2019 Kia Cadenza Review
Pros & Cons
- Well-equipped for the price, especially in the base Premium trim
- Vast amount of legroom allows all passengers to stretch out
- Generous warranty coverage
- Lots of available advanced safety features
- Headroom, especially with a sunroof, is a bit tight for tall occupants
- The ride isn't as composed as that of segment leaders
- Trunk is smaller than rivals, and rear seats don't fold down
- From acceleration to handling, the Cadenza isn't much fun to drive
Other years
Get More For Your Trade-In
2019 Kia Cadenza appraisal values can range from $19,013 - $23,643.
Find out what your car is really worth in minutes.
Which Cadenza does Edmunds recommend?
The Cadenza comes loaded with great features right out of the gate, but we think it's worth paying extra for the Technology trim. It's the midgrade trim and it adds several desirable upgrades, including a premium audio system and a host of driver aids. Tall drivers might want to stick with the base Premium, however, because it doesn't have the headroom-reducing panoramic sunroof.
Edmunds' Expert Review
Driving
7.5Under the Cadenza's hood is a familiar 3.3-liter V6 engine, carried over from the previous generation but slightly less powerful. The new eight-speed transmission is fuel economy-focused and isn't as refined as some rivals. Like most in the segment, the Cadenza is not particularly fun to drive.
Comfort
8.0The Cadenza is a comfort-focused sedan, and it performs its primary function well. We like the hushed cabin at high speeds and the car's effective climate controls. But the ride is less refined than in some rivals, and the front seats aren't great for road trips.
Interior
8.0The cabin of the Cadenza can only be described as expansive. There's plenty of room for front and rear passengers. Even when the Easy Entry feature scoots the seat back, the driver won't hit the knees of the occupant behind. The quality of materials is particularly impressive.
Utility
7.5You'll find many places to store small items, including a deep glove compartment and a pocket in each door. The trunk is large overall compared to those of most sedans, though it is slightly smaller than some in its class. The rear seat doesn't fold to expand the cargo area.
Technology
7.5The Cadenza offers the latest tech features, including adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree parking camera and Apple CarPlay. Execution is lacking, mostly due to the infotainment system's menu structure and the wonky logic of driver aids. Navigation doesn't use predictive city and street names.
Scorecard
Overall | 7.5 / 10 |
Driving | 7.5 |
Comfort | 8.0 |
Interior | 8.0 |
Utility | 7.5 |
Technology | 7.5 |
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Kia Cadenza.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Tamie,08/01/2020
Limited 4dr Sedan (3.3L 6cyl 8A)
I bought my cadenza, loving it. But my phone never worked, we tried so many things from the day I bought it , they told me finally it was my phone, it was in the shop so many times my job is me on my phone all day in my car so hands free was very important to me in any vehicle drive. That is and was a requirement to me. I work in the Healthcare field. Finally, the manager told me it was the car, that several cadenza had issues in the hands-free they are and were aware of the problem but kia was not willing to fix the problem. Not till someone gets hurt, and they are forced to fix it. At the time we had 2 vehicles from kia. We returned one, I've sold the other. I would NEVER buy a vehicle from someone who does NOT stand behind their product.
Safety
Our experts like the Cadenza models:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Automatically applies the brakes if a front collision with a vehicle or a pedestrian is deemed imminent.
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning
- Detects whether a vehicle is in the left- or right-side blind spot and sounds an alert if the turn signal is engaged in that direction.
- Parking Distance Warning-Reverse
- Sounds an alert as the Cadenza approaches an object while reversing.