to reduce) and extra gasoline usage when recouping the speed you've lost due to unnecessary slowing.
Because of this and other reasons, I would not pay extra for adaptive cruise control, or at least would prefer if you could turn off its automated properties (as you can in Chrysler products, for example). Generally speaking, the annoyances outweigh the benefits.
There is one, definite exception though: the interminable slog between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where my fury towards other drivers knows no bounds. There are people driving too slow, there are people maniacally trying to set land speed records, tailgating is rampant and everyone drives in the left lane except for trucks, RVs and people who like driving the same speed (or slower) than trucks and RVs. Passing is usually done on the right and if you're a particularly significant jerk, accomplished by squeezing in at the last possible second before ramming into a semi and slowing down all the tailgating cars now behind you.
In short, traffic is constantly speeding up and constantly slowing down. It's infuriating and usually results in me reaching my destination tired and in a foul mood. With ACC, though, much of the mental and physical effort required to cope with this nonsense is transferred to the car itself. If I frequented Las Vegas, adaptive cruise control would therefore be worth its weight in gold. Or casino chips, I suppose.
Our 2014 Kia Cadenza is a spacious sedan that's perfectly nice to drive and crammed full of equipment. I'm sorry, though, there's just no way I'd pay $43,200 on a Kia Cadenza. Just reading that out loud sounds ridiculous, yet to be fair, I also wouldn't spend that much on a Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera or Toyota Avalon, if you could actually get them to cost that much.
Herein lies the problem, I believe, with the full-size sedan category. They aren't that much more spacious than midsize sedans like the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord or new 2015 Hyundai Sonata. Increasingly, they aren't that better equipped. Really, the only significant thing extra you're paying for is perhaps better styling, a nicer interior and grander presence.
In the case of some of the cars listed above, that argument could be made. The Impala and Avalon are clearly superior cars to the Malibu and Camry, respectively. Could they ever possibly be worth $43,200? Or rather, could you ever possibly feel OK spending that much, even if the included equipment reasonably added up to that amount? I certainly couldn't. The same would apply to a more reasonable ballpark of $38,000 or thereabouts. Either way, that's luxury territory, and without a luxury badge, that's going to be a tough sell.
Furthermore, the Cadenza's Plain Jane Kia badge and the brand attached to it aren't helping things. I'm not even talking about the now-long-ago-history of quality issues or the lingering bad reputation as a result. Kia today largely markets itself as a youthful, hip brand with rapping hamsters driving Kia Souls, L.A. Clipper Blake Griffin and Adrianna Lima gallivanting about Kia Optimas and an extensive tie-in with DC Comics. That simply doesn't jive with a full-size sedan or would-be luxury car like the Cadenza (not to mention the full-blown luxury K900).
Indeed, when I met up with friends in Las Vegas recently, the question was inevitably asked: "So, what did you drive up?"
"A $43,200 Kia Cadenza."
Befuddled expressions stared back at me. Perhaps the car warrants that price, but it still sounds absolutely ridiculous.
When driving our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza I can hear quite a bit of wind noise coming from the area of the A-pillars.
Could it be these Dumbo-sized side mirrors? Seems likely. They are rather large and even come to a point at the outer edge.
I can hear wind combating them even when driving on regular roads, not just on the highway.
Fortunately, when you lock the car, the ears fold in to prevent dings.
After 200 highway miles in our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza I came to one solid conclusion about the interior: It just doesn't fit me. The seats are well-bolstered and made from high quality materials but I just can't get comfortable while driving the Cadenza and here's why.
The driver seat doesn't get low enough to accommodate my legs. I'm 5-foot-9-inches tall and if I'm in an upright position while driving, the front of the seat is angled directly in to the back of my legs. The 10-way adjustable driver seat (standard on the Cadenza in Premium trim) has plenty of movement in every other direction, but the front of the seat just doesn't get low enough to let me get comfortable on road trips.
It's a shame too, because I really like everything else about this interior, but I couldn't live with this seating position on a daily basis.
Our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza had a busy and fuel-efficient July thanks to quite a bit of highway time. Over the course of the month we drove the Kia 2,532 miles and averaged 24 mpg.
July also delivered the Kia's best single tank fuel economy performance of 28.1 mpg, which is right on the sedan's EPA highway estimate. Previously we'd only squeezed a best of 24.8 mpg from the Cadenza's big V6.
Accordingly the Kia's lifetime fuel economy average has also climbed from 20.6 mpg to 21.2 mpg, just shy of the Cadenza's EPA combined rating of 22 mpg.
Worst Fill MPG: 16.3 mpg
Best Fill MPG: 28.1 mpg
Average Lifetime MPG: 21.2 mpg
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway)
Best Range: 390.2 miles
Current Odometer: 12,788 miles
I'm a huge fan of our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza, and the more I drive this sedan the more I like it. However, last week I found something to complain about, and it just about hit me right between the eyes.
It was the Cadenza's trunk lid.
My driveway is a bit on the steep side. Steep enough that the Kia's trunk will not stay open. Its springs are just not strong enough to compensate for the grade.
If my driveway was so steep that this was a common occurrence I wouldn't mention it, but it isn't. I've parked hundreds of cars in that exact spot and their deck lids have not come crashing down on my head like the Cadenza's.
This was not only a painful discovery, but it also makes loading and unloading the trunk a real pain, yuck, yuck, as you need to hold the trunk open with one hand and load your cargo with the other.
It's also difficult to illustrate in a photograph. But that's as high as the Kia deck lid will remain when the car is parked on a hill. If you open it anymore it immediately falls back to this position, whether your head is in its path or not.
Our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza has a cool little feature I've been meaning to tell you about. It's a small thing, but it's another example of Kia's attention to detail. And it's something I'm surprised more manufacturers choose not to do.
It's the automatic release of the Cadenza's parking brake when the driver puts the sedan's transmission in gear. Like I said, it's not a big deal, but it makes perfect sense. Every morning you jump in the car, fire it up, put on your seatbelt and pull the shifter down into reverse. At that moment, why shouldn't the car's parking brake be smart enough to release itself for you?
Heck, my mother's Cadillac Eldorado did this way back in 1985. Yet it's a rare luxury in today's market, despite electronic push button parking brakes becoming commonplace. Some manufacturers, like Lexus, even take it a step further, engaging the parking brake when the transmission is shifted back into park.
Still, for the most part, parking brakes remain a manual on/off operation. Nice going, Kia.
As a kid, August was my favorite month. The last little bit of summer. That usually meant beaches, barbeques, and end-of- summer pool parties.
As an adult, August now is more about evening picnics, preseason football, and getting the kid ready for school. This year, however, getting my teenager ready for school means more than looking for deals on new clothes and backpacks. He is now 18 and moving off to college. University of Boulder, if you're curious.
Helicopter dad that I am, I'm going to drive him and his stuff to school. Yes, we could certainly fly there and ship his gear. But where's the fun in that? We'd miss this perfect chance for our longest road trip yet. There are a few ex-Colorado residents here at Edmunds, and all have said it's a beautiful drive. I'm always up for a beautiful drive. Plus, a few more hours with my soon to be out of the house son is something I can't pass up.
I'm taking our long term 2014 Kia Cadenza for the drive. I plan to put roughly 2,300 miles on the Cadenza during this trip.
On the way to Colorado, we are going to take our time and see the sights. No real rush. I expect to take three days to reach our destination. The trip back will be at a faster clip, and should only take two days.
I will share my impressions of the Kia over the next few posts.
This might be a good time to tell you a bit more about me. I'm not a pop-the-hood-of-a-car kind of guy. It's unlikely you'll ever hear me talk about camber, yaw, compression ratios, co-efficient drag, and the like. I do, however, care about comfort and convenience features: navigation systems, killer stereos, power tailgates, connectivity, stuff like that. And, of course, how it all comes together while driving. I'm already a fan of the Kia Cadenza, and I'm excited to see how I feel about it during and after the trip.
We packed up the 2014 Kia Cadenza and started the first leg of our trip from Los Angeles to Colorado. The day started early, and we planned an easy drive to St George, Utah, give or take 400 miles.
The caravan consisted of me, the kid, his mom, and his granddad. My son and I were in the Cadenza, while mom and granddad were in a recently purchased 2000 Honda Accord that is going to be staying in Colorado. Both cars were packed with things that all incoming freshman need: clothes, skateboard, cell phone chargers...you know, the important stuff. Nothing too valuable, nothing too heavy.
The first stop after escaping L.A. traffic was Barstow, a town roughly 150 miles from home. It's a great place to stretch your legs and grab some gas before hitting the wide open highway between L.A. and St. George.
On the I-15 towards Barstow, I hit a few rough patches of freeway and felt the suspension protest. This is slightly out of character as this car normally offers a smooth, even drive. I've never noticed any bad highway manners. I also hadn't carried a trunk full of gear, either. You can really see the difference at the wheel well. The picture on the left is with the load, on the right the car is empty.
The maximum load for both passengers and cargo was a hair over 900 pounds, according to the Kia Cadenza driver door insert sticker. I did a quick weight calculation in my head, and I figured we had at least 150 pounds before we hit that number, being generous. The trunk was mainly clothes. I didn't bring much myself, just one medium-sized bag and my laptop backpack.
The Cadenza is geared more towards a luxury ride than sporty, hence the soft suspension. I checked a few other midsized cars, and the passenger/cargo load is about normal for this size car.
Now, I'm wondering if my personal five-passenger car dips like this when I fill it up. It has nearly the same load rating. I'll have to check.
During a stop at an In-N-Out in St George, Utah, I caught granddad checking out the 2014 Kia Cadenza's profile. "Nice wheels on this thing, man!" he said, with a big grin. We'd switched up our passengers. My son was now with mom, and Eddie had been with me for the past few hours in the Cadenza.
I've known this man for nearly a quarter century, and in this time he has not once bought a new car. He is one of the most practical people I know, and when he buys a car or truck, he always buys something with some miles on it. And then he drives that car until the wheels fall off. So when he followed up his compliment with a "How much does this thing go for?" I was surprised. Could Papa Eddie (as my son calls him) be thinking of getting a Kia Cadenza? I will keep you posted.
There is no denying the Cadenza simply looks great. Inside and out. There are a few misses in the interior, but no deal breakers. The cabin is easy to spend hours in, and that is due in part to how simple everything is to find/use.
The center stack layout makes great sense. It is divided into three sections, with the navigation system on top, HVAC unit beneath, and audio at the bottom. They all work together, but you are not forced to take multiple steps to do simple things. Want to make it cooler in the cabin? Look for the blue button. Increase fan speed? Look for the picture of the big fan. Easy stuff.
This layout will be appreciated by drivers who prefer simple, straightforward controls. The navigation system looks dated compared to others on the market, but it is so easy to use that if I had a technophobe who was insisting on getting an in-dash system, I'd have no problem recommending the Cadenza.
An added bonus? The navigation system can still be programmed by touch while the car is in motion. Score.
In an earlier post, I mentioned that I wasn't sure how I felt about the adaptive headlights on our 2014 Kia Cadenza. Having driven more than 2,000 miles in the Cadenza, now I know. I don't like them. Not the Cadenza's in particular, but this feature in general.
There were instances when I'd gently turn the wheel, to avoid a speed bump in an empty parking lot, for example, and the headlights would move right, and then swing left following the driver input. Just doing what they are supposed to do.
I appreciate the effort, but after a few days of this, I wished this autocorrect of headlights would simply stop. A wider angle beam with brighter lights would be just fine with me.
I do, however, thoroughly enjoy adaptive cruise control. This little marvel made the drive even easier, always keeping a nice cushion of space between me and the car ahead of me.
Ever had a car decelerate in front of you really quickly, so quickly you are caught off guard and end up slamming your breaks or even veering into the shoulder to avoid an accident? No? Um, neither have I. Such a scenario would be less likely to happen in our Cadenza, because when engaged the ACC system in the Cadenza will slow the car all the way to a stop, if need be.
The opposite is also true.
If the car ahead of me speeds up, so do I. But only so much. I always set the top-end speed very close to the legal speed limit, so if the car ahead of me decides to sprint to 90 mph in an 80-mph zone, I won't be pulled along.
ACC kept me with the flow of traffic, but on my terms. Important, because the very last thing anyone needs on a trip like this is to collect an out-of-state speeding ticket.
As Phil noted, you can set the adaptive cruise control to keep you rather close to the car you're trailing. That could be useful around town, but I only used ACC on the highway. Out on the I-70 in the middle of Utah, I kept a safe distance between me and the next driver. Many years ago, I was driving a rural stretch of the I-5 freeway when a big box jumped off the bed off a Tacoma ahead of me and hit my just-paid-off Accord. Lesson learned. Now I stay back. The Cadenza is completely fine with this, and kept me a comfortable 4-5 seconds behind the driver ahead of me. Works for me.
Driver seats with long seat cushions generally hit me in the back of the knee in an uncomfortable way. So when I sat in the driver seat of our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza for the first time this weekend, I was bummed. The seat cushion was getting way too aggressive with my tender knee pit (scientific name: popliteal fossa).
Thankfully, in the course of fiddling with the many power-adjustment buttons, levers and switches that come standard on our Cadenza Limited, I discovered that the knee support area of the seat cushion is power-adjustable. Huzzah!
Check out the video to see it in action. Knee pit discomfort = solved.
I'm calling out Travis Langness and Donna DeRosa.
Each has written about the uncomfortable driver's seat of our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza. First it was Donna complaining about the Uncomfortable Seatbelt. Then Travis with his update titled The Seats Don't Fit Me.
Look, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Especially the trusted and talented members of our award-winning editorial team. But in this case Travis and Donna are dead wrong.
This is an exceptionally comfortable car. Its seat fits my 5-foot-11-inch, 185-lb frame perfectly and I've experienced none of the seatbelt leg digging that fueled Donna's poison pen.
I also find the adjustability of the seat to be quite high, and the Kia packs a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, so I'm quite confident that 99% of buyers would find a sweet spot and agree with me on this one.
Our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza has racked up some miles in August, due in no small part to Senior Editor Matt Jones taking it to Colorado to drop his son off at college. That trip combined with our normal commutes added another 3,449 miles for the month with an average of 24.4 mpg.
In Matt's trip, he managed to best the previous top mileage for a tank with a better-than-EPA 29.9 mpg (the previous was 28.1). He also holds the record for most miles out of a tank (though not in the same refill) with a butt-numbing 441.3 miles (beating the previous 390.2 miles).
Go Matt!
Worst Fill MPG: 16.3
Best Fill MPG: 29.9
Average Lifetime MPG: 21.9
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway)
Best Range: 441.3
Current Odometer: 15,799
It was the triangle illuminated in our 2014 Kia Cadenza that got my attention. I was driving at the time. In motion. Underway. And there it was, just a little yellow tri-pointed guy lurking at the bottom of the instrument cluster with no other information to go along with it. Quite the puzzler.
Not really. Had I been paying attention upon startup, I'd have seen the display you see above.
The text goes away once you place the transmission into Drive. Then, it's just that innocuous little triangle. Clearly, it's past time for service. We'll get it handled and let you know how it goes.
I'm a big guy, linebacker size. Ample space in the drivers cockpit is important to me, maybe more so than the average framed six-footer because I'm wide.
The 2014 Kia Cadenza's cabin is perfect for a bigger person, or somebody who just needs room to stretch out. The seats have generous hip room, and great shoulder room. They also offer good support, but don’t hug me. I like them.
The lateral support needed to keep a driver in place during sharp turns is certainly there, but there is no mistaking these for sport seats. Fine by me. On long drives like this, I'm much more interested in having a seat that is comfortable, even if it gives up being sporty in the process.
There is another reason I like the front seats. They have tough seatbacks.
I worked at car dealerships for a dozen years, and had thousands of cars and trucks traded in. I can't tell you how many seatbacks were scuffed, stained, or just overall kicked silly by rear passengers. Namely, kids in car seats.
The Cadenza has hard, black, easy to clean seatbacks. They aren't the most elegant seatbacks you'll see, but they are functional.
Although it's very unlikely I will have need for a car seat again in my personal life, I can certainly appreciate the thinking Kia put into the seat backs — a prime kicking target for the feet of bored or upset kids in car seats.
I have no scientific data to support this claim, but based on years of trade-ins, I think kids are most likely to kick the back of a seat immediately after walking through mud, gum, or oil.
There are a few places I frequent in L.A. where they know what I do for a living. The people at the cheese store, my butcher, my liquor store and my hardwood supply place always ask me, "Whatcha driving today?"
It never fails. When I respond with something that isn't sporty, or luxurious or cool in a traditional sense, they respond with a disappointed, "oh...sorry."
Yes, it happened several times over the weekend when I let them know I was driving a 2014 Kia Cadenza. But I backed it up by telling them it's actually quite pleasant. Besides missing an upscale badge, the Cadenza delivers all the comfort and amenities I'd look for in a luxury sedan. Take the Kia badge off the steering wheel in the picture above and I bet most people would never guess what it is.
In the heat of a Los Angeles August, the strong climate control and ventilated seats kept me cool as a cucumber. The silent cabin kept the maddening world outside from ever intruding on the enjoyment of my music. The ride was unfazed by the potholed and deeply rutted pavement, and the leisurely nature of the Cadenza kept me relaxed and unhurried.
Overall, I tell my friends it's a good honest sedan that over-delivers on expectations. It's pretty much what I say about most current Kia products, actually. It's this type of word-of-mouth testimonial that may eventually change public opinion. They're worth a look in most car segments and you shouldn't disregard them just because of their previous association with cheap and entry-level vehicles.
A number of staffers have posted on the front seat comfort of our 2014 Kia Cadenza. For the record, I find the driver seat comfortable as it has an ideal combination of shaping, firmness and adjustability for my 5'-5", 155-lb frame. But enough about that, this post is about the rear seat.
Over the weekend, the Cadenza's capacious rear seat was put to use. The wife and I went bowling and to dinner with another couple who were a good test for the rear quarters. She's 5'-2" and he's 6' even. Both were comfortable during the 45-minute each-way ride and remarked how good the support under their legs was thanks to the high seat cushion. They also appreciated the large, plush center armrest which sits up high enough to allow resting one's arm without leaning in towards the middle of the seat.
You've seen some posts by our staff about the usefulness of the trunk features in our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza and one about it bonking Scott on his head.
This weekend I went grocery shopping and was happy to see the cargo net in the trunk to hold my bottles in place. But I noticed a cost-cutting feature in our Cadenza. While it has a trunk release button on the keyfob, it just unlatches the lock to the trunk. The trunk lid then pops open a little but does not have any equipment to auto-open and auto-close.
It's still handy when you've got arms full of groceries. And then you use the usual plastic handle inside the lid to close the trunk manually.
The Cadenza is a car with a lot of nice features at a lower price point than most luxury brands, and Kia needs to find ways to cut costs on this car somewhere. Well, this is one of them.
We added nearly 700 miles to our 2014 Kia Cadenza's odometer in the month of September. Our lifetime MPG average remains essentially flat at 21.7, as does our best fill of 29.9 mpg and our best range of 441.3 mpg.
Our worst fill did drop this month from 16.3 to 15.3 mpg.
I don't want to point any fingers at who filled up the Cadenza after that poor-mileage tank, but I will say that we share the same last name.
Worst Fill MPG:15.3
Best Fill MPG: 29.9
Average Lifetime MPG: 21.7
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway)
Best Range: 441.3 miles
Current Odometer: 16,486 miles
An unexpected stop at the local Home Goods store this week resulted in the purchase of three new pieces of framed "art."
All three frames fit nicely in the 15.9-cubic-feet trunk of our 2014 Kia Cadenza, with minimal overlap.
Did you know Edmunds.com readers can write their own reviews of our long-term test cars? Really, every car sold in the U.S. has a place on our site for consumer reviews. We call it, "What Others Are Saying."
The 2014 Kia Cadenza officially scored a "B" ranking with our test team, but to read what real-world owners have to say about the big four-door sedan, click here.
Apparently, I have a heightened sense of smell. As a supertaster, perhaps that makes sense, as smell accounts for about 70% of taste. Many times I'll notice something wafting through the air before those around me. Yup, I can sense a lactose-intolerant field mouse from 100 paces. What does this have to do with our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza, you ask?
The Cadenza has an interior odor. It's a bit like you're in a clean public restroom, but a public restroom nonetheless. It's subtle and I acclimate to it within a few seconds and won't smell it after that. It's really noticeable if the car is sitting out in the hot sun and you just open the door. It's so subtle that some people on staff don't even smell it.
This gave me a great opportunity to use something I received from Meguiar's: the Whole Car Air Re-Freshener (I've been asked to refrain from calling it a car bomb). Judging from the scratch-n-sniff tab on the packaging, it had a light and clean smell that wasn't overly perfumed. I liken it to the bachelor's dry cleaner, otherwise known as Febreze.
According to the directions, which I followed, I closed all the windows, opened up all the vents, turned the HVAC fan to maximum and set it to recirculate the air. For good measure, I also turned on the ventilated front seats and opened the rear seat trunk pass-through. I placed the small can on the center hump behind the front seats, hit the trigger and shut the doors. I also managed to snap a quick picture before I shut the door.
The cabin filled with a Jeff Spicoli-like fog in a few seconds and I let the car sit like that for 15 minutes. At that point I opened all the doors to let it air out for another 15 minutes. As I expected, the smell was a little overpowering, so I continued ventilating the cabin for another couple of hours.
The next morning, the Re-Freshener scent was definitely noticeable, but not at all overpowering. I drove most of the way into the office with the windows up, then decided to open the windows just in case my colleagues find it too strong. In any case, the original offending odor was gone. Depending on how it's received by the rest of the staff, I might try some more on the Nissan Rogue and Jeep Cherokee, which seem to have unanimous votes for being stinky.
After nine months and roughly 15,000 miles, our 2014 Kia Cadenza again requested normally scheduled maintenance by flashing its "service required" wrench in the instrument panel. With the Cadenza's pleasant, worry-free first service in our minds, we brought the luxury sedan to Kia of Cerritos.
The service bay was jumping when we pulled in on a Friday afternoon, and we were happy we made an appointment. An advisor quickly made his way over, checked the car in, and sent it to the bay.
Our car was ready to go less than an hour later. The 15,000-mile service calls for an oil change, tire rotation, air filter change, and more comprehensive set of inspections than the Cadenza got during the first service. Thanks to Kia's complimentary maintenance program for the first five services, we paid nothing out of pocket.
It is worth mentioning that since we got our Cadenza, Kia has halted the free maintenance program. Cars delivered after March 1, 2014 are no longer eligible. Had we paid for this visit it would have cost $139.95.
Each time the driver shuts off the 2014 Kia Cadenza (our long-termer is the Limited trim), this screen pops up in the instrument panel on the dashboard. It's a useful bit of info to help you keep track of your driving efficiency, or lack thereof. This photo shows how I did on an unusually traffic-free commute to the office. According to the EPA's estimates of 22 mpg combined (28 mpg highway), my 26.8 mpg trip was pretty efficient and far better than our running average of 21.7 mpg.
How does our Kia Cadenza fuel economy compare to yours?
The steady flow of high technology makes its way to the mainstream, and our 2014 Kia Cadenza is no exception. With items like lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and (not pictured, but covered extensively elsewhere) dynamic/active cruise control, you don't have to look to BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Cadillac for electronic wizardry. It might not have the same build quality or prestige as those premium brands, but our $43,000 Cadenza Limited has the goods.
What's going to be the next so-called premium feature that will find its way to the mainstream? Will it be LED headlamps, or something else?
With the proliferation of digital dashboards, it seems like each manufacturer has a start-up presentation of the vehicle's gauges. Our 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited has a nice little show each time the starter button is pressed. Continue reading to see the video.
There's actually another, highly graphic presentation as the driver takes his seat, but I'm not quick enough with my camera to capture that one. Here's the start-up screen, however, that follows:
I like the way Kia has kept everything simple in the 2014 Kia Cadenza. This sedan is packed with features and technology but it all functions intuitively and is designed with a simple, easy-to-use interface.
Too many cars these days are just the opposite.
The Kia's navigation system, which is standard equipment on our top-of-the-line Cadenza Limited, is a perfect example of this. It has a large 8-inch touch screen with clear, uncomplicated graphics and simple prompts. No big iDrive-like dials. No multiple screens. No endless maze of menus.
This system never tries to be or do too much. And the result is an extremely user-friendly system that never confuses the user or makes him or her feel dumb or inadequate. It also cuts down on driver distractions, which is always a good thing.
The Kia's system is also properly quick. Unlike some (Chevy's MyLink) the Kia's system doesn't make you wait while it "thinks." Plus, the Cadenza's touchscreen sensitivity is just right (some touchscreen systems like Ford's Sync, do not respond to your inputs all of the time).
Kia's system is the way I think it should be. If you own a Lexus with that weird, frustrating and ridiculously overcomplicated mouse-like controller you know what I'm talking about.
The wife of one of my buddies is enrolled in an executive MBA program at UC Berkeley, and since she goes up there once a month to meet with her group of smarty-pants people, we thought, well, San Francisco is a cool city, and I'd never been to Berkeley...why the heck not make a road trip weekend out of it sometime?
So we did.
We found a cool little place to rent in Berkeley for the weekend via Airbnb, Edmunds car czar Mike Schmidt put us into the 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited, and we were off on a Friday afternoon (don't tell anybody, but I snuck out a few hours early).
Now while my main goal in life is to always be leaving southern California, Friday late afternoon really isn't the best time to do so. Traffic was a bit of a slog, but with friends in the car it went by quickly.
It also helps when the car is a Cadenza. Highway road-tripping is what this big Kia does best. Comfortable seats at all four corners, tons of legroom (helps that none of us are over 5-feet-9 inches) and a plush ride. It's quiet, too, easy to carry on a conversation.
While I think few people would classify the Cadenza as "fun to drive," it's definitely great at the task of transporting three people and their weekend luggage (four on the way home) up to the greater San Francisco area in peaceful bliss. And, in truth, it's fun to delve into the 293 horsepower from the 3.3-liter V6. Always smooth, accessible power everywhere on the tach, and a supple-shifting six-speed automatic, too.
Because there's so much rear seat space, there was room aplenty for our soft cooler to sit just behind the center console in the rear (even with four people in the car), with the snack bag the GF packed in between the rear seats. Easy road-tripping, for sure. We weren't exactly living hard.
One of my friends was impressed with the Cadenza's soft headliner. It makes this $43,250 luxury sedan look/feel even more upscale. It doesn't seem like it's quite Alcantara, but it's a darn close approximation.
Look for average MPG and a complete trip wrap-up in what is sure to be a riveting Part 2.
I know. You can't wait.
After a quick side trip from Berkeley to Oakland for a fantastic Sunday brunch (yeah, that's right, I said Oakland. I was shocked, too), the four of us climbed into the 2014 Kia Cadenza Limited to head back to southern California to close out the weekend road trip.
Even with four on board for the trip home (we only had three on the way up because my buddy's wife had flown up for school on Wednesday), everyone had plenty of room to stretch out and relax.
Round trip from my palatial, imitation apartment building in Orange County was 864 miles. The Cadenza averaged 25.9 mpg, with plenty of 70-75 mph driving. The best tank was 27.1 mpg, the worst was 25.1.
As I said in Part 1, the Kia Cadenza proved to be a terrific highway hauler. Comfortable, smooth and quiet, with great power for freeway on-ramps or to make passing maneuvers to slot around slower cars.
The one thing that didn't work perfectly was the adaptive cruise control, and really it only had a problem during one specific period of the journey.
On a fairly steep, downhill, slightly curvy portion of Interstate 5 with the cruise control set, a few times it freaked out and stabbed at the brakes suddenly, then got back on the throttle, even though there wasn't a car right in front of us. It seemed to be getting confused by the trucks in the lane to the right of us. It appeared that, because of the angle of the turn, the front of the car was pointing too much at the trucks and the system thought we were heading for them...maybe?
Not sure if this was compounding the problem, but because the lane to our right was a dedicated truck lane it had a solid white line. Anyway, not a huge deal, although a bit disconcerting the first time, then simply annoying after.
So I turned it off during that stretch. The rest of the time it worked fine, and as Phil Reed noted in a previous update, it does seem to allow the Cadenza to follow closer than most of these adaptive systems, which helps cut down on the number of people trying to pull in ahead of you because they feel the gap you're leaving is too large.
It's funny, but for such a supposedly "laid back" state, we're really quite impatient drivers.
We set no fuel economy milestones in our 2014 Kia Cadenza in October. We did, however, put roughly 1,600 miles on the sedan last month thanks mostly to a road trip from Southern California to the Bay Area.
Our overall mpg remains the same at 21.7. Best and worst fills (29.9 mpg and 15.3 mpg, respectively) remain the same as does our best range at 441.3 miles. Here are the totals:
Worst Fill MPG: 15.3
Best Fill MPG: 29.9
Average Lifetime MPG: 21.7
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway)
Best Range: 441.3 miles
Current Odometer: 18,104 miles.
Sometimes you get an itch to get the hell out of town and unwind for a couple of days. The mood struck me hard in early November, and I knew a trip to Las Vegas would do the trick. I got a few friends on board, requested our 2014 Toyota Highlander, and counted down the days. If only things were that easy...
You see, I had six people all ready to go, and the Highlander has six seats. A few days before we were scheduled to leave, I signed out the SUV to make sure we would all fit. We found out the hard and uncomfortable way that a couple of six-footers couldn't be crammed into the third-row seats, which are more suitable for children. We would have to take two cars.
Knowing I only had to schlep three passengers to Vegas, I started to shop around for something a little more comfortable. Maybe something that needed some last-minute miles so we could hit the 20,000 we strive for on each car. On Matt Jones' recommendation, I asked Mike Schmidt, Keeper of the Keys, for the 2014 Kia Cadenza. Big Blue has a roomy back seat, considerable trunk space, and the always important cooled seats for driver and front passenger (good thing, because Vegas temps were approaching a sweltering 80 degrees).
The Cadenza proved to be a worthy highway companion. One large-ish suitcase and four smaller bags were swallowed by the cavernous 15.9-cu.ft trunk. The driving experience can be a little boring, but the sedan's soft leather, panoramic sunroof, and seemingly endless amount of leg room kept my passengers happy. You just sort of waft along without a sense of drama, which is what you really want on a trip like this.
We moseyed on up to Las Vegas with nary a complaint from those being chauffeured. We found that Vegas is rather nice in the autumn. It's the one time of year the town isn't crippled by stifling heat or the bitter, frigid wind that sweeps through the Strip in winter. You can actually swim in the hotel pool, whereas aquatic relief during the summer months requires becoming one with the mosaic of wasted college students as they writhe to club remixes of Coldplay songs that the second-rate DJ is pumping through the 10,000 waterside subwoofers.
Gorging ourselves on food is another time-honored Vegas tradition for my flock. A Google search for "best burger Las Vegas" returned numerous recommendations for Holstein's at Cosmopolitan. I can attest the Gold Standard with its aged goat cheddar and garlic-chive aioli is worth the hefty $18.50. It's the kind of place that offers foie gras as a burger topping. Don't tell Mark Takahashi, he'll run off in the Jag and we'll never see the car again.
The 500-mile round trip highlighted a few of the Cadenza's shortcomings. The seat bottom doesn't angle downward as much as I'd like, but adjustable thigh support helps somewhat. I wish the air assaulted me when I switched on the seat coolers. All things considered, however, the Cadenza's easygoing road manners and generous dimensions make it an ideal car for this sort of trip.
Good call on the Cadenza, Matt. I'll grab you a pepper-crusted burger next time for the suggestion.
Just as our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza is set to leave the lot after a year, I managed to push past the 20,000-mile mark on a road trip up to Monterey. More on that later.
In the year we've had the Cadenza, it really proved itself to me as a worthy near-luxury sedan. I can say that I was quite pleased when I heard this would be the car I'd log 700 miles or so in a weekend. It's quiet, comfortable and has enough power to easily blast down the highway. So long, Cadenza, it's been a pleasant experience.
Sometimes as we near the end of the year with a long-termer, we need to make a final push to get the miles past the 20,000-mile mark. This was the case with our 2014 Kia Cadenza, but not by much. In the last update, I hit the milestone about 200 miles outside of L.A. Honestly though, I would have gladly taken the Cadenza either way because I really wanted something comfortable and quiet because I had a lot of driving ahead of me and it was a quick turnaround.
I drove up on a Saturday night to stay in a rundown hotel (4th floor, no elevator) and dine at my usual haunt. I woke up the next morning and headed out.
The reason for the trip? To drive this:
I had the distinct pleasure and a whole lotta luck to get invited to drive the McLaren 650S around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Yes, it's fast. I spent about 20 minutes lapping the track with a pro driver beside me. He was very adamant about getting the car straightened out over turn one and lifting off the throttle, and for good reason. The car gets really light over the rise and any steering input would probably put me into the wall. Hard.
There was also a fun little autocross course to showcase the handling limits without risking a high-speed wreck. In track mode, it let me get the tail whipping around quite a bit. Fun is an understatement.
We wrapped around noon and I decided to make the trek back to Monterey to check out the Aquarium with my girlfriend. It's definitely worth the $35 or so to get in. After a few hours there, we headed right back to L.A. and that's when I really appreciated the Cadenza.
A smooth quiet ride, ventilated seats and adaptive cruise control made the five-hour trip much more civilized. On the drive up I managed to get 17.9 mpg, but I wasn't driving very economically. On the return trip, I was more docile after driving on track and being calmed by sea creatures. I got 27.1 mpg. Ten hours and 676 miles is a lot for the time I spent up there, but well worth it. My next goal: try to convince McLaren to get us a long-termer. Yeah, right.
As our time with the 2014 Kia Cadenza nears its end, I realized I never posted anything about one of my favorite features on this car: the LED strips that surround the high-intensity headlights.
Kia calls these strips "positioning lights" because its salespeople can't very well sell a midsize luxury sedan with "lightbrows" can they? Kia could have just slapped on a row of LEDs like everyone else does in this post-2008 Audi R8 world, but they went for a unique element that is both distinctive and complex. It obviously isn't a make-or-break feature, but it's a really nice detail.
November was a busy final month for our long-term 2014 Kia Cadenza (it returns home early this December). We put a bit more than 2,500 miles on the Cadenza this month, mostly on road trips to Las Vegas, Monterey and Palm Springs, ending up with a tick more than 21,000 miles on the odometer.
We filled the tank 10 times last month and averaged 23.8 mpg, a bit better than the EPA's combined mpg rating. We also recorded our second-best range of the long-term test at 426.8 miles. It's a fitting end to the Cadenza's time with us. It rarely sat idle and proved a versatile, useful midsize sedan throughout the year.
Worst Fill MPG: 15.3
Best Fill MPG: 29.9
Average Lifetime MPG: 21.9
EPA MPG Rating: 22 Combined (19 City/28 Highway)
Best Range: 441.3 miles
Current Odometer: 21,154 miles
Wrap-Up
What We Got
Two trim levels were available on the 2014 Kia Cadenza, Premium and Limited. Both had the 3.3-liter V6 good for 293 horsepower and 22 mpg combined. Each was equipped with the standard six-speed automatic transmission, navigation with 8-inch display, rear parking sonar, 19-inch wheels and dual-zone climate control to name a few. The Premium started at $35,900.
A step up to the Limited increased entry to $43,200 and added heated steering, seat coolers, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, HID headlights and blind-spot monitor, among others. Kia loaned us a $43,250 Cadenza Limited for one year. The only option on our test car was a $50 cargo net.
Performance
"There's nothing remotely sporty about the Cadenza. Its suspension is tuned for comfort above else, and that's a good thing...the Cadenza has a soft, compliant setup that soaks up big hits without a shiver, all while gripping the road with enough tension to keep it from feeling like a balloon-tired cruiser from 1985. It's a well-tuned compromise that makes the car enjoyable to drive at a moderate pace." — Ed Hellwig
"Kia has done a nice job programming the six-speed automatic transmission. The most noticeable aspect to me is that the transmission downshifts properly when you press down on the gas pedal. There's no delay or rush to sixth gear as soon as possible like you can get on some other cars." — Brent Romans
MPG
"July also delivered the Kia's best single-tank fuel economy performance of 28.1 mpg, which is right on the sedan's EPA highway estimate. Previously we'd only squeezed a best of 24.8 mpg from the Cadenza's big V6." — Scott Oldham
"A smooth and quiet ride, ventilated seats and adaptive cruise control made the five-hour trip much more civilized. On the drive up I managed to get 17.9 mpg, but I wasn't driving very economically. On the return trip, I was more docile after driving on track and being calmed by sea creatures. I got 27.1 mpg." — Mark Takahashi
Comfort
"This is an exceptionally comfortable car. Its seat fits my 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound frame perfectly...I also find the adjustability of the seat to be quite high, and the Kia packs a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, so I'm quite confident that 99 percent of buyers would find a sweet spot and agree with me on this one." — Scott Oldham
"Over the weekend, the Cadenza's capacious rear seat was put to use.... She's 5-feet-2 and he's 6-feet even. Both were comfortable during the 45-minute each-way ride and remarked how good the support under their legs was thanks to the high seat cushion. They also appreciated the large, plush center armrest which sits up high enough to allow resting one's arm without leaning in toward the middle of the seat." — John DiPietro
Cargo Space
"Our Cadenza Limited has standard heated rear seats, but they don't fold forward to augment trunk space. I recently bought a tree trimmer from the home improvement store. While 15.9 cubic feet of trunk space was generous, it didn't fit. I was grateful to find the armrest pass-through." — Chris Walton
"Because there's so much rear-seat space, there was room aplenty for our soft cooler to sit just behind the center console in the rear (even with four people in the car), with the snack bag my girlfriend packed in between the rear seats. Easy road-tripping, for sure. We weren't exactly living hard." — Mike Monticello
Interior
"I'm a big guy, linebacker size. Ample space in the drivers cockpit is important to me, maybe more so than the average framed 6-footer because I'm wide. The Cadenza cabin is perfect for a bigger person, or somebody who just needs room to stretch out. The seats have generous hip room, and great shoulder room. They also offer good support, but don't hug me. I like them." — Matt Jones
"Accessible storage space isn't always a given in modern cars, even high-priced luxury models…the Cadenza has a handy space just in front of the shifter. It's not a huge compartment but there's enough room to toss a wallet, a cellphone and some keys. The proximity of the USB port also makes it handy for phone charging. This kind of thing is hardly ground-breaking, but it does make our Cadenza seem that much easier to live with." — Ed Hellwig
Audio and Technology
"The Kia's navigation system, which is standard equipment on our top-of-the-line Cadenza Limited, is a perfect example of this. It has a large 8-inch touchscreen with clear, uncomplicated graphics and simple prompts. No big iDrive-like dials. No multiple screens. No endless maze of menus." — Scott Oldham
"On a fairly steep, downhill, slightly curvy portion of Interstate 5 with the adaptive cruise control set, a few times it freaked out and stabbed at the brakes suddenly, then got back on the throttle, even though there wasn't a car right in front of us." — Mike Monticello
Maintenance
"It is worth mentioning that since we got our Cadenza, Kia has halted the free maintenance program. Cars delivered after March 1, 2014 are no longer eligible. Had we paid for this visit it would have cost $139.95." — Cameron Rogers
"First, the fuel tank neck was not securely attached to the car's body...and consistently triggered fuel pumps to shut off early...the Cadenza entered its limp mode as he drove around town. Our sedan was only out of service for a few hours while most of our needs were met...free thanks to Kia's complimentary three-year/37,500-mile maintenance plan for the Cadenza." — Cameron Rogers
Miscellaneous
"In the year we've had the Cadenza, it really proved itself to me as a worthy near-luxury sedan. I can say that I was quite pleased when I heard this would be the car I'd log 700 miles or so in a weekend. It's quiet, comfortable and has enough power to easily blast down the highway. So long, Cadenza, it's been a pleasant experience." — Mark Takahashi
"I'm sorry, though, there's just no way I'd pay $43,200 on a Kia Cadenza. Just reading that out loud sounds ridiculous, yet to be fair, I also wouldn't spend that much on a Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera or Toyota Avalon, if you could actually get them to cost that much." — James Riswick
Maintenance & Repairs
Regular Maintenance:
Routine service was due at 7,500-mile intervals for the Cadenza. We took the sedan in for maintenance at the prescribed 7,500 and 15,000 miles before returning the car to Kia at 20,000 miles. Thanks to the three-year/37,500-mile complimentary maintenance plan, our cost was zilch.
Service Campaigns:
The only issue beyond normal maintenance involved the installation of four bolts to secure the fuel filler neck. They were missing.
Fuel Economy and Resale Value
Observed Fuel Economy:
The combined EPA fuel economy estimate for the Cadenza is 22 mpg (19 city/28 highway). We averaged 21.9 mpg over 20,970 miles of testing. Our best single tank was 29.9 mpg. The best range on a single tank was 441 miles.
Resale and Depreciation:
MSRP on our Cadenza Limited was $43,250. At the conclusion of our test Edmunds TMV Calculator valued the vehicle at $27,395 based on a private party sale. This equated to a very high, 37-percent depreciation. For reference, a comparable Toyota Avalon depreciates about 30 percent under the same conditions. This suggests more of a trend for this segment than a knock against the Cadenza specifically.
Summing Up
Pros:Smooth ride in most situations, spacious and quiet cabin, driver seat accommodates wide range of body types, easy-to-use navigation system, generous storage space, more than 400 miles or range on a single tank, delivers its mileage rating, solid reliability.
Cons:Ride quality suffers somewhat when the car is loaded down with cargo and passengers. Resale value under the circumstances of our test was poor.
Bottom Line:A well-designed, reliable and easy-to-live-with near-luxury sedan, the Kia Cadenza suffers only from a sizable entry price and considerable depreciation. If those numbers don't bother you, the car itself will rarely let you down.
| Total Body Repair Costs: | None |
| Total Routine Maintenance Costs: | None (over 12 months) |
| Additional Maintenance Costs: | None |
| Warranty Repairs: | Install 4 bolts to secure fuel filler neck |
| Non-Warranty Repairs: | None |
| Scheduled Dealer Visits: | 2 |
| Unscheduled Dealer Visits: | None |
| Days Out of Service: | None |
| Breakdowns Stranding Driver: | None |
| Best Fuel Economy: | 29.9 mpg |
| Worst Fuel Economy: | 15.3 mpg |
| Average Fuel Economy: | 21.9 mpg |
| True Market Value at service end: | $27,395 (private party sale) |
| Depreciation: | $15,855 (37% of original MSRP) |
| Final Odometer Reading: | 20,970 miles |
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.